lateral restraint of floor joists on two storey building

[garyo]

I've read conflicting advice re: whether I need to restrain floor joists on a 2 story domestic house. The floor is a first floor and is 4M x 3.5M. In one direction it's restrained by strutting and wedges. In the other direction, does it need restraint with metal ties, or is this not necessary on a 2 storey building?

The joists are built in, rather than being on hangars.

Thanks

Gary

 

[theoldun]

30x5 restraint straps notched over 3 joists with noggins half the depth of joists below straps. Straps max 2m centres Joist against wall to have firm blocking to wall at strap position.
Joists built into wall no restraint to ends required.
Regards oldun

 

[^woody^]

Do you mean restraint for the floor or walls?

Floors don't need restraining, and wall restraint will depend on the design and other stuff, so no need to restrain in every case

 

[jeds]

If it's a standard house you need floor restraint straps at max 2m centres around the floor perimeter. As oldun says, longitudinal straps are not needed of you build the joists in or if you use a restraint type hanger.

 

[garyo]

Thanks guys. The span is 4M so I could get away with one strap in the centre right over the existing strutting.

Do you mean restraint for the floor or walls?

I mean for the floor, but to be honest I'm not sure what the strap will do that the noggins/wedges aren't already doing anyway?

Cheers

Gary

 

[^woody^]

Floors don't need restraining - they just sit there

Noggins stiffen floors to remove bounce, they don't restrain

The straps you seem to be thinking of are to restrain (ie brace) walls to a floor .... or ceiling or roof.

Perhaps the others may like to clarify exactly what structural elements needs the restraint, rather than a confusing "restraint straps every 2m"?

 

[garyo]

I've just re-read PartA to remind myself why strapping was in my mind, and to clarify, it's the wall that I'm trying to restrain, by strapping it to the floor

The 2 storey or less exemption only seems to apply in the longditudinal direction, so I think the implication is that I do need to restrain it, as described above by oldun.

I was confused because I'd read another summary of strapping that left me unclear, but taken on its own PartA seems pretty clear!

Cheers

Gary