Sesimic design of wood frame multi-family yownhomes

[Reemmarie]

The architect wished to discontinue the floor sheathing at party walls between adjacent units. (this will leave 1" gap that will be filled with fire stop metal strip). By doing this, floor diaphgram discontinues. Shall I design the party wall on each side of the gap as a shear wall?? or shall I consider the fire stop metal strip as a continuation of the floor diaphgram??

Please advise

 

[msquared48]

Each side of the gap as a shear wall.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[woodman88]

Unless you can find an ICC ES-Report for a "fire stop metal strip as a continuation of the floor diaphgram" the gap will not transfer shear forces.

Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.

 

[MileyDiley]

The question that always comes up with this is the potential for the buildings, which are now essentially separated, to hit each other. The air gap is never enough separation.

When we see this detail from architects, we ask them to revise to show the sheathing continuous. Sometimes they will revise to show fire-resistant sheathing for a certain distance each way.

 

[msquared48]

Reemmarie:

Are yownhomes part of a new HUD program in Texas?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering