OFFICE OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, STATE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMSENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Buildings forthe 21st CenturyBuildings that are moreenergy efficient, comfortable,and affordable...that’s thegoal of DOE’s Office of BuildingTechnology, State andCommunity Programs (BTS).To accelerate the developmentand wide application of energyefficiency measures, BTS:• Conducts R&D on technologies

and concepts for energy efficiency, working closely withthe building industry and withmanufacturers of materials,equipment, and appliances

• Promotes energy/money

saving opportunities to bothbuilders and buyers of homesand commercial buildings

• Works with state and local

regulatory groups to improvebuilding codes, appliance standards, and guidelines for efficient energy use

• Provides support and grants

to states and communitiesfor deployment of energyefficient technologies andpractices

techniques designed to reduce the amount oflumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wood-framed house.These techniques include

• Designing homes

on 2-foot modules to makethe best use of common sheet goodsizes and reduce waste and labor.

• Spacing wall studs up to 24 inches

on-center.

• Spacing floor joists and roof rafters up to

24 inches on-center.

• Using two-stud corner framing and inexpensive drywall clips or scrap lumber for

drywall backing instead of studs.

• Eliminating headers in non-load-bearing

walls.

• Using in-line framing in which floor, wall,

and roof framing members are verticallyin line with one another and loads aretransferred directly downward.

• Using single lumber headers and top

plates when appropriate.

Advanced framing techniques, sometimescalled Optimum Value Engineering (OVE), havebeen researched extensively and proven effective. However, some techniques may not beallowed under certain circumstances (i.e., highwind or seismic potential) or in some localities.Be certain to consult local building officialsearly in the design phase to verify or obtainacceptance of these techniques.

BENEFITS FROM ADVANCEDFRAMINGBoth builders and home owners can benefitfrom advanced framing. Advanced framingtechniques create a structurally sound homethat has lower material and labor costs than aconventionally framed house. Additional construction cost savings result from the generation of less waste that needs to be disposed of,which also helps the environment.Advanced framing improves energy efficiencyby replacing lumber with insulation material.The whole-wall R-value is improved by reducing thermal bridging through the framing andmaximizing the wall area that is insulated.Advanced framing techniques can be implemented individually or as a complete package,depending on the builder. Fully implementingadvanced framing techniques can result inmaterials cost savings of about $500 or $1000(for a 1,200- and 2,400-square-foot house,respectively), labor cost savings of between 3and 5 percent, and annual heating and coolingcost savings of up to 5 percent.

s

4

x4 let-in brace notched

to wall studs

 sheathing. Finally, newer

incorporating increasingly

 bracing requirements.

arefully studied before seRoof framing/trusses 

line up with wall and 

floor framing

Single

top plate

Singletop plate

24-inch stud spacing

Insulated header sized for actual 

s load

Point load transferred between studs by rim closure material acting as header. If rim closure material is nonstructural, support will be required under point loads. Use solid blocking between joists.

ould be installed above the

will not interfere. The non

first, against the drywall

l coped trim piece can be

Adapted from Building Science Corporation

INSIDE “ TWO-STUD” CORNERS

Backer support for gypsum board

Position clip support forgypsum board so that it does not interfere with trim nailing

The first drywall sheet is installed against side with clip or backer

Connector plate Single top plate

SINGLE TOP PLATE

Ladder T-wall uses less wood and allows for insulation coverage behind partition walls

codes such as International Code Council (ICC) and BuildingOfficials Code Administrators (BOCA). These codes require that3x6 inch, 20-gauge galvanized steel plates be used to tie thetop plate at joints, corners, and wall intersections and that theybe nailed using three 8d nails at each side.

T-WALL ALTERNATIVESThe use of ladder blocking or a full-length 1x6 or 2x6 blocking allows for increased insulation in the outer wall
Roof framing/trusses 

line up with wall and 

floor framing

Single

top plate

Singletop plate

24-inch stud spacing

Insulated header sized for actual 

s load

Point load transferred between studs by rim closure material acting as header. If rim closure material is nonstructural, support will be required under point loads. Use solid blocking between joists.

ould be installed above the

will not interfere. The non

first, against the drywall

l coped trim piece can be

Adapted from Building Science Corporation

INSIDE “TWO-STUD” CORNERS

Backer support for gypsum board

Position clip support forgypsum board so that it does not interfere with trim nailing

The first drywall sheet is installed against side with clip or backer

Connector plate Single top plate

SINGLE TOP PLATE

Ladder T-wall uses less wood and allows for insulation coverage behind partition walls

codes such as International Code Council (ICC) and BuildingOfficials Code Administrators (BOCA). These codes require that3x6 inch, 20-gauge galvanized steel plates be used to tie thetop plate at joints, corners, and wall intersections and that theybe nailed using three 8d nails at each side.

T-WALL ALTERNATIVESThe use of ladder blocking or a full-length 1x6 or 2x6 blocking allows for increased insulation in the outer wall
Roof framing/trusses 

line up with wall and 

floor framing

Single

top plate

Singletop plate

24-inch stud spacing

Insulated header sized for actual 

s load

Point load transferred between studs by rim closure material acting as header. If rim closure material is nonstructural, support will be required under point loads. Use solid blocking between joists.

ould be installed above the

will not interfere. The non

first, against the drywall

l coped trim piece can be

Adapted from Building Science Corporation

INSIDE “ TWO-STUD” CORNERS

Backer support for gypsum board

Position clip support forgypsum board so that it does not interfere with trim nailing

The first drywall sheet is installed against side with clip or backer

Connector plate Single top plate

SINGLE TOP PLATE

Ladder T-wall uses less wood and allows for insulation coverage behind partition walls

codes such as International Code Council (ICC) and BuildingOfficials Code Administrators (BOCA). These codes require that3x6 inch, 20-gauge galvanized steel plates be used to tie thetop plate at joints, corners, and wall intersections and that theybe nailed using three 8d nails at each side.

