D A T A F I L E

Shear Transfer at
Engineered Wood Floors
INTRODUCTION

Over the last couple of decades, the use of engineered wood products for the fabrication of light-frame wood floor
systems has increased in popularity. APA PRI I-joists, APA EWS glulams, APA Performance-Rated Rim Board®, lami-
nated veneer lumber (LVL), laminated strand lumber (LSL), and oriented strand lumber (OSL) are popular due to their
precision, high strength, and superior quality.

As the use of these products expands beyond conventional construction, it is inevitable that questions will arise concern-
ing their use in engineered applications. One such question concerns the use of APA joists and APA Performance-Rated
Rim Board around the perimeter of the structure in engineered applications where the wood floors are designed as
diaphragms and the walls above are designed as shear walls.

In such applications, the engineered wood product forming the rim joist/board around a floor system is subject to a
number of loads not normally considered in conventional, non-engineered applications. These additional engineering
considerations include:
• Transfer of shear wall forces from the walls above into the foundation/wall framing below
• Diaphragm perimeter nailing
• Shear transfer of diaphragm loads to the foundation/wall framing below
Such design forces result in attachment requirements that invariably exceed normal minimal fastening requirements
found in the building codes. The challenge to the designer is to detail these critical connections such that all of the
applied loads are transferred through the connection in an economical and practical way.

C A PAC IT Y OF A PA E NGIN E E R E D WOOD R I M JOI S TS

APA Rim Board (and Rim Board Plus): The International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code for
One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC) are consistent in prescriptively requiring the rim joist to be attached to structural
framing below with 8d (0.131 x 2.5 inches) common toenails spaced at 6 inches on center for conventional construction
and one- and two-family dwellings, respectively. While this attachment schedule is sufficient to develop 180 to 200 plf
of lateral load capacity required for the conventional construction provisions of the building codes, it falls short of devel-
oping the actual lateral load capacity of the rim joist products which exceeds 1,000 plf. The actual lateral load capacity,
limited by panel shear through thickness, for APA Rim Board is 2,300 plf for 1-inch-thick product and 3,000 plf for
1-1/8-inch-thick board. Spacing toenails closer than 6 inches on center to increase the shear-transfer capacity of the rim
joist must be considered with extreme caution. Closer spacing may cause splitting in some rim joist products, and an
increased lateral load capacity may not actually be achieved using this technique. Framing anchors or blocking as shown
in Details A1, B1, and B3, along with the information in the Appendices may be used to develop the additional lateral
capacity required, when using APA Rim Board for transferring shear loads through floors.
Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

APA PRI I-joists: Similar to APA Rim Board products, PRI I-joists may be used as rim joists at diaphragm perimeters.
By virtue of their flanges, however, toenails are unnecessary, making I-joists considerably easier to attach to structural
framing both above and below the joist, as shown in Details A through C.

However, due to the propensity for flange splitting in close nail spacings for some I-joist configurations, the
diaphragm lateral load capacities are limited by the minimum nail spacing recommended by the I-joist manufactur-
ers, as may be published in an APA Product Report or a code evaluation report. In some cases, staggered nails may be
necessary to develop the full diaphragm lateral load capacities.

Mixing Engineered Wood Products and Sawn Lumber –

Preventing Incompatibilities

Mixing engineered wood products and sawn lumber structure reach equilibrium moisture content with
in a roof or floor system should never be done with- their surroundings, the sawn-lumber blocking and
out a careful analysis of the potential consequences. rim joists shrink while the I-joists do not. As a result,
lumber components are not “available” to carry
Engineered wood products are manufactured at very
the applied vertical load that they were designed to
low moisture contents (5 percent or lower) and to a
carry, thus potentially overloading the I-joists.
high degree of dimensional accuracy. Sawn lumber
products, on the other hand, are sized and sold This is one of the reasons that engineered wood
at moisture contents often in excess of 16 percent. products are manufactured in depths different from
When used together on a job site, the engineered nominal sawn lumber products. A nominal 2 x 10
wood products have a tendency to expand due to (actual dimensions 1-1/2 inches x 9-1/4 inches) may
increased moisture content while the sawn lumber not easily be used to block a 9-1/2-inch-deep I-joist.
products are subject to shrinkage as they dry. In situ- As discussed above, sawn lumber is not effective for
ations where lumber and engineered wood products such applications and should never be used without
are used together and are intended to “share” verti- careful consideration.
cal loads in floor or roof systems, this differential
There are applications, such as diaphragm block-
shrinkage can lead to situations that must be consid-
ing, “squash” blocks, backer or filler blocking, where
ered by the design professional.
sawn lumber is acceptable for use in conjunction
The use of sawn lumber blocking or rim joists in with engineered wood products. In these applica-
conjunction with wood I-joists in a floor system is a tions, the sawn lumber member either does not carry
classic example. In such situations, blocking and rim vertical loads or is used in such a way that the load
joist materials are used, at least in part, to assist the is applied to end grain (little or no dimension change
wood I-joist in distributing vertical loads from the due to moisture content in the end grain direction) in
building above, through the floor system, and into specifically sized members.
the structure below. As the building materials in the

