Spans of hip and/or valley rafters?

[Uncle Bob]

Ok, senile old man has gone back to work; and, an inspector told me to write up a code violation for a hip ridge rafter? board?; being too long without bracing. My answer was " I am not sure there is a violation. Can you give me a code section?"

1. Is it a hip ridge rafter; or hip ridge board?

2. I understand purlin bracing for rafter spans; but, I do not remember bracing requirements for hip ridges; accept in the case where a splice is required to accomodate the length of the ridge; and there has to be a support under the splice; and, two boards are needed because the length is too long and they don't sell lumber that long or they used two short boards; and a splice is required to accomodate the length of the ridge; and there has to be a support under the splice.

I did ask for a code reference; answer "It just don't look right to me; I want a purlin brace there".

I also understand rafter spans. Anyone have a code reference limiting hip ridge spans without bracing? Take your pick of IRC's; I'll find it ( I got'em all ) ;D

have I been gone too long?

Uncle Bob

[purplegolf]

The only thing I see is in IRC 2006 802.3, which states that "Hip and valley rafters shall be supported at the ridge by a brace to a bearing partition or be designed to carry and distribute the specific load at that point". I don't know if this is exactly what you are talking about.

[kzq]

Hi Bob,

Sec R802.3 (2009) calls it a Hip Rafter. Which as purplegolf says must be supported at the ridge by a brace to a bearing partition. I did find one hint in the last sentence of that section where it requires ridges, hips and valleys to be designed as beams when the roof pitch is less than 3/12.

This would lead me to the conclusion that there is no length limitation to a hip member.

This is troubling to me however because I know that valley members need support and this is not addressed at all.

Bill

[Uncle Bob]

Thanks Ya'll,

I agree; there is no minimum span; as there are for rafters, where a purlin brace would be required for over spaned rafters. I just don't write anything I can't back up with a code reference. I was taken by surprise when the other inspector insisted on requiring a brace half-way down the hip.

Thanks again,

Uncle Bob