What is the minimum number of anchor bolts required to secure a 12-foot wood sill plate to a foundation?

What is the minimum number of anchor bolts required to secure a 12-foot wood sill plate to a foundation?

• A. Three
• B. Two
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (A)

Anchoring the sill plate requires placing bolts so the plate is held to the foundation at regular intervals, typically not more than six feet apart, with bolts near each end. For a 12-foot sill plate, using bolts only at the ends would create a 12-foot span between anchors, which exceeds the common spacing limit. Adding a bolt in the middle splits the distance into two equal 6-foot gaps, meeting the spacing requirement. So, three bolts provide the minimum that satisfies the standard spacing and secure the sill plate effectively. In practice, additional bolts may be used around openings or heavy loads, but three is the minimum for a straight 12-foot run.

Anchoring the sill plate requires placing bolts so the plate is held to the foundation at regular intervals, typically not more than six feet apart, with bolts near each end. For a 12-foot sill plate, using bolts only at the ends would create a 12-foot span between anchors, which exceeds the common spacing limit. Adding a bolt in the middle splits the distance into two equal 6-foot gaps, meeting the spacing requirement. So, three bolts provide the minimum that satisfies the standard spacing and secure the sill plate effectively. In practice, additional bolts may be used around openings or heavy loads, but three is the minimum for a straight 12-foot run.