Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Re: Plywood over light gage shear wall

Bob,
Thanks.  I was just reiterating the requirements from the code.  Last night I was able to locate some dimensions on the internet.  It appears that it is a #8 flat head screw.  that is the minimum head diameter allowed.  it appears that a #8 flat head can have up to a .332" diameter.  close to the 3/8" you are talking about.
Jim

On 5/23/07, Robert Kazanjy <rkazanjy@gmail.com> wrote:
Jim-

That's a pretty small head diameter for a self driller / tapper for use in plywood

A number of years ago we did plywood shear wall (CoLA Shear Test Program) over steel studs & I recall that the screw heads were more like 3/8" or even larger.  

I don't have the data readily available due to a crash   .........  archived  somewhere

Maybe the specs have been changed but it seems to me that a bigger head (3/8 or 7/16) would be better than .292" .  A head dia of .292 seems  pretty skimpy.

The screws were #8's or 10's


cheers
 Bob


On 5/22/07, Jim Bessley < jbessley@gmail.com > wrote:
I am trying to design a shearwall using the 2003 IBC for plywood sheathing over light gage metal studs.  the code says that the screws should be self drilling and tapping screws with a .292" head diameter.  I can't find the screw size that correlates to this head diameter.  Can anybody out there help me.

thanks,
Jim Bessley