Blow Out Wall - Coastal 2

[BEW]

Has anyone specified nailing requirements for the blow-out walls on the lower level of a pile foundation structure on the coast? The walls are non-structural but am being told attachment of walls to piles requires specification per Code / FEMA (15 psf mentioned as design pressure?).

 

[SlideRuleEra]

BEW - The nailing schedule will be based on the size of your breakaway panels. In general terms, fasteners will be determined by the ultimate strenght of the wood/nails (you want this wood/nail connection to fail). "FEMA Coastal Construction Manual, Third Edition" covers the basic requirements, but no specific recommendations. It is available on CD as "FEMA 55CD". Unfortunately it is not posted on the internet for download.

However, here are three documents (free .pdf downloads) that, when used together should provide enough information for you to make reasonable calculations for a nailing schedule

FEMA Technical Bulletin 9/99, "Design & Construction Guidance For Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Coastal Buildings"

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/fima/job15.pdf

American Wood Council Technical Report 12, "General Dowel Equations For Calculating Lateral Connection Values"

http://www.awc.org/pdf/tr12.pdf

Forest Products Laboratory "Wood As An Engineering Material", Chapter 7 Fastenings

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch07.pdf

Best Wishes