Garage Portal systems provide increased lateral resistance over site-built shearwalls in locations where space is at a premium. Portal walls shall be installed with a minimum 12" nominal deep header for adequate shear nailing. Because the portal walls and header are tested as a system, the resulting portal frame offers superior engineered performance over site-built walls.

See installation information.

Detail 1 – Single- and Double-Wall Garage Portal

1. Beam to support post and support post to foundation uplift connectors may be reduced where justified by calculations.
2. This detail reflects lateral load requirements of a Single- and Double-Wall Portal system. It is the Designer’s responsibility to provide a complete load path for all loads in accordance with the governing codes.
3. System rating equals the sum of the Single- and Double-Wall Portal values.
4. Alternate Installation: A single-piece header (no camber) may be substituted for the two headers shown. The design rating for this condition may then be evaluated as the sum of the individual single-wall ratings.
5. Longer header spans can be accommodated if larger headers are used such that equivalent stiffness is equal to or greater than that provided by the minimum header and maximum length indicated.
6. Simpson Strong-Tie® LTP4 and LSTA24 (by Designer) are minimum requirements to achieve the allowable loads..

Detail 2 – Single-Wall Garage Portal

1. Beam to support post and support post to foundation uplift connectors may be reduced where justified by calculations.
2. This detail reflects lateral load requirements of a Single-Wall Portal system. It is the Designer’s responsibility to provide a complete load path for all loads in accordance with the governing codes.
3. Longer header spans can be accommodated if larger headers are used such that equivalent stiffness is equal to or greater than that provided by the minimum header and maximum length indicated.
4. Simpson Strong-Tie® STHD10 and LSTA24 (by Designer) are minimum requirements to achieve the allowable loads.

1. Recommended minimum 5/8"x12" mudsill anchor.

Naming Scheme:

• 2006 IBC Allowable Shear & Drift Values;
  and Multi-Ply Headers for Garage Portal Walls - Allowable Load per Portal Wall (PDF)
• Allowable Vertical and Out-of-Plane Loads for Strong-Wall Panels (PDF)

• ICC-ES ESR-1267 (PDF) Revised 8/1/08
• City of L.A. RR 25427 (PDF)
• State of Florida FL11177 (PDF)