Does building code allow latter transfer of ceiling load in floor joists?

[divreig]

Does building code allow latter transfer of ceiling load in floor joists? If a ceiling joist breaks on a wall, making it interior load bearing wall, but the ceiling weight is all that the wall is holding does it need direct support under it, per building code? Or can the support be a few feet over. Searched upcoddes and iccsafe and could not find an answer. 

[Gawdzira]

I have never had an engineer work the load path for a standard ceiling joist. But, generally, the interior walls have support from at least 2 floor joists. Either a double joist parallel or ladder blocking across two joists. Is an engineer involved in the project?

[divreig]

Thanks. No engineer.  I want to just make the beams in the middle equal distance form the foundation.  Wondering if this was allowed. Did not see any thing in the code one way or the other.