All building codes provide provisions for the attachment of structural sheathing to wall and roof framing members. These connections are important because they often are the mechanism used to provide the lateral shear resistance of the building. In other words, the building’s ability to resist the loads imposed by wind and seismic events are dependent on these connections. When building designers design buildings, they rely on data as published in the building codes and referenced standards or from proprietary sources. 

In almost every case, the published capacity of the sheathing and fasteners assume the head of the fastener is flush with the surface of the sheathing. In cases where the fasteners used to attach the structural sheathing to the framing are overdriven (i.e. embedded beneath the surface of the sheathing), the building may not be able to resist the intended loads. Overdriven fasteners reduce the shear strength of the sheathing by reducing the effective thickness of the panel. At panel edges, overdriven fasteners allow for easier pull-through or tear-out due to the reduced thickness of the panel at the fastener head. At intermediate framing members, overdriven fasteners provide reduced resistance to panel buckling.

When overdriven fasteners are identified, there is no guidance in the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC) or ANSI/AWC National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS) as to what the capacity reduction is for the overdriven fasteners nor what corrective action could be taken to rectify the situation.