Alabama Contractors License Practice Exam

Are load bearing headers required in interior nonbearing wood walls?

1. A. TRUE

2. B. FALSE

The correct answer is: A. TRUE

Load-bearing headers are not required in interior nonbearing wood walls because these types of walls do not support any structural loads. Nonbearing walls primarily serve to divide spaces and do not transfer loads from above to the foundation. In residential and commercial construction, a header is typically used above door and window openings in load-bearing walls to distribute weight and provide structural integrity. However, in nonbearing walls, there is no need for this additional support because the wall itself does not hold up any significant loads. Thus, constructing these walls with headers would be unnecessary and potentially add cost without providing any structural benefit. While there may be instances where a designer might choose to include headers for specific design reasons or aesthetics, structurally, they are not mandated for nonbearing interior walls.