For wood-frame construction in California Seismic Design Category D, what is the maximum spacing for anchor bolts connecting the sill plate to the foundation?
Correct Answer
A) 6 feet on center
CBC Section 2308.3.3 requires anchor bolts to be spaced not more than 6 feet on center for wood sill plates in Seismic Design Category D. Additionally, bolts must be located within 12 inches of each end of each sill plate. This enhanced connection requirement addresses California's high seismic risk.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
CBC Section 2308.3.3 limits anchor bolt spacing to 6 feet on center for sill plates in Seismic Design Category D. Bolts must also be placed within 12 inches of each end of every sill plate piece. The 6-foot maximum ensures adequate shear transfer between the wood frame and concrete foundation to resist lateral seismic forces.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 10 feet on center
10 feet on center is far too wide for SDC D. While some lower-seismic-zone prescriptive rules allow larger spacing, 10 feet would create dangerously long unsupported sill plate segments vulnerable to lateral displacement in an earthquake.
Option C: 8 feet on center
8 feet on center also exceeds the SDC D maximum. This value sometimes appears in older code editions or less seismically active regions but does not reflect the enhanced California requirement.
Option D: 4 feet on center
4 feet on center is more conservative than required. While structurally acceptable, the code sets 6 feet as the maximum — not the target. Requiring 4-foot spacing would increase cost without a code mandate.
Memory Technique
Six-foot rule: 'Sill plates get bolted every SIX feet in California.' Pair it with the end rule: '12 inches from each end' — think of it as bookending the plate within a foot of each edge.
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