The IRC Wall Bracing Calculator is a structural analysis tool that performs wood-framed wall bracing design according to the IRC and other regional building codes.
Upload your floor plan in DXF or PDF, choose your building code, and draw your wall bracing plan. The calculator interprets geometry directly from your file, then checks your plan for
code-compliance. When finished, print out a report for the building
official and attach a copy to your plan set. Try out the program with this demo floor plan.
Helpful
The controls follow a CAD user interface that is easy to use,
reduces duplicative work, and reduces the chance of human error.
Tool tips are scattered throughout the calculator to inform novice and veteran designers alike.
Watch this Tutorial Video to learn about fundamental design concepts and what the calculator is doing behind the scenes (highly recommended for beginners).
Watch this Introductory Lesson for a quick walk-through on using the calculator.
Watch this Tall Wall Lesson for an example on using the embedded engineered tall wall calculator.
Customer support is available for assistance, whether with using the program or wall bracing in general.
Accurate
Are you looking to
optimize material costs? Easily toggle between intermittent and continuous
sheathing methods. Is a portal-frame detail necessary? Does a specific wall require drywall?
Find out with the click of a button. Designing a remodel and unsure how to combine old and new construction techniques? Let the calculator take care of it. These and more options are available to rapidly determine optimal solutions.
Efficient
Once familiar with the controls, it can take as little as 5 minutes to analyze an entire floor plan from start to finish. The limiting factor is often the time it takes to click or draw braced wall panels.
Affordable
There are two purchase options available depending on your needs.
No obligations, no cancellation policy, no hidden fees.
A modern web browser is necessary. Chrome and Edge tend to have better graphical performance than Firefox and Safari. Performance also depends on available computer memory and the complexity of the drawing.
What type of file does the calculator take?
The calculator accepts DXF or PDF files. DXF is a widely-used format for
CAD software, supported by virtually every platform. This is the preferred method because you can simply click on lines and they become wall panels. Alternatively, a PDF can be uploaded and lines traced instead of clicked. This is the preferred method for computuers or browsers with slower processing speed.
What does the wall bracing report contain?
The report contains everything the builder, reviewer, and inspector will need, including:
The floor plan with wall bracing depicted
Calculations for each wall bracing line
A list of all wall panels and their bracing contribution
Construction details
Will building officials accept the report?
Input from building officials was used in creating a format
that is easily understood and can be efficiently reviewed. The report includes all information necessary to backcheck
calculations. Please have the building official contact me if there are any questions.
How do I know that the calculator is accurate?
The software developer is a
structural engineer with a background in shear walls. Furthermore, full transparency is a core philosophy of the program. The wall bracing report
contains all information necessary to verify the accuracy.
How time-efficient is the process?
Beginners will first need to become familiar with basic principles, namely laying out Braced Wall Lines. After that, it takes about 5-10 minutes for a typical floor plan. If a
non-compliance is detected, the calculator flags the issue and provides
specific information so you can resolve immediately and move on.
Is it easy to learn?
It is very easy. Mostly point and click on CAD lines (or tracing if uploading a PDF file).
Can the calculator check seismic bracing requirements?
Yes, conventional wall bracing with IRC building codes checks for compliance in Seismic Design
Categories C, D0, D1, and D2. Note that some aspects are not checked by the calculator, such as connections acting from story to story and whether the building is considered irregular.
Can the calculator interpret diagonal wall panels?
Yes.
Can the calculator operate with a rotated coordinate system?
Wall Panels can be angled, but Braced Wall Lines cannot. If needed, the file should be rotated before uploading.
