APA - The Engineered Wood Association

WallBracing.org

APA Makes Wall Bracing Easy

APA provides detailed wall bracing informationUnderstanding the code requirements for wall bracing can be a challenge, but following them is of critical importance to the structural integrity of a home. WallBracing.org, brought to you by the wall bracing experts at APA – The Engineered Wood Association, helps you easily understand, design, build and enforce wall bracing systems.

APA and ICC Publish Guide to 2009 IRC Lateral Bracing Provisions

2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions GuideThe new publication, A Guide to the 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions, explains how to use the International Residential Code (IRC) to provide the bracing necessary for a residential structure to resist the lateral loads that can result from wind and seismic events. The illustrated guide, developed to improve understanding and application of the 2009 IRC lateral bracing requirements, is the result of a publishing agreement between the International Code Council and APA --The Engineered Wood Association. Learn more. 

A Guide to the 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions is now available from the ICC store (Product #7102S09) for $41.00 ($33.00 for ICC members).

Sheathing for Profits

Three new APA publications describe economical systems that help builders achieve higher performance with plywood or OSB wall sheathing. These brochures are available as free downloadable PDFs from the APA Publications Library:

Sheathing for Profits
  • Build Profit with Wood Walls, Form J435, provides tips and resources on how to meet design, production, code, safety, energy and green building challenges while building residential construction profitably by fully sheathing with wood structural panels.
  • Brace Walls with Wood, Form G440, provides guidance on how builders can use wood structural panels to meet code and maximize design flexibility.
  • Build Energy Efficient Walls, Form J440, provides the five basic steps to constructing energy-saving wood wall systems that meet code, endure nature’s forces and save homeowners money.

Why Bracing?

Wall Bracing

The load from gravity is easy to understand and constant on every house. Lateral loads are just as constant, but they vary in force and are not as recognized. The most common and universal lateral load is wind, with design velocities that vary from 85 to 150 miles per hour across the United States. The strongest wind loads, tornados, are not predictable and randomly occur in every part of the country. While it is not affordable or reasonable to design structures to withstand the strongest tornados, experience has taught us how structures can resist wind speeds of up to 150 mph and protect not only the inhabitants but also the integrity of the structure.

Similar experiences with seismic activity have helped building codes develop methods that enable structures to survive earthquakes that used to cause damage beyond repair.

Get Started

What do you need to know about wall bracing? Architects need to know how to achieve maximum design flexibility while maintaining the structural integrity of the home. Builders need to know how to build quality, cost-effective bracing solutions. Code Officials need to know how to recognize properly braced segments. Engineers need to know how to incorporate prescriptive bracing segments into an engineered design. Homeowners need to know why bracing is important for the security of the family.

Select your profession from the links at left, or choose Bracing Basics for an overview on what wall bracing is and why it's so important or APA Testing and Research for technical background information.