Framing & StructuralQuestion 344 of 700
At the ends of a shear wall, why is blocking installed at horizontal panel joints in a 'blocked' shear wall?
a.To hold insulation in place
b.To provide continuous framing so panel edges can be nailed and shear can transfer across the joint
c.To act as fireblocking only
d.To hang the drywall
Explanation
In a blocked shear wall, solid blocking behind horizontal panel joints gives every panel edge continuous framing to nail to, allowing the wall to reach its higher rated shear capacity by transferring load across the joint. Insulation support, fireblocking, and drywall hanging are not the structural purpose of shear-wall edge blocking.
Law Reference: 2025 CA Residential Code §R602.10.8Practice all 700 questions free — no signup required.
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