Fastener Requirements
Jon|Mar 27, 2023 Elite Agri Solutions strives to provide background information on topics which are hard to research. In cases where no reputable print resources were available for us to reference, we interviewed industry experts, so it is inevitable that the contents of this document will contain inaccuracies and bias. Use this as a resource to help you ask the right questions, not as a source of definitive answers. Elite Agri Solutions and its employee will not be responsible for the consequences of any decision made based on this guide. Where text or data has been copied directly, the sources have been noted, otherwise it can be assumed that all the information in this guide has only been curated by Elite Agri Solutions and is not our original property.
Information in this document has been gathered from the Ontario Building Code.
The Ontario Building Code outlines specifications for the type and number of nails used for when building under section 9 of the code. There are some unique connections for farm buildings built under SB-11 that aren’t described in the code, such as through bolted plate beams. Use this as a guide, and double check with the Ontario Building Code or with your chief building official.
Nails and Screws
| Table 9.23.3.1. Diameter of Nails for Framing | ||
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 |
| Minimum Length of Nails, mm | Minimum Diameter of Nails, mm | |
| 1. | 57 | 2.87 |
| 2. | 62 | 3.25 |
| 3. | 76 | 3.66 |
| 4. | 82 | 3.66 |
| 5. | 101 | 4.88 |
9.23.3.1. Length of Nails
(1) All nails shall be long enough so that not less than half their required length penetrates the second member.
9.23.3.3. Prevention of Splitting
(1) Splitting of wood members shall be minimized by staggering the nails in the direction of the grain and by keeping nails well in from the edges.
Connections
| Table 9.23.3.5 Fasteners for Sheathing and Subflooring | ||||||
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
| Element | Minimum Length of Fasteners, mm | Minimum Number or Maximum Spacing of Fasteners | ||||
| Common or Spiral Nails | Ring Thread Nails or Screws | Roofing Nails | Staples | |||
| 1. | Board lumber 184 mm or less wide. | 51 | 45 | N/A | 51 | 2 per support |
| 2. | Board lumber more than 184 mm wide | 51 | 45 | N/A | 51 | 3 per support |
| 3. | Fiberboard sheathing up to 13mm thick | N/A | N/A | 44 | 28 | 150 mm (o.c.) along edges and 300mm (o.c.) along intermediate supports |
| 4. | Gypsum sheathing up to 13mm thick | N/A | N/A | 44 | N/A | |
| 5. | Plywood, OSB or waferboard up to 10mm thick | 51 | 45 | N/A | 38 | |
| 6. | Plywood, OSB or waferboard over 10 mm and up to 20mm thick | 51 | 45 | N/A | 51 | |
| 7. | Plywood, OSB or waferboard over 20 mm and up to 25mm thick | 57 | 51 | N/A | N/A |
(5) Where roof sheathing supports are spaced at more than 406 mm o.c., the maximum spacing of fasteners for roof sheathing shall be 150 mm along edges and intermediate supports.
| Table 9.23.3.4. Nailing for framing | |||
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
| Construction Detail | Minimum Length of Nails, mm | Minimum Number or Maximum Spacing of Nails | |
| 1. | Floor joist to plate – toenail | 82 | 2 |
| 2. | Wood or metal strapping to the underside of floor joists | 57 | 2 |
| 3. | Cross bridging to joists | 57 | 2 at each end |
| 4. | Double header or trimmer joists | 76 | 300 mm (o.c.) |
| 5. | Floor joist to stud (balloon construction) | 76 | 2 |
| 6. | Ledger strip to wood beam | 82 | 2 per joist |
| 7. | Joist to joist splice (see also Table 9.23.13.8.) | 76 | 2 at each end |
| 8. | Header joist end nailed to joists along perimeter | 101 | 3 |
| 9. | Tail joist to adjacent header joist
(end nailed) around openings |
82 | 5 |
| 101 | 3 | ||
| 10. | Each header joist to adjacent trimmer joist
(end nailed) around openings |
82 | 5 |
| 101 | 3 | ||
| 11. | Stud to wall plate (each end) toenail
Or end nail |
62 | 4 |
| 82 | 2 | ||
| 12. | Double studs at openings, or studs at walls or wall intersections and corners | 76 | 750 mm (o.c.) |
| 13. | Double top wall plates | 76 | 600 mm (o.c.) |
| 14. | Bottom wall plate or sole plate to joists or blocking (exterior walls)(1) | 82 | 400 mm (o.c.) |
| 15. | Interior walls to framing or subflooring | 82 | 600 mm (o.c) |
| 16. | Horizontal member over openings in non-loadbearing walls-each end | 82 | 2 |
| 17. | Lintels to studs | 82 | 2 at each end |
| 18. | Ceiling joist to plate – toes nail each end | 82 | 2 |
| 19. | Roof rafter, roof truss or roof joist to plate – toe nail | 82 | 3 |
| 20. | Rafter plate to each ceiling joist | 101 | 2 |
| 21. | Rafter to joist (with ridge supported) | 76 | 3 |
| 22. | Rafter to joist (with ridge unsupported) | 76 | See Table 9.23.13.8. |
| 23. | Gusset plate to each rafter at peak | 57 | 4 |
| 24. | Rafter to ridge board – toe nail – end nail | 82 | 3 |
| 25. | Collar tie to rafter – each end | 76 | 3 |
| 26. | Collar tie lateral support to each collar tie | 57 | 2 |
| 27. | Jack rafter to hip or valley rafter | 82 | 2 |
| 28. | Roof strut to rafter | 76 | 3 |
| 29. | Roof strut to loadbearing wall- toe nail | 82 | 2 |
| 30. | 38 mm x 140 mm or less plank decking to support | 82 | 2 |
| 31. | Plank decking wider than 38mm x 140mm to support | 82 | 3 |
| 32. | 38 mm edge laid plank decking to support (toe nail) | 76 | 1 |
| 33. | 38 mm edge laid plank to each other | 76 | 450 mm (o.c.) |
(1)See sentence 9.23.3.4.(2).
Where the bottom wall plate or sole plate of an exterior wall is not nailed to joists or blocking in conformance with Table 9.23.3.4., the exterior wall may be fastened to the floor framing by,
- Having plywood OSB or waferboard sheathing extend down over floor framing and fastened to the floor framing by nails or staples conforming to Article 9.23.3.5. or
- Tying the wall framing to the floor framing by 50 mm wide galvanized-metal strips,
- Not less than 0.41mm in thickness,
- Spaced not more than 1.2m apart, and
- Fastened at each end with at least two 63 mm nails.
Jon|Mar 27, 2023