Thread: Strap bracing

The double diagonal strap bracing is usually done on the deck the same as 'angle' bracing.
It's rated at 3Kn/meter against 0.8 for a double angle brace and the one shown in your gif is not done correctly. Gun nails on bracing . . . I don't like them but if done correctly they'd be passed.

SW,
can be fitted before wall is stood, or after, whichever you prefer, but studs should not be notched out.

Mick

Your right Mick but normally the double diagonal is now done on the deck and squared up and permanently fixed before the walls are stood.
With the old metal angle brace you could tack it in place & give some stability to the wall & then plumb up the frame at the end & nail it home.

Thanks for the reply's, but now I have a couple of questions,
1. Why is the bracing in the picture not done correctly.
2. This hand nail v gun nail thing is crazy. Gun nailing is all I ever see done these days so is it allowed or not? or is a blind eye being used.

Thanks

I had another look at the bracing and suspect it may not be done correctly because of the overlap. To make things easier to judge here is the complete side of the house.

1. The short strap [at left] from the top plate to the stud should be on the stud directly next to the cross brace strap.
2. Gun nails are good as long as they don't deform the strap. If the air pressure is too great they can penetrate [which would be obvious] or partially penetrate the strap -because it is thinner than angle- possibly giving a lessor bracing capacity down the track - to my mind there is more control over a hammer driven fixing.

OK you beat me to it with your post SW
Frankly that frame with the tie downs looks like a high wind area and it looks like a first year apprentance has been given the job of doing the bracing - my apologies to all apprentices. I would not pass the frame inspection & would be interested to know if it was.

Thanks again for the reply,
I dont know if the bracing was questioned by the council or inspector (not my house) but the house was completed about 18 months ago. Is in a cat3 area, Yorke Peninsula SA

So the problem is with the stud wall plate straps, not the flat angle brace.
I didn't think the BCA specified that the stud strap tie downs had to be positioned on the ajacent stud to the angle strap fixing. These straps are nominally placed at 1200 centres (every 2 studs) or is it a requirement for placement at angle bracing fixing points as well?

I was wrong sleeping wood.
I jumped to conclusions about the bracing type from your first image.
The top plate strap to the stud is for tie down & separate to the brace.
With angle bracing there are basically 4 types -
1. The galv metal angle fixed to the studs with one 30*2.8 gal f/head & 2 to the plates rated at 0.8 kN/met.
2. Galv. metal angle the same with additional straps from plates to stud on the closest stud to where the angle meets the plate. 3 nails each end. - rated at 1.5 kN/met
3. Tensioned metal strap with one nail to the studs & 3 to the plates - rated at 1.5 kN/met [would be the type in your image]
4. Tensioned metal strap taken over or under the plate with 4 nails and metal straps [inside the bace area] to stud, over plate & back onto stud with 4 nails each end. - rated at 3.0 kN/met.

Plans are required to show a bracing layout & type for council.
As an example. With a rectangular home, areas in m2 are calculated on the side elevation & the end elevation, from a point at half the ceiling height and upwards including the roof area. From this the resistane required by the braces is determined.
e.g if the area in direction 'A' was 60m2 then you would need about 8/ 3.0 kN/met braces [ 8*3.0*2.7 met] or around 28 diagonal angle braces [28/0.8*2.7]

G'day Peter,We've been washed out to-day (very,very unusual,and very welcome rain)and was sitting here reading the local paper and came across an article I thought might be interesting to you as I think it is somewhere in your area.The article concerns a father and son "team"who have been jailed for removing $1.5 million worth of ferns and timber from native forests near the Strzelecki Ranges.It goes on to give the details of the damage done etc.I've heard of people taking ferns etc out of the forests but didn't realise the scale and value of this type of thing.Was it reported in the local paper?There were aerial pictures of the damage and it seemed to be fairly extensive,so must have been over a long time I'd say. Regards Terry

Good news with the rain Terry. We've got an easterly here at the moment & covered in fog - but no rain. How about sharing?
Yes, the fern episide was about half an hour from here. I believe the son also got a fine for assaulting a DSE member.