For buildings located in Seismic Design Category D in California, what is the maximum building height permitted for ordinary reinforced concrete shear wall systems according to the CBC?
Correct Answer
C) 160 feet
CBC Table 12.2-1 limits ordinary reinforced concrete shear wall systems to 160 feet in Seismic Design Category D. This California seismic provision is critical given the state's high seismic activity and ensures structural systems can adequately resist earthquake forces.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
CBC Table 12.2-1 (based on ASCE 7) limits ordinary reinforced concrete shear wall systems (system designation B5) to 160 feet in Seismic Design Category D. Ordinary RC shear walls lack the special detailing of intermediate or special shear wall systems and therefore have stricter height caps in higher seismic zones to ensure adequate seismic performance.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 120 feet
120 feet is the height limit for ordinary reinforced concrete shear walls in SDC C, not SDC D. Using the wrong seismic category leads to this incorrect answer.
Option B: 240 feet
240 feet is the height limit for special reinforced concrete shear walls in SDC D and E, not ordinary shear walls. Ordinary systems are more restricted because they lack the ductile detailing of special systems.
Option D: 100 feet
100 feet is not a standard code height limit for this system. It may appear plausible as a conservative round number, but it does not match CBC Table 12.2-1 for ordinary RC shear walls in SDC D.
Memory Technique
Remember the progression: SDC D + Ordinary RC Shear Walls = 160 ft. Think of '160' as the 'D-limit' — D is the 4th letter and 160 = 4 × 40. This mnemonic links the category to the number.
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