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Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

DI A PH R AGM PE R I M ETE R N A ILING

In conventional non-engineered construction applications, the floor or roof diaphragm is prescriptively described
in the building codes. In these applications, the floor sheathing – normally wood structural panel sheathing – is
attached to the floor perimeter framing with 8d (0.131 x 2.5 inches) nails at 6 inches on center. In engineered
applications, the design loads and geometry of the structure may dictate a diaphragm perimeter nailing schedule
of 6 or 4 inches on center, or less. The performance of some engineered wood products, such as engineered wood
rim joists, can be adversely impacted by these closer nail spacing schedules. In such applications, it is important
to develop design details to accommodate these loads and their corresponding close nailing schedules without
compromising the integrity of the
rim joist. Refer to the recommen-
DETAIL A1
dations from the engineered wood
DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING (APPENDIX A) – APA RIM BOARD
product manufacturer.
Diaphragm nailing
Details A1 and A2 illustrate methods 6 inches o.c. max.
that may be used to accommodate
Blocking
diaphragm perimeter nailing require-
Additional perimeter
ments. (Note that in these and diaphragm nailing
subsequent details some required
Double Rim Board
nailing irrelevant to the subject is starter joist required
under shear wall or
eliminated for clarity. Only nailing provide bridging to
appropriate for transferring lateral next joist at 4 feet o.c.
along the full length
loads or providing potential inter- of starter joist.
ference is shown.)

DETAIL A2

DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING (APPENDIX A) – APA I-JOIST RIM BOARD

Diaphragm
nailing

Additional perimeter
diaphragm nailing
(Staggered as
recommended by the
I-joist manufacturer)

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Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

S H E A R TR A N S F E R OF DI A PH R AGM LOA DS TO TH E FOUN DATION/

WA LL F R A M ING B E LOW
In cases where either Detail A1 or A2 is used to transfer higher diaphragm shear values into the diaphragm
perimeter framing (the rim joist), it is essential that the attachment schedule at the base of this framing be adjusted
to accommodate this additional load into the foundation or framing below. The minimum nailing recommendations
published in the model building codes for rim board to framing connections are insufficient to transfer the additional
diaphragm loads that precipitated the use of 2-, 2-1/2-, or even 4-inch-on-center diaphragm perimeter nailing
schedules. Care must be taken when installing these additional fasteners to prevent splitting of the framing members.
In addition, nail and lumber specifications must provide for a minimum depth of penetration that allows full
connection capacity.

Details B1 through B4 are provided to give the designer some examples of methods used to accommodate these loads
at the base of the rim joist. (See Appendices A, B and C for single nail capacities.)

DETAIL B1 DETAIL B2
DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING (PANEL-TO-LUMBER, DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING (APPENDIX B) –
APPENDIX A)(LUMBER-TO-LUMBER, APPENDIX B) – APA I-JOIST RIM BOARD
APA RIM BOARD

Additional Toenails
diaphragm
perimeter Additional
nailing diaphragm
perimeter
nailing
Toenails

Wall or Wall or
foundation foundation
below below

DETAIL B3 DETAIL B4

DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING USING FRAMING DIAPHRAGM PERIMETER NAILING USING FRAMING
ANCHORS (APPENDIX C) – APA RIM BOARD ANCHORS (APPENDIX C) – APA I-JOIST RIM BOARD

Shear Shear
transfer plate transfer plate
(Plate capacity (Plate capacity
selected to transfer selected to transfer
diaphragm shear) diaphragm shear)
Toenails
Wall or
Wall or
foundation
foundation
below
below

Verify fastening limitations with I-joist manufacturer prior to use

with LVL flanges.

Note: Nail Spacing shall be in accordance with the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood Construction or the manufacturer’s recommendations.

