APA and ICC publish updated IRC lateral bracing guide

Washington, D.C. — A new illustrated book, co-published by the International Code Council (ICC) and APA – The Engineered Wood Association, provides an explanation of the lateral bracing provisions of the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC). A Guide to the 2018 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions, the fifth edition in the series, details the correct application of the code-bracing requirements, explores the history and theory behind wall bracing, and provides real-world bracing examples. The book is now available in print and digital formats.

“Residential wall bracing under the IRC is one of the most critical, yet most misunderstood, building safety elements,” said Code Council Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development Mark A. Johnson. “The 2018 guide is updated with new practical examples to serve as an important and helpful resource for inspectors, plan checkers, builders, designers and others involved in residential construction. The ongoing collaboration between APA and the Code Council benefits public safety and the industry. We are pleased to build on a long-standing relationship with APA.”

The IRC contains numerous prescriptive lateral bracing provisions intended to help residential structures resist lateral loads that can result from wind and seismic events. The type and amount of bracing required for a given structure depend on many factors, including location and size of the structure, and the location of bracing segments within the structure. Bracing must be applied correctly and consistently to sufficiently protect the building from lateral loads, according to the Code Council and APA.

“Most of the residential buildings in the U.S. are built to the IRC. Wall bracing is what makes those buildings perform well against lateral wind and seismic loads,” said Dr. Borjen Yeh, P.E., director of APA’s Technical Services. “These provisions are complex and prescriptive, given the great number of aesthetic, cultural, economic and energy-related variables. This guide makes these provisions easy to understand.”

The guide addresses bracing options available to builders and designers, the amount of bracing required with adjustments and variations, rules for the use of bracing, the new simplified wall bracing provisions, whole house bracing considerations and many other related topics. The full-color book features numerous specific examples and more than 200 figures, tables and photos.

A Guide to the 2018 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions is available for purchase in printed soft cover for $44.00 ($35.25 for ICC members) or digital PDF format for $41.95 ($33.50 for ICC members).

More information is available at https://shop.iccsafe.org/a-guide-to-the-2018-ircr-wood-wall-bracing-provisions.html.