The IRC includes tables that allow the user to select floor, wall and roof framing members for buildings up to 36' wide with ground snow loads up to 70 lbs. Charts show required lengths of braced walls in high wind and high seismic areas. In these high wind and seismic areas, the IRC contains entirely new requirements that include the option of building segmented or perforated shear walls. It also contains a new way of sizing shear walls. 601, Washington, DC 20036-4523 on or before August 31.
Steel framing is used in many applications of homes built with insulating concrete forms.
In order to maximize the opportunities presented by both products in residential construction, a joint research program is underway to provide guidelines for combining ICF systems and steel framing in their optimal configurations to minimize design cost, reduce construction time, and provide higher quality construction. Details for structural connections, attaching finishes and installing utilities will be included. Existing prescriptive design tables will be referenced and new tables will be developed where necessary. This joint project kicked off July 16 in Baltimore. Timely news items are a quick read in the left-hand column of the front page.