Top-Plate Splice Bending Reinforcement
When wind uplift restraint systems are installed in accordance with ICC-ES ESR-1161 and the designer wants to use the bending capacity of both top plates and not just one, top-plate splice reinforcement must be installed at all locations in which there is a discontinuity in one of the top-plate members, such as the top-plate splice. This is to reinforce the top plate in bending. The splice reinforcement must be attached using Simpson Strong-Tie 1/4" x 4 1/2" Strong-Drive® SDS Heavy-Duty Connector screws. For top-plate splices that are approximately centered between two adjacent studs in the wall below, reinforcement must be installed as depicted in Figure 1 below. For top-plate splices that are not centered between two adjacent studs in the wall below, reinforcement must be installed as shown in Figure 2 below as well.
Figure 1
Top-Plate Splice: Bending Reinforcement(Splice Between Studs)
Figure 2
Top-Plate Splice: Bending Reinforcement(Splice Centered Over Studs)
