BU635 Bracing distribution (2019)

The Christchurch earthquake events highlighted a number of potential issues with the way we brace light timber-framed (LTF) buildings. While simple regular LTF houses performed well, unevenly braced or irregular houses often had significant damage that was uneconomical to repair.

This bulletin outlines BRANZ LTF structural research and provides guidance on bracing design to minimise the impact of uneven bracing distribution and building irregularity in an earthquake.

This bulletin covers: 

• how we build now
• structural irregularities and their impacts
• what the Christchurch earthquake events showed us
• what NZS 3604:2011 requires
• a BRANZ research project
• simplifying bracing.