Changes to the National Building Code of Canada for the 2015 edition allow for 5- and 6-storey buildings, and some jurisdictions already allow these structures.
Mid-rise construction requires extra design considerations, of which the following are not yet included in WoodWorks Shearwalls:
Deflection analysis which includes cumulative rotational effects from the storeys below;
Continuous hold-down systems that are needed to keep rotational deflection within limits and to resist the higher forces from taller structures.
Increase in base shear if you enter a value of the period T into the program.(This increase is not required when using NBC 4.1.8.11 c) for T, the default procedure)
Special requirements for L-, T- and E-shaped plan layouts, and other shapes
Mid-rise considerations that have been taken into account in WoodWorks include:
Restrictions on percentage of gypsum wallboard (GWB) contributing to seismic resistance. Woodworks currently disallows GWB from contributing to shear resistance for buildings greater than four storeys.
Irregularity restrictions. Shearwalls does not allow Type 4 and Type 5 offset irregularities for buildings greater than 4 storeys.