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TR A N S F E R OF S H E A R WA LL FORC E S F ROM TH E WA LL S A BOV E

INTO TH E FOUN DATION/ WA LL F R A M ING B E LOW
In engineered construction, lateral loads are transferred from the roof and floor diaphragms, through the shear
walls, and eventually down into the foundation. Because most wood structures today are platform framed (i.e.,
the interior and exterior walls sit on the floor below), special detailing is required to transfer the forces from shear
walls above to the walls or foundation below. As previously discussed, it is not always possible to transfer these
forces from a shear wall above directly to the rim board below because of the possibility of splitting the framing
forming the rim board.

For this reason, various methods have been developed to safely transfer forces around this critical connection.
Details C1 and C2 follow the same pattern, in that they provide for all shear panel edges to occur over and be
attached to common framing. Note that prior to making connections into the side of LVL flanges at engineered
wood I-joists, the I-joist manufacturers should be contacted for fastener limitations. If connections are made at the
web of the I-joist or at an APA Rim Board, backer blocking should be attached to ensure minimum nail penetration
into framing (8d shear nailing requires 1-3/8 inches while 10d nailing requires 1-1/2 inches). (See Appendices A
and B for single nail capacities.)

Similar attachment must be provided in those areas when shear-transfer nailing from the shear walls above is not
accommodated by the fastener details described in Details C1 and C2. Detail C3 shows the transfer of shear wall
forces “around” the floor-diaphragm-to-rim-board connection and directly into rim board. At the bottom of the
rim board, additional nailing is required to transfer the shear wall forces into the foundation below. In Details C4
and C5, these shear wall forces are shown being transferred directly into the sill plate. (See Appendices A and B for
nail capacities.)

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 Stapled sheet Shear limitations
or or metal blocking transfer with I-joist
plate manufacturer
prior to use
Panel joint Panel joint with LVL
Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors flanges.

DETAIL C1
TRANSFER OF SHEAR WALL FORCES BETWEEN FLOORS (PANEL-TO-LUMBER, APPENDIX A; METAL
CONNECTORS-TO-LUMBER, APPENDIX B; SHEET METAL BLOCKING, APPENDIX D) – APA I-JOIST RIM BOARD

OPTION 1 OPTION 4 Stapled sheet

metal blocking
Nail into
wood Panel joint
framing

Panel joint

Stapled sheet
metal blocking

Panel joint

Design stapled sheet metal blocking in accordance with APA

Technical Note: Stapled Sheet Metal Blocking for APA Panel
Diaphragms, Form N370. See also Appendix D.

OPTION 2 OPTION 5

Nail into
wood
framing

Shear
transfer
plate
Panel joint Verify fastening
limitations
with I-joist
manufacturer
prior to use with
LVL flanges.

OPTION 3

Panel joint

Nail into
wood
blocking

Panel joint

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Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

DETAIL C2

TRANSFER OF SHEAR WALL FORCES BETWEEN FLOORS (PANEL-TO-LUMBER APPENDIX A;

METAL CONNECTORS-TO-LUMBER, APPENDIX B; SHEET METAL BLOCKING, APPENDIX D) – APA RIM BOARD

OPTION 1 OPTION 4

Nail into wood

framing

Additional nails
Double Rim Board holding double
starter joist required Rim Board
under shear wall or together
provide bridging to
next joist at 4 feet o.c.
along the full length Minimum nail
of starter joist. penetration 1-3/8
inches for 8d
1-1/2 inches
APA Rim Board for 10d

OPTION 2 OPTION 5
Panel joint Stapled sheet
metal blocking

APA Rim Board APA Rim Board

Double Rim Double Rim Board

Board starter joist starter joist required
required under under shear wall or
shear wall or provide bridging to
provide bridging next joist at 4 feet o.c.
to next joist at 4 along the full length
feet o.c. along of starter joist.
the full length of
starter joist.
Nail into wood Stapled sheet
framing Panel joint metal blocking

Design stapled sheet metal blocking in accordance with APA Technical

Note: Stapled Sheet Metal Blocking for APA Panel Diaphragms,
Form N370. See also Appendix D.

OPTION 3 OPTION 6

Nail into wood Additional

framing nails holding
block in place(a)

Double Rim Board

starter joist
required under
Minimum nail shear wall or
penetration 1-3/8 provide bridging
inches for 8d to next joist at 4
1-1/2 inches feet o.c. along the
for 10d full length of
APA Rim Board starter joist.
Shear transfer
plate

(a) Engineering analysis using design equations in the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood Construction, may prove additional blocking
unnecessary. If shear wall occurs over starter joist, double rim board may take place of additional blocking.

