Hacker News Reader

I'm kinda curious about this. Under the International Building Code, you can build wood frame buildings up to 6 storeys tall [0]. Granted, this is not actually wood frame construction, but I don't see why a building built this way would be any less structurally sound than a traditionally built wood frame building.

---

[0]: https://seagatemasstimber.com/how-tall-are-tall-wood-buildin...

View on HN

Maybe it has to do with lack of bracing? When my home was being built I noticed lots of metal straps going between studs in an X-formation. I wonder if that was to make lots of triangles to add rigidity?

Yes.

This can also be provided by sheet materials like plywood, securely attached, providing diagonal structure preventing racking of the frame.

In older houses, sheathed with one inch by eight or ten or twelve inch boards, diagonal wood bracing was cut into the two by four inch wall studs for diagonal bracing and structure.

You can built wood frame buildings much taller. And wood framing is stiffer especially if you are using mass timber.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com