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Is my engineer crazy?

Last Post 21 Sep 2007 11:49 PM by Chris Johnson. 3 Replies.

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eco-hammer User is Offline

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Posts:37

20 Sep 2007 03:16 AM
Hi Everyone, I'm getting ready to build an ICF house near San Francisco. My plans came back from their first round on plan check and they asked for more shear on the lower North wall. The house is in earthquake country, seismic zone 4, and they're are a lot of openings on the first story, the garage span is 19' x 9½'. My engineer is calling for a 12" core wall for the entire north wall, the rest of the house will be 6".The block I"m using only comes 4",6" & 8". Wouldn't it make sense to make a concrete moment frame 12" thick surrounding the garage opening instead of the entire wall? I'm worried about corner transitions, forming a 20' high wall, attaching foam and finishes, and the enormous amount of added labor this will present. Any help or opinions? Thanks in advance Joe
Attachment: question.pdf Attachment: NORTH WALL.pdf

Chris Johnson User is Offline

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Posts:878

21 Sep 2007 01:09 AM
Talk with your engineer, I too work in the bay area and when plans come in showing 12", 9 out of 10 times the engineer can actually spent the time to calc it out and 10" works and sometimes they even can get 8", but they must spend the time and work the numbers, rather than the usual I know this will work and add it in, which is probably why you have a 12" wall. No offense to your engineer, I am talking typical and yours may not be typical and may have actually calc'd it out, but it doesn't hurt to check with him again.

Chris Johnson - Pro ICF<br>North of 49

eco-hammer User is Offline

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Posts:37

21 Sep 2007 01:49 AM
Today we came up with a plan. If we remove or greatly reduce the size of the window on the right of the garage, he thinks that he can get enough shear to use an 8" block. Thanks Chris. BTW: I think that we talked about this project about a year ago, and you recommended my engineer.