SPS 321.24(4)(a)1.1. Exterior walls of wood or metal frame construction shall be provided with a water-resistive barrier from the highest point to the bottom of the permanent weather-resistant covering. SPS 321.24 NoteNote: Acceptable water-resistive barrier materials include polymeric-based house wraps and spray-applied water-resistive barriers installed per the manufacturer’s instructions, #15 or greater asphalt-saturated felts that comply with ASTM D 226 for type I felt and extruded foam sheathing with permanently taped joints. Duct tape or similar will not result in a permanently taped joint.
SPS 321.24(4)(a)2.2. Structural products with an integral water-resistive barrier may be approved by the department as a complete assembly. SPS 321.24(4)(b)(b) Material compatibility. The water-resistive barrier material shall be compatible with the other materials in the wall with which it will come into contact. SPS 321.24 NoteNote: Spray-applied water-resistive barriers may not be compatible with foam plastic insulation.
SPS 321.24(4)(c)1.1. Polymer-based house wraps shall meet all of the following requirements: SPS 321.24(4)(c)1.a.a. A water vapor permeability rating of 5 perms or higher when tested in accordance with ASTM E96. SPS 321.24(4)(c)1.b.b. An acceptable water-resistance rating determined in accordance with ASTM D779, AATCC 127 or CCMC 07102. SPS 321.24 NoteNote: Asphalt-saturated felt or “tar paper” is not a polymeric-based house wrap.
SPS 321.24 NoteNote: For more information on the water-resistance tests and their results, see the International Code Council Evaluation Services Acceptance Criteria AC 38.
SPS 321.24(4)(c)2.2. Spray-applied water-resistive barriers shall be approved under the International Code Council Evaluation Services. SPS 321.24 NoteNote: For approval criteria, see ICC-ES acceptance criteria AC 212 or successor document.
SPS 321.24(4)(d)1.1. Horizontal seams in sheet or strip material shall be overlapped such that the upper layer extends over the lower layer at least 2 inches. SPS 321.24(4)(d)2.2. Vertical seams in sheet or strip materials shall be overlapped at least 6 inches. SPS 321.24(4)(e)1.1. Penetrations caused by fasteners of the water-resistive barrier or the weather-resistant exterior covering do not require sealing. SPS 321.24(4)(e)2.2. Penetrations of 5 square inches or less with an annular space of no more than ½ inch shall be sealed with caulk or similar material. SPS 321.24(4)(e)3.3. Penetrations of greater than 5 square inches shall be flashed in accordance with sub. (3). SPS 321.24 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; r. and recr. Register, March, 2001, No. 543, eff. 4-1-01; CR 02-077: cr. (3) Register May 2003 No. 569, eff. 8-1-03; CR 08-043: am. (2), renum. (3) (c) to be (3) (d), cr. (3) (c) and (4) Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09; CR 15-041: cr. (3) (e), (f) Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16; CR 15-043: cr. (3) (d) 8. Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16. SPS 321.25SPS 321.25 Wood frame walls. Unless designed through structural analysis, wood frame walls shall comply with the following requirements. SPS 321.25(1)(1) Stud configuration. Wood studs shall comply with the size and spacing requirements indicated in Table 321.25-A. Studs in the exterior walls shall be placed with the wide faces perpendicular to the plane of the wall. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: See s. SPS 321.10 for requirements on treating wood for decay and termite resistance. SPS 321.25(2)(a)(a) General. Except as allowed under subd. 3., top plates shall be provided and configured as follows: SPS 321.25(2)(a)2.2. End joints in double top plates shall be offset at least 2 stud spaces. SPS 321.25(2)(a)3.3. Double top plates shall be overlapped at the corners and at intersections of partitions. SPS 321.25(2)(a)4.4. The plate immediately above the stud may have a joint only when directly over the stud. SPS 321.25(2)(b)1.1. When piping or ductwork is placed in an exterior wall or an interior load-bearing wall, such that at least half of the top plate is removed, the plate shall be reinforced with a steel angle at least 2 inches by 2 inches by 20 gauge thick. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: 20 gauge is approximately 0.036 inch.
SPS 321.25(2)(b)2.2. The steel angle shall span the gap and extend at least to the midpoint of the adjacent stud spaces. SPS 321.25(2)(c)1.1. A single top plate may be used in place of a double top plate provided a rafter is located directly over the studs and the plate is securely tied at the end joints, corners and intersecting walls. Joints may occur in single top plates only when directly over a stud. SPS 321.25(2)(c)2.2. A continuous header, consisting of two 2-inch members set on edge, may be used in lieu of a double plate if tied to the adjacent wall. SPS 321.25(2m)(a)1.1. Where a masonry foundation wall has an open top course, a bottom plate at least as wide as the foundation wall shall be fastened to the foundation. SPS 321.25(2m)(a)2.2. Where anchor bolts are used on a masonry foundation wall with an open top course, the minimum width of an individual piece making up the bottom plate shall be at least 5 1/2 inches. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: A sill plate can be made of multiple pieces to achieve the full width.
