You are constructing a two-story wood frame building in Seismic Design Category D. The plans show a large opening in a shear wall on the first floor. According to CBC, what is the maximum length of opening allowed without requiring special design?
Correct Answer
A) 8 feet
CBC allows openings up to 8 feet in length in shear walls without special design provisions, provided the wall segments meet minimum length requirements and proper connection details are used.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Under CBC provisions for wood-framed shear walls in Seismic Design Category D, openings up to 8 feet in length are permitted without triggering special design requirements, provided that the adjacent wall segments meet minimum length requirements and proper hold-down and connection details are used. This is the prescriptive limit — exceeding it requires engineered design.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: No specific limit if properly designed
While it is true that any opening can be designed with engineering analysis, the CBC does establish a prescriptive maximum beyond which special design is automatically required. Saying 'no specific limit if properly designed' sidesteps the code's prescriptive threshold, which the question is specifically asking about.
Option C: 4 feet
4 feet is too conservative — the code permits larger openings up to 8 feet without special design. Applying a 4-foot limit would unnecessarily restrict shear wall design and is not the CBC's prescriptive threshold for SDC D.
Option D: 6 feet
6 feet is below the actual 8-foot prescriptive maximum. While a 6-foot opening would certainly be acceptable, it is not the maximum allowed — the code permits up to 8 feet before special design becomes mandatory.
Memory Technique
Think '8 feet = no engineer needed for the opening.' An 8-foot opening is roughly a standard double-door or garage door size — common in residential construction. The code set this limit to match real-world residential needs while maintaining structural integrity when adjacent piers are properly detailed.
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