N.M. Admin. Code § 14.7.4.8 - EARTHEN BUILDING MATERIALS

A. General. The provisions of 14.7.4 NMAC, shall control the design and construction of one- and two-family dwellings in which earthen building materials form the bearing wall system.

B. Allowable wall heights for earthen structures. All earthen structures whether adobe, burned adobe, compressed earth block, rammed earth or terrÓn, shall conform to table 1. For purposes of using table 1, height is defined as the distance from the top of the slab or top of stem wall to the underside of the bond beam.

Table 1 ALLOWABLE WALL HEIGHTS FOR EARTHEN STRUCTURES
Maximum Sds	Wall Thickness	Maximum Height	Maximum Sds	Wall Thickness	Maximum Height
.25	10	120"	.3	10	120"
	12	128		12	128
	14	144		14	144
	16	144		16	144
	18	144		18	144
	24	144		24	144
.35	10	120"	.4	10	120"
	12	128		12	128
	14	144		14	144
	16	144		16	144
	18	144		18	144
	24	144		24	144
.45	10	104"	.5	10	96"
	12	128		12	112
	14	144		14	136
	16	144		16	144
	18	144		18	144
	24	144		24	144
This table is based on two story maximum, one and two family residential with seismic soil site class D1. NOTE: Sds can also be referred to in the IRC Section R301.2.2.1 determination of seismic design category.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 14.7.4.8

14.7.4.8 NMAC - Rp, 14.7.4.8 NMAC, 1-28-11, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 21, November 15, 2016, eff. 11/15/2016, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, June 13, 2023, eff. 7/14/2023