Framing & StructuralQuestion 449 of 700
Under the raised floor of a dwelling, short stud walls between the foundation and the first-floor framing (cripple walls) exceeding a nominal height must be braced primarily to resist what?
a.Vertical settlement of the footing
b.Lateral (seismic and wind) forces that could cause the walls to rack and the house to slide off
c.Frost heave beneath the slab
d.Termite entry at the mud sill
Explanation
Cripple walls are a known weak point in earthquakes; when tall enough they must be braced with wood structural panels to resist lateral racking that can drop a house off its foundation. Settlement is a footing issue, frost heave concerns cold-climate slabs, and termite entry is addressed by other measures, not bracing.
Law Reference: 2025 CA Residential Code §R602.9Practice all 700 questions free — no signup required.
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