bearing wall

1. any wall constructed of wood or metal that supports more than 100 pounds per lineal foot (1.459 kN per lineal meter) of superimposed load or any masonry or concrete wall that supports more than 200 pounds per lineal foot (2.918 kN per lineal meter) of superimposed load. Or any wall supporting its own weight for more than one story (from the UBC). 2. A wall of a building that supports the load of the structure above as well as its own weight. When piping is installed in a wall the size of the hole or notch in the framing components cannot be larger than that prescribed by the building code. The hole or notch width in a stud in a bearing wall is more restrictive than that allowed in a non-bearing wall. Also incorrectly called a Bearing Partition