SPS 321.25(2m)(b)(b) Extension beyond the bearing surface. All of the following requirements apply to a sawn-lumber sill plate with uniform loading that is partially extended beyond the load-bearing surface of a foundation wall in order to put the exterior surface of an upper-lying wall flush with or beyond the exterior surface of insulation which is placed on the outside of the foundation wall: SPS 321.25(2m)(b)1.1. The center of any anchor bolt shall be set back from the side edge of the sill plate by a distance of at least 4 times the diameter of the bolt. SPS 321.25(2m)(b)2.2. The thickness of the concrete or mortar cover around any anchor bolt shall comply with ACI 318 section 7.7. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: Under ACI 318 section 7.7, the minimum cover for a 5/8-inch-diameter or smaller bolt is 1 1/2 inches.
SPS 321.25(2m)(b)3.3. Where a stud wall bears directly on a double bottom plate, the plate may not extend more than 1 1/2 inches beyond the load-bearing surface of the foundation wall. SPS 321.25(2m)(b)4.4. Where a stud wall bears directly on a single bottom plate, the plate may not extend more than 1 inch beyond the load-bearing surface of the foundation wall. SPS 321.25(3)(am)(am) Headers. Where doors or windows occur, headers shall be used to carry the load across the opening. SPS 321.25(3)(bm)(bm) Header size. The size of headers shall be determined in accordance with the spans and loading conditions listed in Tables 321.25-B, 321.25-C and 321.25-D. Headers for longer spans shall be designed by an engineering method under s. SPS 321.02. SPS 321.25(3)(cm)(cm) Header support. Headers in bearing walls shall be supported in accordance with subd. 1. or 2. or 3. SPS 321.25(3)(cm)1.1. Headers 3 feet or less in length shall be directly supported on each end by either: SPS 321.25(3)(cm)2.2. Headers greater than 3 feet but less than or equal to 6 feet in length shall be directly supported on each end by the single common stud and a shoulder stud. SPS 321.25(3)(cm)3.3. Headers greater than 6 feet in length shall be directly supported on each end by the single common stud and 2 shoulder studs. SPS 321.25(4)(4) Notching. Notching and boring of columns or posts is prohibited unless designed through structural analysis. Studs shall not be cut or bored more than 1/3 the depth of the stud, unless the stud is reinforced. SPS 321.25(5)(5) Partitions. Load-bearing partitions shall be placed over beams, girders, or other load-bearing partitions. Load-bearing partitions running at right angles to the joists shall not be offset from the main girder or walls more than the depth of the joist unless the joists are designed to carry the load. SPS 321.25(6)(a)2.2. Posts and columns shall bear directly over the middle 1/3 of a footing. SPS 321.25(6)(a)3.3. Posts and columns shall be restrained at the top and bottom to resist displacement. SPS 321.25(6)(a)4.4. All columns shall be positively attached to the beams they support using clips, straps or saddles. SPS 321.25(6)(a)5.5. Posts and columns that use a height adjustment mechanism shall have the mechanism imbedded in concrete or permanently disabled after installation. SPS 321.25(6)(b)(b) Bearing surface. Posts and columns shall have a steel bearing plate affixed to one or both ends to distribute any applied loads and to prevent fiber crushing of any structural member being supported. SPS 321.25(6)(c)(c) Steel posts or columns. Steel posts or columns shall be sized according to one of the following methods: SPS 321.25(6)(c)1.1. Manufactured columns shall follow the manufacturer’s testing and listing. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: A 3-story frame house with walls constructed of 2 x 4 standard grade studs would require a 12-inch stud spacing on the lowest level, a 24-inch stud spacing on the intermediate level, and a 24-inch stud spacing on the upper level.
SPS 321.25(6)(c)3.3. Columns made of steel stock, not meeting the requirements of subd. 1.or 2., shall follow a nationally accepted design specification or the size shall be determined through structural analysis or load testing. SPS 321.25(6)(d)(d) Wood posts or columns. Wood posts or columns shall be sized according to Table 321.25-F or the size shall be determined through structural analysis or load testing. *These tables are based on wood with a fiber bending stress of 1,000 psi. For other species with different fiber bending stresses, multiply the span by the square root of the ratio of the actual bending stress to 1,000 psi. Example: From Table 321.25-B, the allowable roof/ceiling span for a 28-foot wide house in zone 2, using two 2 x 8 header members with a 1400 psi bending stress, is 5 feet × = 5.9 feet. SPS 321.25 NoteNote: This Table is based on a modulus of elasticity or E of 1,000,000 psi and a fiber bending strength or Fb of 1,000 psi.
SPS 321.25(7)(a)(a) Foundation cripple walls shall be framed with studs at least as large as the studs above. SPS 321.25(7)(b)(b) When more than 4 feet in height, cripple walls shall be framed with studs needed for an additional floor level. SPS 321.25(7)(c)(c) Cripple walls with a stud height of less than 14 inches shall be sheathed on at least one side for its entire length with a wood structural panel that is fastened to both the top and bottom plates or the cripple walls shall be constructed of solid blocking. SPS 321.25(7)(d)(d) Cripple walls with a stud height of 14 inches or greater shall be braced in accordance with sub. (8).
