What are the two main structural assemblies of a building?

• A. Walls and Sheathing
• B. Floors and Roof
• C. Foundations and Framing
• D. Doors and Windows

Answer: (A)

Foundations and framing form the building’s primary structural system. The foundation sits on the ground and carries vertical loads, transferring them safely into the soil or rock while resisting lateral forces like wind or earthquakes. Framing is the structural skeleton—columns, beams, and joists—that supports floors, walls, and the roof, distributing loads down to the foundation. Walls and sheathing are important for enclosure and can contribute to stability, but they’re part of the building envelope, not the two main structural assemblies. Floors and roofs are components within the framing, and doors and windows are openings in walls, not structural systems.