3/8 & 7/16 intermediate nailing

[jhoulette]

Wood Shear Walls:
Does anyone know why 3/8" and 7/16" sheathing is to be nailed at 6" o.c. for intermediate members when studs are spaced at 24"? This comes from a footnote on allowable shear wall design tables (IBC or APA for example).

 

[RARWOOD]

It is probably because of the increase potential for panel buckling between supports. However if you just contact APA-EWS or one of their field reps, I sure they could give you an answer.

 

[WBUW]

I suspect it is probably to compensate for the increased load under gravity and lateral forces. Under lateral forces, the unbraced length of the sheathing would be increased...and under gravity load the tributary area would be increased as well...

Can you reference that footnote eg 2310.x.y.z?

 

[jhoulette]

The table is 2306.4.1 footnote b of the IBC 2003. The same note can be found on all other allowable shear for wood structural panel shear walls.