Tying corner (cripple) top plates where conduit bored through

[antonibaloney]

I'm looking for a method to mend a top plate at a corner where an electric service conduit has been bored and placed through the double top plate:

Specifically, imagine a corner where two (rotted) cripple walls meet. One entire wall was completely replaced, while the remaining original only needs the bottom member of the top plate replaced (it goes under the intersecting new wall). The top plate of this remaining wall is good. So in order to reestablish a lap at the corner, the bottom chord of the top plate is replaced; but only till the first cripple stud. Now, imagine that in this 16" someone has bored an 1-1/2" electrical conduit dead center between the two top plates.

I have an architect that says its okay to mend a not-bored splice with MST-27 straps, but not if half the strap cannot be nailed to each half of the top plates.

Hopefully I've described it in enough detail. Any approved splice recommendations?

Thanks

 

[SteveBausch]

You might consider sheathing both sides of the corner in plywood or osb...

 

[antonibaloney]

Thanks,

I am sheeting the inside with the earthquake-prescriptive bracing-plywood. I wanted, for framing inspection purposes, the remedy to be apparent.

I have been told I can make a mock bottom "triple plate" with blocking between the existing studs, and then tie all the two bottom (of three) top plate members together with a strap. Apparently this will be enough to pass the framing inspection.

Any other ideas are welcome. Thanks

 

[rlflower]

A comment from Zone 4 country:
How to mend a top plate? Hmmm. Remember, we are talking about the backbone of the structure here. I therefore tend to be rather conservative when it comes to this situation. The correct solution depends upon the amount of lateral load on the shear wall. The more lateral load there is on the wall, the more reason to engineer the detail. I hope that the inspector is knowledgeable enough to correctly direct you on this decision. If you have reason to doubt his decision, then get it engineered.

-Richard L. Flower, P. E.