We are building a shop with 14' walls with 2X6 's on a 6" slab. Foundation walls and footings are 30" + 8" for frost protection.

Our building inspector just explained that any wall over 12' had to be engineered. Any one know of another configuration that still allows for a 12' bay door? Without extra engineering?

Any one know of another configuration that still allows for a 12' bay door? Without extra engineering?

In my area 6x6 are recognized as a jamb for shop doors as is 6x6s with perlins over them for steel outside walls.

The inspector is most likely looking at a 2x6 over 12 feet as "balloon framing" as we call it in the trades. Diagonal integrated cross bracing needs to be in the wall over 12 feet simply because of the "bowing" factor in the long studs which looses structural support. That's where the engineer comes in at.

I would think 6x6 as jambs etc would be allowed simply that's what normally used in Pole buildings most of the time in residential light commercial applications

Check with inspector on using 6x6s.