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What are the issues with using pneumatic fasteners with respect to the various seismic codes in California
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I was about to buy a Senco SN65 nailer when someone told me that it wasn't allowed in California because it only shoots a .131 3 1/2" fastener and the building codes for seismically active areas require a .161 3 1/2" fastener. I would be much obliged to know the real answer here.
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You know Mike, I've been wondering about that issue for a while now as there has been plenty of chatter about the use of 16 common gun nails in my area of southern California. I have two houses that I am currently framing and each time we have started one lately I've asked the building and safety department if this is an issue. Nothing definitive yet. We use Hitachi NR-83A's as our nailers and .131 X 3-1/4 nails for wall framing, joisting, and stacking. When framing we use 3 nails in each end of a 2X4 stud and 4 nails in each end of a 2X6 stud. The Senco model you mentioned is fine for almost all framing as far as I know. My feeling is that this nail issue will be decided by local building departments as the ICBO codes dictate. The majority of my work is residential and I would like to hear from some commercial and public works framers to get the real deal also.
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I read on FEMA's website that they recommend 10d/3" x .148 nails.
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What are the issues with using pneumatic fasteners with respect to the various seismic codes in California