T-WALL ALTERNATIVESThe use of ladder blocking or a full-length 1x6 or 2x6 blocking allows for increased insulation in the outer wall
OFFICE OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, STATE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMSENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Buildings forthe 21st CenturyBuildings that are moreenergy efficient, comfortable,and affordable...that’s thegoal of DOE’s Office of BuildingTechnology, State andCommunity Programs (BTS).To accelerate the developmentand wide application of energyefficiency measures, BTS:• Conducts R&D on technologies

and concepts for energy efficiency, working closely withthe building industry and withmanufacturers of materials,equipment, and appliances

• Promotes energy/money

saving opportunities to bothbuilders and buyers of homesand commercial buildings

• Works with state and local

regulatory groups to improvebuilding codes, appliance standards, and guidelines for efficient energy use

• Provides support and grants

to states and communitiesfor deployment of energyefficient technologies andpractices

techniques designed to reduce the amount oflumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wood-framed house.These techniques include

• Designing homes

on 2-foot modules to makethe best use of common sheet goodsizes and reduce waste and labor.

• Spacing wall studs up to 24 inches

on-center.

• Spacing floor joists and roof rafters up to

24 inches on-center.

• Using two-stud corner framing and inexpensive drywall clips or scrap lumber for

drywall backing instead of studs.

• Eliminating headers in non-load-bearing

walls.

• Using in-line framing in which floor, wall,

and roof framing members are verticallyin line with one another and loads aretransferred directly downward.

• Using single lumber headers and top

plates when appropriate.

Advanced framing techniques, sometimescalled Optimum Value Engineering (OVE), havebeen researched extensively and proven effective. However, some techniques may not beallowed under certain circumstances (i.e., highwind or seismic potential) or in some localities.Be certain to consult local building officialsearly in the design phase to verify or obtainacceptance of these techniques.

BENEFITS FROM ADVANCEDFRAMINGBoth builders and home owners can benefitfrom advanced framing. Advanced framingtechniques create a structurally sound homethat has lower material and labor costs than aconventionally framed house. Additional construction cost savings result from the generation of less waste that needs to be disposed of,which also helps the environment.Advanced framing improves energy efficiencyby replacing lumber with insulation material.The whole-wall R-value is improved by reducing thermal bridging through the framing andmaximizing the wall area that is insulated.Advanced framing techniques can be implemented individually or as a complete package,depending on the builder. Fully implementingadvanced framing techniques can result inmaterials cost savings of about $500 or $1000(for a 1,200- and 2,400-square-foot house,respectively), labor cost savings of between 3and 5 percent, and annual heating and coolingcost savings of up to 5 percent.

s

4

x4 let-in brace notched

to wall studs

 sheathing. Finally, newer

incorporating increasingly

 bracing requirements.

arefully studied before seOFFICE OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, STATE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMSENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Buildings forthe 21st CenturyBuildings that are moreenergy efficient, comfortable,and affordable...that’s thegoal of DOE’s Office of BuildingTechnology, State andCommunity Programs (BTS).To accelerate the developmentand wide application of energyefficiency measures, BTS:• Conducts R&D on technologies

and concepts for energy efficiency, working closely withthe building industry and withmanufacturers of materials,equipment, and appliances

• Promotes energy/money

saving opportunities to bothbuilders and buyers of homesand commercial buildings

• Works with state and local

regulatory groups to improvebuilding codes, appliance standards, and guidelines for efficient energy use

• Provides support and grants

to states and communitiesfor deployment of energyefficient technologies andpractices

techniques designed to reduce the amount oflumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wood-framed house.These techniques include

• Designing homes

on 2-foot modules to makethe best use of common sheet goodsizes and reduce waste and labor.

• Spacing wall studs up to 24 inches

on-center.

• Spacing floor joists and roof rafters up to

24 inches on-center.

• Using two-stud corner framing and inexpensive drywall clips or scrap lumber for

drywall backing instead of studs.

• Eliminating headers in non-load-bearing

walls.

• Using in-line framing in which floor, wall,

and roof framing members are verticallyin line with one another and loads aretransferred directly downward.

• Using single lumber headers and top

plates when appropriate.

Advanced framing techniques, sometimescalled Optimum Value Engineering (OVE), havebeen researched extensively and proven effective. However, some techniques may not beallowed under certain circumstances (i.e., highwind or seismic potential) or in some localities.Be certain to consult local building officialsearly in the design phase to verify or obtainacceptance of these techniques.

BENEFITS FROM ADVANCEDFRAMINGBoth builders and home owners can benefitfrom advanced framing. Advanced framingtechniques create a structurally sound homethat has lower material and labor costs than aconventionally framed house. Additional construction cost savings result from the generation of less waste that needs to be disposed of,which also helps the environment.Advanced framing improves energy efficiencyby replacing lumber with insulation material.The whole-wall R-value is improved by reducing thermal bridging through the framing andmaximizing the wall area that is insulated.Advanced framing techniques can be implemented individually or as a complete package,depending on the builder. Fully implementingadvanced framing techniques can result inmaterials cost savings of about $500 or $1000(for a 1,200- and 2,400-square-foot house,respectively), labor cost savings of between 3and 5 percent, and annual heating and coolingcost savings of up to 5 percent.

s

4

x4 let-in brace notched

to wall studs

 sheathing. Finally, newer

incorporating increasingly

 bracing requirements.

arefully studied before se