Wood Shear wall Penetrations

[timbereng]

How are penetrations in panel sheathed shear wall dealt with?
Do drilled pipe or small square penetrations, say for switch boxes, present a problem?
I could only find SBCCI Standard for Hurricane Resistant Construction SSTD 10-99, but this only targets windows, doors, etc.

 

[DoubleStud]

I would not think so. I am sure it reduces it a little bit but the connection is still there at panel edges and field. Why are you questioning it? Did an inspector bring it up?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

See the special design provisions for wind and seismic. (NDS's SDPWS)

This gives a few different design methods methods for various types of openings. I don't have it in front of me right now. But, I believe the commentary may have a figure related to small piping or conduit penetrations. Though I might be thinking about the diaphragm section, not the shear wall one.

Worst case scenario is the need to put in straps around the opening at the nearest blocking to insure force transfer in that area.

 

[SE2607]

Personally, I check the shear at the net section (total length minus the widths of the opening(s), total height minus the heights of the opening(s)). I also block around the openings even if it's just an outlet (2"w. x 4"h. typically). If there is motivation to install the shear wall on the inside, there must be acceptance to bump up the nailing, if necessary. It's not usually a significant penalty and the shear wall isn't compromised. I don't do a full blown FTAO analysis.

 

[timbereng]

Thank you all.
With the spread of medium and large sized wooden buildings, I have been researching in Japan on the reduction of shear wall performance due to small openings.
I found studies on doors and windows in foreign papers, but not on small openings.
So I asked the question.