Wood Framing & Wall Bracing (IBC Chapter 23)

Wood construction follows IBC Chapter 23 (with the NDS for engineered design and, for dwellings, IRC R602). It covers allowable framing, connection and fastening requirements, and — a frequent sticking point — lateral wall bracing, which resists wind and seismic forces through braced wall lines and shear walls. The fastening schedule (nailing/screw requirements for each connection) is a required, and often overlooked, part of the documentation.

The common mistake is a set that shows framing but leaves the fastening schedule and wall-bracing details as generic notes, or bracing that doesn't add up along a braced wall line. This is also a spot where the review engine and reviewers alike can struggle when the fastening schedule lives only on a text-heavy notes sheet rather than in a clear table.

Reviewers check the framing plan, the wall-bracing/shear-wall layout against the wind and seismic demands, and the fastening schedule. Providing the schedule as a clear table — not buried prose — speeds review and reduces comments.

This guide describes the model code for general understanding and is not a substitute for the adopted code and amendments enforced by your local authority having jurisdiction. Verify all figures against your jurisdiction's codes of record.

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