Not all limiting heights tables are created equally. In fact, as building codes have continued to evolve, the criteria and test procedures that are used to create limiting height data have changed dramatically. These changes have a very significant impact on the limiting height capacity of any specific stud. For example, ICC Evaluation Service Acceptance Criteria AC86-95 (released in 1995) in conjunction with the applicable codes in effect at that time allowed for a 0.75 load reduction in the formula used to calculate the capacity of a stud. The International Building Code issued in 2003 (IBC 2003) did not allow this load reduction, nor have any codes published since that time. The 2008 version of AC86-08, in addition to eliminating the load reduction, also calls for a qualification of the gypsum board used in composite tests, and defines very specific and significantly more stringent testing and analysis procedures. Because of these changes, the limiting height capacity of a stud varies dramatically depending on the version of the standard used. In some cases these variances can be in the magnitude of several feet!

Some manufacturers ignore these significant factors when creating and publishing limiting height data, or they fail to notate which ICC-ES version was used to create their tables, or they simply choose the standard that provides the greatest possible limiting height. When this is the case, it is very important for building professionals to compare tables that were created under the same rules and to make sure the data they are using matches the requirements of the code in effect in the jurisdiction where they are building.

Please select the appropriate table based on the building code requirements in effect for your particular project. The standard to which the framing was tested will be prominently displayed on each table presented.