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IS 2366 : 1983Code of practice for nail-jointed timber construction

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EN 1995-1-1 · ANSI/AWC NDS · AS 1720.1
CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeStructural Engineering · Building Construction Practices incl. Painting, Varnishing
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OverviewValues6InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 2366:1983 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for nail-jointed timber construction. This code lays down the requirements for the design, fabrication, and assembly of nail-jointed timber construction. It covers permissible lateral loads, detailed spacing specifications for nails to prevent splitting, and the selection of appropriate timber and nail materials.

Code of practice for nail-jointed timber construction

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Structural Engineering — Building Construction Practices incl. Painting, Varnishing
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
EN 1995-1-1:2004 · CEN (European Committee for Standardization), EuropeANSI/AWC NDS-2018 · AWC (American Wood Council), USAAS 1720.1-2010 · Standards Australia, Australia
Typically used with
IS 883IS 3629IS 723IS 401IS 1141IS 287
Also on InfraLens for IS 2366
6Key values2Tables4FAQs
Practical Notes
! Always stagger nails rather than aligning them on the same grain line to minimize the risk of the timber splitting.
! If the nail diameter exceeds 1/6th of the timber thickness, or if using dense hardwoods, pre-bore holes to about 4/5th of the nail diameter.
! Avoid driving nails parallel to the grain (into the end grain) as it significantly reduces both withdrawal resistance and lateral load capacity.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Materials (Timber and Nails)Cl. 5Permissible LoadsCl. 6Spacing of NailsCl. 7Fabrication and Assembly
Pulled from IS 2366:1983. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
timberwoodmild steel wire nails

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
EN 1995-1-1:2004CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Eurocode 5: Design of timber structures - Part 1-1: General - Common rules and rules for buildings
Covers the design of dowel-type fasteners, including nails, using a limit state design approach.
ANSI/AWC NDS-2018AWC (American Wood Council), USA
HighCurrent
National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction
Provides design procedures for dowel-type fasteners, including nails, based on Johansen yield theory.
BS 5268-2:2002BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighWithdrawn
Structural use of timber - Part 2: Code of practice for permissible stress design, materials and workmanship
Provided permissible stress design values for nailed joints, serving as a probable basis for the IS code.
AS 1720.1-2010Standards Australia, Australia
MediumCurrent
Timber structures - Part 1: Design methods
Includes limit state design rules for the capacity of nailed connections within a comprehensive timber design code.
Key Differences
≠IS 2366 uses a Permissible Stress Design (PSD) or working stress method, whereas modern standards like Eurocode 5 and NDS use a Limit State Design (LSD) or Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) philosophy, incorporating partial safety factors.
≠The Indian standard provides tabulated basic lateral loads for nails based on timber group and nail diameter. Eurocode 5 and NDS use the more mechanistic Johansen Yield Theory, which calculates connection capacity based on multiple potential failure modes (e.g., wood crushing, nail bending).
≠IS 2366 classifies timber into three broad groups (I, II, III) based on strength. Modern codes use more detailed strength classes (e.g., C24, GL32c in EC5) or species-specific design values (NDS), allowing for more precise design.
≠The Indian standard specifies rules mainly for plain round wire nails. Modern codes provide detailed guidance for a wider variety of nail types, including smooth, annularly-ringed, and helically-threaded shank nails, with different capacity values for each.
Key Similarities
≈All standards mandate minimum nail spacing, end distances, and edge distances to prevent timber splitting and ensure effective load distribution among fasteners.
≈All codes recognize the effect of load duration on strength, providing modification factors to increase allowable loads for short-term events (like wind) and decrease them for permanent loads.
≈The influence of moisture content on connection strength is a common principle. All standards require designers to apply modification factors for service conditions where timber moisture content is high.
≈All standards recognize that the load-carrying capacity of a nailed joint is fundamentally dependent on the nail diameter, its penetration depth into the main member, and the density/strength of the timber members being joined.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Design MethodologyPermissible Stress Design (PSD)Limit State Design (LSD / LRFD)EN 1995-1-1 / NDS
Minimum Nail Spacing (parallel to grain)10d for Group I & II timber (d=nail diameter)12d for non-predrilled membersEN 1995-1-1
Minimum End Distance (loaded end, tension)15d for Group I & II timber17d for non-predrilled membersEN 1995-1-1
Minimum Penetration in Main MemberNot less than 8dMinimum 8d for nails without pre-drillingEN 1995-1-1
Load Duration Factor for Wind Load1.50 (factor increases permissible stress)1.6 (C_D factor increases reference design values)ANSI/AWC NDS-2018
Modification for Wet Service Conditions0.67 for alternately wet and dry; 0.56 for continuously wet (factor on permissible load)0.7 (C_M factor on reference design values for moisture content > 19%)ANSI/AWC NDS-2018
Group Action for Multiple NailsNo explicit reduction factor specified, but spacing rules apply.Effective number of fasteners (n_ef) concept reduces capacity for long rows of nails (n_ef < n).EN 1995-1-1
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Minimum edge distance5d (where d is nail diameter)
Minimum end distance in tension12d
Minimum end distance in compression10d
Minimum spacing between nails in a row (parallel to grain)10d
Minimum spacing between rows of nails (perpendicular to grain)5d
Maximum timber moisture content at fabrication20%

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Minimum Spacing of Nails
Table 2 - Permissible Lateral Load on Mild Steel Wire Nails
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Materials (Timber and Nails)
Clause 5 - Permissible Loads
Clause 6 - Spacing of Nails
Clause 7 - Fabrication and Assembly

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 883:1994Code of Practice for Design of Timber Structu...
→
IS 3629:1986Structural Timber - Use in Buildings - Code o...
→
IS 723:2019Steel Bars and Rods for Pattern Making
→
IS 401:2001Code of Practice for Preservation of Timber
→
IS 1141:1993Seasoning of timber- Code of practice
→
IS 287:2022Code of Practice for Design of Timber Structu...
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the minimum edge distance required for nailed timber joints?+
The minimum edge distance is 5 times the diameter of the nail (5d) as per Table 1.
What type of nails should be used according to this IS code?+
Mild steel wire nails conforming to IS 723 are recommended for structural timber joints.
Is pre-boring necessary for nail joints?+
Pre-boring is required when using large diameter nails (exceeding 1/6th of member thickness) or when driving into split-prone or dense timber.
What is the minimum end distance for nails?+
The minimum end distance is 10d for members in compression and 12d for members in tension.

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