Wall sheathing nailing — tighter at every panel edge, looser in the field

Panel edges (including top/bottom plates) get 6″ o.c. nailing; the field stud running through the middle of a panel gets 12″ o.c. 7/16″ OSB at 16″ o.c. carries 170 mph in Exposure B (IRC Table R602.3(3)).

Two vertically-oriented 4-by-8 OSB wall sheathing panels shown face-on over studs spaced 16 inches on center, with the shared vertical seam between the panels nailed at 6 inches on center in blue and the intermediate stud running through the middle of a panel nailed at 12 inches on center in green. The panel is labeled 7/16 inch OSB, 24/16 span rating, carrying 170 mph wind in Exposure B at 16 inch stud spacing per IRC Table R602.3(3). A note states the same 6-inch edge rate also applies to the top and bottom plates, not only the vertical seams shown. — Source: IRC 2021 Tables R602.3(1) item 32 and R602.3(3)

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Two vertically-oriented 4-by-8 OSB wall sheathing panels shown face-on over studs spaced 16 inches on center, with the shared vertical seam between the panels nailed at 6 inches on center in blue and the intermediate stud running through the middle of a panel nailed at 12 inches on center in green. The panel is labeled 7/16 inch OSB, 24/16 span rating, carrying 170 mph wind in Exposure B at 16 inch stud spacing per IRC Table R602.3(3). A note states the same 6-inch edge rate also applies to the top and bottom plates, not only the vertical seams shown.

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