Section 2304.1/Wood Construction General Requirements
IBC 2304 covers general design and construction requirements for wood buildings including grade marking, preservative treatment, fastening, and structural design references to NDS and AWC standards.
IBC Chapter 23 requires all wood construction to comply with the applicable design standard: the NDS for sawn lumber, glulam, and structural composite lumber; the SDPWS for lateral force-resisting systems; and AWC's WFCM for conventional light-frame construction. Section 2304.1 requires all structural lumber to be grade-marked by an approved agency. Section 2304.12 requires preservative treatment for wood in contact with the ground, embedded in concrete in contact with earth, or in locations subject to decay (sill plates, sleepers, furring strips on concrete walls below grade). Section 2304.10 establishes fastening requirements referencing Table 2304.10.1 for standard framing connections. Section 2304.12.2.5 requires a moisture barrier between wood sill plates and concrete or masonry foundation walls. The NDS load duration factor and other adjustment factors must be applied per NDS Chapter 2 for all engineered wood design.
Why this section exists
Wood is the most common structural material in residential and low-rise commercial construction. Chapter 23 establishes minimum requirements for safe wood construction, referencing the AWC design standards. The grade-marking requirement ensures structural lumber meets the species and grade assumed in design. The preservative-treatment requirement protects wood from decay and termite damage. The nailing table ensures minimum connection strength for conventional framing. The fireblocking and draftstopping requirements in Section 718 are particularly important for wood construction because the framing is combustible.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers check the structural general notes for lumber species, grade, design standard reference (NDS edition), and moisture content assumption. They verify preservative-treated lumber is specified for sill plates, posts in contact with concrete, and other decay-prone locations. They check the framing plan for compliance with the nailing table. They verify bending member calculations use the correct adjustment factors.