Why Fire-Rated Hangers Are Required in Type III Wood-Frame Buildings Paul McEntee One of the first mixed-use designs I worked on as a consulting structural engineer was a four-story wood-frame building over two levels of parking. Designing the main lateral-force-resisting system with plywood shearwalls was a challenge for this project that required new details to meet the... Read More August 2023 Issue #15289 Page 108
All Things Wood: Design of Wood Structures—an Introductory Course Frank Woeste Once again, Virginia Tech will be offering its popular two-day course on topics related to wood construction. This year’s course, to be held on April 26–27, will focus on practical code-conforming design of wood structures based on provisions of the 2018 National Design... Read More February 2023 Issue #15283 Page 74
How CLT and Mass Timber Technologies May Revolutionize Skyscapes Michael Weber Over the last decade — in outlets reaching from construction industry journals to the Boston Globe and the Economist; from CNN and Fast Company to Popular Mechanics; to Nautilus and TED talks — we’ve been hearing increasingly about mass timber and related phenomena:... Read More December 2021 Issue #13269 Page 112
RTUD and ATUD Now UL Listed As a Through-Penetration Firestop System Scott Fischer Whether you’re designing and building a one- or two-story single-family residence, or doing the same for a multifamily, mid-rise wood-frame structure, fire and smoke protection features must be considered, and in most cases are required. When a fire starts, time is of the essence and the... Read More September 2021 Issue #13266 Page 118
With Latest Publication, AWC Once Again Leads Charge on Mass Timber Construction Robert Glowinski As former students, we all know the importance of having a study guide. A great study guide pulls together all the pertinent information from various sources to help you focus on the topic at hand. In the world of mass timber construction, complex codes and standards need to be well understood... Read More September 2020 Issue #12254 Page 106
Lessons Learned from the Bound Brook Fire and the Importance of Construction Fire Safety Robert Glowinski A 7-alarm fire in Bound Brook, New Jersey, in mid-January destroyed six buildings and caused approximately $52 million in damages. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire was arson, and the perpetrator was arrested soon after. Nonetheless, in the investigations of... Read More March 2020 Issue #12248 Page 110
Tall Mass Timber Code Adoptions Continue Trend of Sustainable Design Robert Glowinski The City of Denver is the latest in a growing number of cities, states, and municipalities to recognize the possibilities of tall mass timber construction. Following states such as Oregon, Utah, and Washington, the City of Denver voted in late December to adopt the 2019 Denver Building Code,... Read More February 2020 Issue #12247 Page 102
AWC Successes in Mass Timber, Fire Engagement Mark 2019 Robert Glowinski The American Wood Council (AWC) is prepared for an active 2020, but first, we look back at the challenges and resulting accomplishments over the course of 2019. Last year was marked by successes in the building codes development process, establishing lines of communications with the fire... Read More January 2020 Issue #12246 Page 98
Spotlighting Fire Prevention and Innovative Wood Products Robert Glowinski In our October article, we provided some advance highlights of our plans for National Forest Products Week. This month, I want to recap the events of the week’s Timber Innovation Day and also share that there is a second important week in October for the wood products industry and its... Read More December 2019 Issue #11245 Page 90
AWC and ICC Launch Mass Timber Education and Training Robert Glowinski As you’re likely aware, mass timber has received incredible attention in the last year. With interest in mass timber and its use spreading throughout the United States construction industry, the American Wood Council (AWC) and International Code Council (ICC) are working together to... Read More November 2019 Issue #11244 Page 94