1. Except as provided in Sentence (2), wall plates shall be
   1. not less than 38 mm thick, and
   2. not less than the required width of the wall studs.
2. In non-loadbearing walls and in loadbearing walls where the studs are located directly over framing members, the bottom wall plate is permitted to be 19 mm thick.

1. A bottom wall plate shall be provided in all cases.
2. The bottom plate in exterior walls shall not project more than one-third the plate width over the support.

1. Except as permitted in Sentences (2) to (4), at least 2 top plates shall be provided in loadbearing walls.
2. A single top plate is permitted to be used in a section of a loadbearing wall containing a lintel provided the top plate forms a tie across the lintel.
3. A single top plate is permitted to be used in loadbearing walls where the concentrated loads from ceilings, floors and roofs are not more than 50 mm to one side of the supporting studs and in all non-loadbearing walls.
4. The top plates need not be provided in a section of loadbearing wall containing a lintel provided the lintel is tied to the adjacent wall section with not less than
   1. 75 mm by 150 mm by 0.91 mm thick galvanized steel, or
   2. 19 mm by 89 mm by 300 mm wood splice nailed to each wall section with at least three 63 mm nails.

1. Joints in the top plates of loadbearing walls shall be staggered not less than one stud spacing.
2. The top plates in loadbearing walls shall be lapped or otherwise tied at corners and intersecting walls in accordance with Sentence (4).
3. Joints in single top plates used with loadbearing walls shall be tied in accordance with Sentence (4).
4. Ties referred to in Sentences (2) and (3) shall be the equivalent of not less than 75 mm by 150 mm by 0.91 mm thick galvanized steel nailed to each wall with at least three 63 mm nails.
5. Where the seismic spectral response acceleration, S_a(0.2), is greater than 0.70 but not more than 1.8, doubled top plates in braced wall bands shall be fastened on each side of a splice with 76 mm long common steel wire nails or spiral nails in accordance with Table 9.23.11.4.

Table 9.23.11.4.
Fasteners in Doubled Top Plate Splice Connections in Braced Wall Bands where 0.70 < S_a(0.2) ≤ 1.8
Forming Part of Sentence 9.23.11.4.(5)

Notes to Table 9.23.11.4.:
(1) See Note A-9.23.13.2.(1)(a)(i).
(2) All constructions include support of a roof load in addition to the number of floors indicated.