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APA Published Advanced Framing Construction Guide

APA’s new publication, the Advanced Framing Construction Guide, highlights advanced framing techniques that residential contractors can employ to produce energy-efficient, structurally sound homes with lower material and labor costs than conventionally framed houses.

The 24-page guide details several advanced framing techniques, including 2x6 wood framing spaced 24 inches on center, insulated three-stud corners, two-stud corners with ladder blocking, wall intersection options, single headers, single top plates and eliminating unnecessary materials. Continuous wood structural panel wall sheathing is recommended to provide the structural strength necessary to safely withstand the forces of nature.

APA and ICC Reach Agreement to Publish 2012 IRC Lateral Bracing Guide

At the request of the International Code Council (ICC), APA has agreed to write a third edition of the Guide to the IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions. The heavily illustrated guide will provide an explanation of the lateral bracing provisions of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC). Like previous editions in this series, the book will detail correct application of bracing provisions, explore the history and theory behind bracing codes, and provide specific design examples. The Wood Wall Bracing Provisions guide will be published jointly by APA and ICC and is expected to be released in summer 2012.

The current edition of the series, A Guide to the 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions, is now available from the ICC store (Product #7102S09) for $41.00 ($33.00 for ICC members).

APA and ICC Team to Offer 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Seminar

The International Code Council (ICC) and APA - The Engineered Wood Association have reached an agreement to jointly present a 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing seminar as part of the ICC professional code education program. The seminar covers the fundamentals of lateral loads, the technical basis for the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) wood frame wall bracing provisions, as well as the bracing provisions themselves.

Code official, design professional and home builder groups and associations can contract for the seminar directly with the ICC. Course registration and information is available at the ICC website or by calling 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 33818. Attendees of the one-day seminar will earn 0.6 ICC CEU (continuing education unit) credits. Customized training options are also available. Read more.

Sheathing for Profits

Three new APA publications describe economical systems that help builders achieve higher performance with plywood or OSB wall sheathing. These brochures are available as free downloadable PDFs from the APA Publications Library:

Build Profit with Wood Walls, Form J435, provides tips and resources on how to meet design, production, code, safety, energy and green building challenges while building residential construction profitably by fully sheathing with wood structural panels.
Brace Walls with Wood, Form G440, provides guidance on how builders can use wood structural panels to meet code and maximize design flexibility.
Build Energy Efficient Walls, Form J440, provides the five basic steps to constructing energy-saving wood wall systems that meet code, endure nature’s forces and save homeowners money.

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Related Publications:

Advanced Framing Construction Guide: (PDF 4.2 MB, free download)
Introduction to Wall Bracing: (PDF 2.5 MB, free download)
Brace Walls with Wood: (PDF 1.8 MB, free download)
Build Energy Efficient Walls: (PDF 1.6 MB, free download)
Build Profit with Wood Walls: (PDF 2.4 MB, free download)
Technical Note: Understanding the Importance of Structural Wall Sheathing as a Wall Covering: (PDF 335 K, free download)
Technical Note: Portal Frame Bracing Without Hold-Down Devices: (PDF 322 K, free download)
Technical Note: Water Vapor Permeance of Wood Structural Panels and Wood Wall Construction: (PDF 248 K, free download)
Technical Topics: Wind Resistance of Wood Structural Panel Sheathed Walls: (PDF 473 K, free download)

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