APA - The Engineered Wood Association

WallBracing.org

APA Develops Simple Bracing Solution

While bracing and the IRC typically don't require design engineering, knowing about the IRC wall bracing provisions can be beneficial to home designers seeking code compliance. The IRC has wall bracing solutions that don't require hold downs and that are as narrow as 16 inches wide. The publications listed below summarize the key bracing requirements, describe the narrow wall bracing provisions and describe designed collectors. Knowing the IRC provisions can save time and will help you with the design of portions where some parts of a house might require engineering while others might meet the prescriptive requirements. Having this knowledge is valuable to those seeking code compliance for their houses.

Resources For You

Understand Prescriptive Requirements. Just what does the IRC dictate about wall bracing? APA's engineers have summarized the IRC bracing requirements in an easy-to-understand guide, Introduction to Wall Bracing, From F430.

Get the Portal Frame Details. A complete explanation and construction details for the APA Narrow Wall Bracing Method, a portal frame construction, are available in the publication, Whole House Wall Bracing, Form G440.

Research Testing and Development. Read about the development history of the APA Narrow Wall Bracing Method in the Technical Topic: A Portal Frame With Hold Downs for Wall Bracing or Engineered Applications, Form TT-100.

Learn About Collectors. The APA Technical Topic: Collector Design for Bracing in Conventional Construction, Form TT-102, explains collectors as described/required in the IBC and IRC and how to design and build them.