At the American Wood Council, our engineers develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design. They are also very involved in our work with building and fire codes, providing the technical background and research...

Mass timber, including cross-laminated timber (CLT), has been in use worldwide for over 15 years, but most notably in Europe. However, North American designers and engineers are increasingly showing interest in picking up the trend. Building with mass timber for taller buildings has...

The winter season is upon us, and families across the country are decorating their homes for holiday festivities. Unfortunately, this time of year is also marked by an increase in fires – with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reporting the highest occurrence of candle and...

After working in the Truss and Component Industry for 4½ decades, I was looking forward to retirement. Fishing when I wanted to, golfing when I wanted to. Well, after getting up at 4 o’clock in the morning for 46 years, it has come to an end. No place to go at 4 am, so I guess...

Do Building Officials really want education on the trusses we produce? On Monday, March 14, I had the honor and privilege of presenting to a group of Building Officials (BOs) and Building Designers (BDs) [over 350 individuals live and in-person!] at the Finger Lakes Building Officials...

Gadgets. Upgrades. Fads. Some people love to get the next new thing as soon as they can, some people wait to see if it’s a lasting improvement or a passing craze. Me? I’m the kind of person who waits. I didn’t buy Laser Discs when they were hot, nor did I think SuperBeta was...

Now is the time for you to prepare to move up in management.  Over the last 20 years, dozens of plants formerly run by “hands-on” owners are now run by managers.   During the recent recession, many management candidates left our business.  And in the next 10...

Construction is rebounding, and with it the need to invest in education for safe and sustainable structures is more important than ever. As manufacturers of wood products, many in our industry have the opportunity to directly engage with those on the front lines of construction who are often...