2" PVC Through Load Bearing Wall's Bottom Plate?

[sirbOOmdotcom]

Having an apartment built out in the 500 sq ft above my garage. Washing machine will back up to a load bearing exterior wall. I got three bids. They all want to run the drain down through the bottom plate of this 2nd floor load bearing/exterior wall (which would also go through the top plate of the load bearing wall below it (stacked framing; studs are in-line vertically). It would then turn on to be drained out into the main line shortly thereafter. It'd be vented up through the top plate of the load bearing wall.

While I've seen this in other renovations I've done, I always had the impression you are NOT supposed to drill 2" PVC through a 2x4 bottom plate or top plate. I've never seen strapping or stud shoes (pertaining to studs) and the building hasn't fallen down.

But... I just want to verify that it'd be okay to run this pipe down through the bottom plate of this exterior load bearing wall? That would clean up the plumbing a lot for me.

 

[wwhitney]

For gravity load, the bottom plate between studs is not part of the load path. No problem drilling through it and no need to reinforce the bottom plate. For a high lateral load shear wall segment, that might not be true, although I don't believe the IRC addresses it.

For the top plate, the IRC specifies that reinforcement is required whenever there is less than 50% of the width of the top plate remaining at a notch or hole. See R602.6.1. A specified metal strap is required across the break in the top plate with a specified nailing pattern between the strap and the top plate on each side of the break.

https://up.codes/viewer/kansas/irc-2018/chapter/6/wall-construction#R602.6.1

Cheers, Wayne

 

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[sirbOOmdotcom]

Well that answers it. I'll brace the top and probably just brace the bottom for good measure if the plumber doesn't and move on with life. Thanks.