North2South
Structural
I've got a question about the use of a non-load bearing (vertical load) shear wall using plywood in type 2 B construction. The following are excerpts from the IBC:
Combustible materials shall be permitted in buildings of Type I or II construction in the following applications and in accordance with Sections 603.1.1 through 603.1.3:
Fire-retardant-treated wood shall be permitted in:
1. 1.1.Nonbearing partitions where the required fire-resistance rating is 2 hours or less.
2. 1.2.Nonbearing exterior walls where fire-resistance rated construction is not required.
3. 1.3.Roof construction, including girders, trusses, framing and decking.
WALL, NONLOAD-BEARING. Any wall that is not a load-bearing wall.
❖ This definition is necessary since the structural requirements and fire-resistance-rating requirements in the code vary for nonload-bearing walls and load-bearing walls. Nonload-bearing walls do not support any portion of the building or structure except the weight of the wall itself.
WALL, LOAD-BEARING. Any wall meeting either of the following classifications:
1.Any metal or wood stud wall that supports more than 100 pounds per linear foot (1459 N/m) of vertical load in addition to its own weight.
2.Any masonry or concrete wall that supports more than 200 pounds per linear foot (2919 N/m) of vertical load in addition to its own weight.
❖ This definition is necessary since the structural requirements and fire-resistance-rating requirements in the code vary for nonload-bearing walls and load-bearing walls. The term “load-bearing walls” is intended to refer to wall elements that support part of the structural framework of a building.
Can anyone verify if their interpretation of the above is the same as mine? The shear wall would have a deflection track at the top and therefore be non-load bearing. Since it is non-load bearing, I can use fire-retardant treated plywood to sheathe the wall to use it as a shear wall. The code explicitly states a load-bearing metal wall is a wall that supports 100 PLF vertical load. The wall would not have vertical load therefore it is non load-bearing.
Any thoughts or similar experiences? Thanks!
Combustible materials shall be permitted in buildings of Type I or II construction in the following applications and in accordance with Sections 603.1.1 through 603.1.3:
Fire-retardant-treated wood shall be permitted in:
1. 1.1.Nonbearing partitions where the required fire-resistance rating is 2 hours or less.
2. 1.2.Nonbearing exterior walls where fire-resistance rated construction is not required.
3. 1.3.Roof construction, including girders, trusses, framing and decking.
WALL, NONLOAD-BEARING. Any wall that is not a load-bearing wall.
❖ This definition is necessary since the structural requirements and fire-resistance-rating requirements in the code vary for nonload-bearing walls and load-bearing walls. Nonload-bearing walls do not support any portion of the building or structure except the weight of the wall itself.
WALL, LOAD-BEARING. Any wall meeting either of the following classifications:
1.Any metal or wood stud wall that supports more than 100 pounds per linear foot (1459 N/m) of vertical load in addition to its own weight.
2.Any masonry or concrete wall that supports more than 200 pounds per linear foot (2919 N/m) of vertical load in addition to its own weight.
❖ This definition is necessary since the structural requirements and fire-resistance-rating requirements in the code vary for nonload-bearing walls and load-bearing walls. The term “load-bearing walls” is intended to refer to wall elements that support part of the structural framework of a building.
Can anyone verify if their interpretation of the above is the same as mine? The shear wall would have a deflection track at the top and therefore be non-load bearing. Since it is non-load bearing, I can use fire-retardant treated plywood to sheathe the wall to use it as a shear wall. The code explicitly states a load-bearing metal wall is a wall that supports 100 PLF vertical load. The wall would not have vertical load therefore it is non load-bearing.
Any thoughts or similar experiences? Thanks!