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DETAIL C3

TRANSFER OF SHEAR WALL FORCES AT FOUNDATION (APPENDIX A)

– APA RIM BOARD

Shear wall above

Shear wall edge nailing

Additional nails holding
block in place(a)
Code required nailing
Shear transfer nailing
Foundation below
Non-structural sheathing to prevent
I-joist exposure to exterior

DETAIL C4

TRANSFER OF SHEAR WALL FORCES AT FOUNDATION (APPENDIX A) –

APA I-JOIST RIM BOARD

Shear wall above

Code required nailing

Shear wall edge nailing

Foundation below

DETAIL C5

TRANSFER OF SHEAR WALL FORCES AT FOUNDATION (APPENDIX A) –

APA RIM BOARD

Shear wall above

Double Rim Board starter

joist required under shear wall
or provide bridging to next
joist at 4 feet o. c. along the full
length of starter joist.
Code required nailing

Shear wall edge nailing

Foundation below

(a) Engineering analysis using design equations in the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood
Construction, may prove additional blocking unnecessary. If shear wall occurs over starter joist, double
rim board may take place of additional blocking.

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Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

F R A M ING A NC HOR S

In addition to the direct attachment methods, framing anchors may also be used to transfer forces between the
various elements of the structural frame. It is important to install all framing anchors in accordance with manufac-
turer’s recommendations. If necessary to nail into I-joist LVL flanges parallel to the gluelines when installing framing
anchors, check with the I-joist manufacturer for nailing limitations. (See Appendix C for nail capacities.)

DE S IGN E X A M PLE

An engineer is tasked with designing a two-story, platform-framed wood structure with a tile roof. As the structure
is located in an area of high seismicity (SDC D2) and because of the mass of the roof, it is determined that the shear
walls sitting on the second floor have a design requirement of 380 plf. The shear load along the edge of the second
floor diaphragm parallel to the shear wall in question is 175 plf in the direction under consideration.

Since the capacity of the APA Performance Rated Rim Board with the minimum code-required nailing is 180 plf, no
additional fastening is required, or permitted at the perimeter of the diaphragm along this edge.

The engineer has selected 7/16 Performance Category OSB for use as wall sheathing. Because all of the capacity at
the floor sheathing-to-rim board connection available to transfer the diaphragm shear has been effectively utilized,
the engineer knows that it is important not to apply any additional load to that connection. As such, it is decided to
use the wall sheathing to transfer the shear wall forces “around” the rim board utilizing one of the methods shown in
Detail C2.

Option 4 in Detail C2 is selected. The shear walls are being attached with 8d common (0.131 x 2.5 inches) nails. The
engineer decides to use this same size nail to transfer the shear stresses between floors as follows:
• With 7/16 Performance Category APA OSB wall sheathing (a side member 7/16-inch thick) and a main member
made up of two layers of 1-1/8-inch APA OSB Rim Board (a depth of penetration of 1-3/8 inches is required to
develop the nail capacities) an unadjusted single nail capacity of 103 pounds per nail can be found in Appendix A.
• Number of fasteners required = 380/103 = 3.69 fasteners per foot.
• Distance between fasteners = 12/3.69 = 3.25 inches. Use 3 inches on center both above and below the OSB wall
sheathing joint at the double rim board.

Had it been decided to use option 1 in Detail C2, and the OSB sheathing panel joint was to be made at the spruce-
pine-fir bottom plate of the wall above, the calculations would be as follows:
• With 7/16 Performance Category OSB wall sheathing (a side member 7/16-inch thick) and a spruce-pine-fir
(G = 0.42) main member, an unadjusted single nail capacity of 96 pounds per nail can be found in Appendix A.
• Number of fasteners required = 380/96 = 3.95 fasteners per foot.
• Distance between fasteners = 12/3.95 = 3.03 inches. Again, use 3 inches on center.

