Why Do Panelized Wall Systems Need External Bracing

In wood and light gauge steel framed construction the diaphragms and shear walls called braced wall lines or braced wall panels in many codes and standards are constructed similarly.

Why do panelized wall systems need external bracing.

However some consideration of the small additional areas as indicated previously may need to be added to the level 1 forces. Bracing of the sub floor indicated in orange is not required for wind direction 2 as the pressures or forces will be taken by the level 1 bracing of the two storey section of the house. Or they would need to arrange for customized internal bracing. In storm prone coastal areas especially braced walls help the whole house resist lateral wind forces.

Floor systems work in conjunction with vertical shear walls to support gravity loads resist lateral loads and provide structural stability. The 2006 international residential code irc outlines a number of options for wall bracing but it can easily leave builders and building officials with questions. If there isn t enough room to prop up the appropriate steel bracing developers and construction crews may not be able to use this option to support a retaining wall. Why is wall bracing so important.

The higher those lateral wind loads are the stronger the structure must be. Both interior and exterior wood wall construction commonly includes layers of wood structural panels plywood or osb and or gypsum wallboard. Panelization is the prefabrication of exterior or interior wall assemblies manufactured in a controlled environment using conventional building components. Wall bracing provides racking resistance against horizontal lateral racking loads from wind and earthquakes and prevents the wall studs from distorting in the plane of the wall racking in domino fashion and thus prevents building collapse.

Wall bracing helps keep walls square during wind and earthquakes. Wall bracing is one of the most important structural elements of any house but it can also be one of the most confusing. When bracing masonry walls a minimum of two braces is required per wall panel the distance between control joints. Exterior panelization modular system what is panelization.

During site preparation we can design engineer as required and fabricate the exterior of your next project. Wall bracing is one of the critical elements of a wood framed structure providing resistance to forces that act along the wall plane. Wall studs alone can t resist the racking forces. What forces act on a house.

Using two braces per panel is important because with only one brace per panel the wall can wobble in and out at the control joints and snake in the winds. Why is wall bracing needed.