Course catalog

Fire testing conducted to justify provisions for three new mass timber construction types in the 2021 I-Codes was performed using an earlier generation of cross-laminated timber (CLT). U.S. model building codes now require compliance with the enhanced fire performance criteria of PRG 320-18. To ...

Traditionally, the role of the structural engineer on building projects has focused on structure-related tasks—such as member sizing, connection detailing, general notes, and specifications for structural components. Design criteria such as fire-resistance ratings, acoustics, and aesthetics have ...

Fire testing to evaluate the performance of building materials and assemblies used in construction has been a requirement of building codes since the late 19th century. Early in the 20th century, versions of the ASTM E119 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials...

With more designers choosing light-frame wood construction for mid-rise buildings, code-compliant and constructible detailing has emerged as a challenge for some teams accustomed to smaller wood projects or those built in other materials. The most frequent questions pertain to requirements for ...

Current methods of Force Transfer Around Openings (FTAO) analysis only allow for openings of the same height in exterior shear walls. However, today’s penchant for more openings of different sizes requires a more flexible method that allows for more complex wall layouts. The original method of ...

The 2015 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. For WFCM load calculations, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10) is used. The 2015 WFCM includes design information for wind...

The Quad, a new 6-story residence hall on the campus of the Rhode Island School of Design, is the first major student housing project in New England to be constructed using a hybrid cross-laminated timber and steel structural system. In this presentation, the structural engineer will provide an ...

What are the pros and cons of using a single stud wall vs. a staggered stud wall for dwelling unit separation? Do you need sprinklers or fireblocking in the floor cavity of your wood joist floor assembly? How can you meet code requirements for fire-resistance continuity of corridor walls while ...

AWC received ANSI approval of its 2024 Fire Design Specification for Wood Construction (FDS) as an American National Standard (ANS). The standard, designated as ANSI/AWC FDS-2024, is primarily ANSI/AWC FDS-2022 with modifications to better coordinate with the 2024 NDS (ANSI/AWC NDS-2024). The FDS...