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Data File: Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors

A PPE N DI X A

TABLE A

SINGLE FACE NAIL CAPACITIES FOR ATTACHMENT OF WOOD STRUCTURAL PANELS (lbf/nail)
(Use for transfer-of-shear nailing shown in Details A1 or A2, B1, and C1, C2, C3, C4, or C5.)
Thickness of Wood Structural Panel SIDE MEMBER (in.)
Common Nail Size Specific Gravity of
(length x diameter) MAIN MEMBER (G) 5/16 3/8 7/16 15/32 19/32
G ≥ 0.50 99 101 103 104 109
8d
0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 97 98 110 101 106
(0.131" x 2-1/2")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 95 94 96 97 103

G ≥ 0.50 112 122 123 124 130

10d
0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 112 118 119 120 126
(0.148" x 3")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 112 113 115 116 122
Notes:
a. Nail penetration into the main member of 1-3/8 inches for 8d nails and 1-1/2 inches for 10d nails is required to use the values listed above.
This table assumes the minimum nail spacing, as recommended by the engineered wood product manufacturer for the specific end-use
application, is met.
b. The Main Member is the member that receives the point of the fastener. The Side Member is the wood structural panel member that supports
the head of the fastener.
c. Values given above include a 1.6 duration of load adjustment for wind and seismic design.
d. Side Member wood structural panel values are appropriate for all grades of plywood and OSB and are based on an equivalent specific grav-
ity (G) of 0.42.
e. Above calculations are based on the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood Construction, except as noted in Note a.
f. Specific Gravity (G) of common framing members:
Species G
Structural I Plywood 0.50
OSB 0.50
Plywood Rated Sheathing 0.42
Douglas-fir-Larch 0.50
Hem-Fir 0.43
Hem-Fir (North) 0.46
Englemann Spruce-Lodgepole Pine (E=1,500,000 psi and greater, MSR and MEL) 0.46
Southern Pine 0.55
Spruce-Pine-Fir 0.42
Spruce-Pine-Fir (E of 2,000,000 and greater MSR and MEL) 0.50
g. When the Main Member is an LVL I-joist flange, contact I-joist manufacturer for appropriate equivalent specific gravity

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A PPE N DI X B

TABLE B

SINGLE FACE-NAIL CAPACITIES FOR I-JOIST FLANGES AND LUMBER FRAMING (lbf/nail)
(Use for transfer-of-shear nailing shown in Details A1, B1, B2, B3, B4, C2, C3, and C5.)
Thickness of SIDE MEMBER (in.)
Common Nail Size Specific Gravity of Specific Gravity of
(length x diameter) SIDE MEMBER (G) MAIN MEMBER (G) 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2
G ≥ 0.50 155 155 155 155 143
G ≥ 0.50 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 151 151 151 151 140
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 140 142 142 142 134
G ≥ 0.50 149 149 149 149 139
8d
0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 144 144 144 139 128
(0.131" x 2-1/2")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 138 138 135 125 116
G ≥ 0.50 140 142 142 142 134
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 136 138 138 134 123
0.46 > G 0.42 132 132 131 121 112
G ≥ 0.50 188 188 188 188 188
G ≥ 0.50 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 181 181 181 181 181
0.46 > G 0.42 172 172 172 172 172
G ≥ 0.50 181 181 181 181 181
10d
0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 175 175 175 175 175
(0.148" x 3")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 167 167 167 167 167
G ≥ 0.50 162 172 172 172 172
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 158 167 167 167 167
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 153 160 160 160 160
Notes:
a. Nail penetration into the main member of 1-1/2 inches for 8d nails and 1-5/8 inches for 10d nails is required to use the values listed above.
This table assumes the minimum nail spacing, as recommended by the engineered wood product manufacturer for the specific end-use
application, is met.
b. The Main Member is the member that receives the point of the fastener. The Side Member is the member that supports the head of the fastener.
c. Values given above include a 1.6 duration of load adjustment for wind and seismic design.
d. Above calculations are based on the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood Construction, except as noted in Note a.
e. Specific Gravity (G) of common framing members:
Species G
Structural I Plywood 0.50
OSB 0.50
Plywood Rated Sheathing 0.42
Douglas-fir-Larch 0.50
Hem-Fir 0.43
Hem-Fir (North) 0.46
Englemann Spruce-Lodgepole Pine (E=1,500,000 psi and greater MSR and MEL) 0.46
Southern Pine 0.55
Spruce-Pine-Fir 0.42
Spruce-Pine-Fir (E of 2,000,000 and greater MSR and MEL) 0.50
f. When the Main Member is an LVL I-joist flange, contact I-joist manufacturer for appropriate equivalent specific gravity.

