In California Seismic Design Category D regions, what is the maximum height limit for wood frame construction under the CBC?
Correct Answer
B) 65 feet
CBC Section 2308.12.2.1 allows wood frame construction up to 65 feet in Seismic Design Category D, provided specific detailing requirements are met. This California provision recognizes the state's high seismic risk while allowing reasonable building heights with appropriate structural design and connections.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B (65 feet) is correct per CBC Section 2308.12.2.1, which permits wood frame construction up to 65 feet in Seismic Design Category D provided all required seismic detailing is incorporated. California's code establishes this higher-than-typical limit to accommodate common building types while ensuring safety through strict structural requirements.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 35 feet
Option A (35 feet) is incorrect. While 35 feet may seem like a conservative seismic limit, the CBC does not impose this as the maximum for wood frame in SDC D. Confusing this with other height-related limits (such as those for certain non-engineered construction) leads to this error.
Option C: 45 feet
Option C (45 feet) is incorrect. There is no CBC provision establishing 45 feet as the wood frame height limit in SDC D. This distractor may be confused with height limits in lower seismic design categories or with limits for specific occupancy types.
Option D: No height limit with proper engineering
Option D ('No height limit with proper engineering') is incorrect. Even with full engineering, the CBC imposes prescriptive height limits on wood frame construction in high-seismic zones. Unlimited height for wood framing is not permitted regardless of the quality of structural design.
Memory Technique
Remember '65 feet in SDC D' by associating the letter D (4th letter) with the number — and 65 is nearly twice 35 (a common wrong answer). Alternatively, note that 65 feet is roughly 5–6 stories, a common mid-rise wood apartment building height in California.
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