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 to ensure compliant design and easy approval. And now, the American Wood Council (AWC) and International Code Council (ICC) have released a joint publication, Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC, as the exact study guide that designers, engineers, and builders need to ace designing and constructing with mass timber smartly and safely.
Building codes are forever evolving. In fact, in most places in the United States their provisions are updated every three years. And, did you know that mass timber has already been recognized in three editions of the ICC codes? Beginning with the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), cross-laminated timber (CLT) and construction of mass timber buildings were first recognized, allowing slightly larger heights and areas than had been permitted for buildings of traditional wood construction types. This was followed by the reorganization of heavy timber provisions in the 2018 IBC, and subsequently the very significant changes in the 2021 IBC and International Fire Code (IFC) that first recognized tall mass timber construction, with allowances ranging from seven to 18 stories.
To help you understand current provisions, the new AWC/ICC publication traces requirements for mass timber construction through these various editions of the International Building Code (IBC). Given the growing demand across the country for taller mass timber buildings, the building construction and safety communities now have the study guide needed, detailing the evolution of requirements and providing comprehensive explanations of the new regulations.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with AWC on this effort to increase the knowledge of the important code changes established in the 2021 IBC,” said International Code Council Executive Vice President Mark Johnson. “Building safety is more important than ever and this publication serves as an excellent resource for code officials to assist with the growing mass timber construction.”
In support of this burgeoning opportunity, ICC and AWC committed to increased education efforts as well. Beginning in late 2019, AWC and ICC partnered to present a series of webinars and seminars on the tall mass timber requirements. Each of these presentations is now being repeated live on the AWC education platform for free. Each webinar is 90 minutes long and will be offered twice, as a morning (10:55 AM ET) and afternoon (1:55 PM ET) session. Participants will have the opportunity to earn 1.5 hours of continuing education credit from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Code Council (ICC), and National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) for each webinar. Below are the remaining webinars, and you can find more information at awc.org/education/mass-timber-training.
- What’s New in 2015/2018 IBC® for Mass Timber Construction | September 17
- Background and Overview (New Mass Timber) | October 15
- Heights and Areas and Construction Fire Safety (New Mass Timber) | November 12
- Principles of Fire and Connection Design and Special Inspection (New Mass Timber) | December 10
Having clear guidance and information is critical for those involved in mass timber construction to ensure requirements and best practices are met. With the new AWC/ICC publication now available, breaking down the important information just like a study guide, designers, engineers, builders, and even building officials will never need to risk being caught unprepared.