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A PPE N DI X C

TABLE C

CAPACITIES OF A SINGLE NAILED CONNECTION WITH METAL SIDE PLATES/FRAMING ANCHORS (lbf/nail)
(Use for transfer-of-shear nailing shown in Details B3, B4, C1, and C2, in accordance with manufacturer’s
recommendations.)
Common Nail Size Gauge of Specific Gravity of Thickness of Lumber Main Member (in.)
(length x diameter) Metal Side Plates MAIN MEMBER (G) 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2
G ≥ 0.50 152 152 152 152 152
18 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 142 142 142 142 142
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 131 131 131 131 131
G ≥ 0.50 154 154 154 154 154
8d
16 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 144 144 144 144 144
(0.131" x 2-1/2")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 133 133 133 133 133
G ≥ 0.50 159 159 159 159 159
14 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 149 149 149 149 149
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 136 137 137 137 137

G ≥ 0.50 183 183 183 183 183

18 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 171 171 171 171 171
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 149 158 158 158 158
G ≥ 0.50 186 186 186 186 186
10d
16 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 174 174 174 174 174
(0.148" x 3")
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 150 160 160 160 160
G ≥ 0.50 190 190 190 190 190
14 gauge 0.50 > G ≥ 0.46 178 178 178 178 178
0.46 > G ≥ 0.42 153 165 165 165 165
Notes:
a. The dowel bearing strength of steel side plates = 45 ksi.
b. The Main Member is the member that receives the point of the fastener. The Metal Side Plate is the member that supports the head of the
fastener.
c. Values given above include a duration of load adjustment of 1.6 for wind and seismic design.
d. Above calculations are based on the 2015 National Design Specification for Wood Construction.
e. Specific Gravity (G) of common framing members:
Species G
Structural I Plywood 0.50
OSB 0.50
Plywood Rated Sheathing 0.42
Douglas-fir-Larch 0.50
Hem-Fir 0.43
Hem-Fir (North) 0.46
Englemann Spruce-Lodgepole Pine (E=1,500,000 psi and greater MSR and MEL) 0.46
Southern Pine 0.55
Spruce-Pine-Fir 0.42
Spruce-Pine-Fir (E of 2,000,000 and greater MSR and MEL) 0.50
f. When the Main Member is an LVL I-joist flange, contact I-joist manufacturer for appropriate equivalent specific gravity.

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A PPE N DI X D

Stapled Sheet Metal Blocking (Use for transfer shear from panel-to-panel without blocking as shown in Details C1
and C2.)

Recommended design shear values for stapled sheet metal blocking are given in Table D. Panel edges between fram-
ing shall be supported by tongue-and-groove joints or panel clips. Recommendations are also applicable to two-layer
systems where edge joints of the top layer are staggered from those of the bottom layer.

Performance is sensitive to staple overdriving, particularly when using 26-gauge sheet metal strips. For this reason
it is recommended that full inspection of workmanship be considered when sheet metal blocking is used. Staples
should be driven so that the staple crown is flush with the top surface of the metal strip. Install staples with crowns
oriented perpendicular to the plywood face grain or panel major axis.

TABLE D

RECOMMENDED DESIGN SHEAR (lbf per staple)(a)

Gauge Minimum Panel Thickness (in.)
Sheet
APA Panel Grade Staple Metal(b) 5/16 3/8 15/32 19/32 23/32
16 26 26 38 58 82 82
APA Structural I Rated Sheathing 16 24 26 38 58 82 82
14(c) 24 – – 75 120 120
16 26 22 35 51 75 82
APA Rated Sheathing 16 24 22 35 51 75 82
14(c) 24 – – 72 108 120
Notes:
a. Values given above include a duration of load adjustment of 1.6 for wind and seismic design.
b. Strips 3 inches wide.
c. 14-gauge staples through 26-gauge metal strips not recommended.

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 Shear Transfer at Engineered Wood Floors
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For additional assistance in specifying engineered wood products, contact us:

A PA H E A D Q UA R TE R S
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P RO D U C T SU P P O R T H E LP D E S K
(253) 620-7400
E-mail Address: help@apawood.org

DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein is based on APA – The Engineered Wood Association’s
­continuing programs of laboratory testing, product research, and comprehensive field experi-
ence. Neither APA, nor its members make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assume any
legal liability or responsibility for the use, application of, and/or reference to opinions, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations included in this publication. Consult your local jurisdiction or
design professional to assure compliance with code, construction, and performance require-
ments. Because APA has no control over quality of workmanship or the conditions under which
engineered wood products are used, it cannot accept responsibility of product performance or
designs as actually constructed.

Form No. Y250A/Revised June 2015