Figures 2, 3, and 4 below illustrate the concept of a continuous load path. A continuous load path must transfer all vertical and horizontal loads to the ground. Flood and seismic events can present both vertical and horizontal loads. Horizontal (lateral) loads include wind loads perpendicular to a wall (out of plane) and parallel to a wall (in plane or shear). Vertical loads include downward gravity forces (weight of the building) and uplift forces from wind. The term continuous load path describes the structural condition required to resist all loads acting on a building.

(Source: FEMA P-762 2009.)īuildings must be constructed with a strong and continuous load path from the roof to the foundation to avoid structural damage and to keep the home intact during hurricanes, high winds, and earthquakes ( FEMA 232 2006). Figure 1. Failure of the load path enabled hurricane winds to pull apart this gable end wall. Establishing a continuous load path is a requirement in the IBHS FORTIFIED Home Hurricane Standard and IBHS FORTIFIED Home High Wind Standard for the FORTIFIED Gold designation. This guide presents an overview of the continuous load path, with a focus on connections between building component assemblies (roof, wall, foundation) for houses in hurricane-prone regions, high-wind areas, and earthquake-prone regions. Load path failures can lead to the loss of parts or all of the building assembly (Figure 1). See the Compliance Tab for related codes and standards requirements, and criteria to meet national programs such as DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home program, ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, and Indoor airPLUS.

Install any chimney-to-roof member connections.

Install wall above-to-below connections.

Install roof sheathing-to-framing connections.

Specify and install a continuous load path, such that the building has positive connections from the roof to the foundation to resist and transmit wind uplift and lateral shear loads to the ground (see Description tab for above-code connectors):.

Ensure that roof framing, floor framing, wall framing, and foundations are constructed in accordance with all applicable building codes.

For areas where design wind speed is less than that of hurricane-prone regions, a prescriptive design approach may be used:.

For hurricane-prone regions, a licensed structural engineer must determine the continuous load path connections.

Determine the wind design velocity and if the house is in a hurricane-prone region.

Provide a strong and continuous load path from the roof to the foundation to avoid structural damage and to keep the building intact during hurricanes and other extreme storms.īest practice steps for new construction:

Tie roof rafter to exterior wall