Georgia has adopted the 2021 building code for tall wood buildings (not the entire code – just for tall wood), placing it clearly as one of the most progressive states in the country for creating opportunities for architects and others to take advantages of this range of new design and construction opportunities.  And these changes should be of interest to all architects,

The new codes take effect on January 1, 2022.  We’ll review Georgia’s new language in the body of the code and the appendix.  Please join AIA and Wood Works for this 4 hour training session on this exciting new path for architects and others.

 4 LU/HSW

Trainer: Ricky McLain, PE, SE, Senior Technical Director – BIO

Part 1: A New Path Forward for Tall Wood Construction: Code Provisions and Design Step

Course Description:

We are at an exciting confluence in timber construction. The need for sustainable, urban construction has never been higher. Concurrently, mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber have opened the door to many new opportunities for construction, one of which is tall wood. In January 2019, the International Code Council (ICC) approved a set of proposals to allow tall wood buildings of up to 18 stories as part of the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). This presentation will introduce the new tall wood code provisions in depth. Starting with a review of the technical research and testing that supported their adoption, it will then take a detailed look at the new code provisions and methods of addressing the new requirements. Topics will include fire-resistance ratings and allowances for exposed timber, penetrations, sprinklers, connections, exterior walls and much more. Designers can expect to take away the knowledge they need to start exploring tall wood designs on their projects.

2 LU/HSW

Part 2: Mass Timber Construction: Products, Performance and Design

Course Description:

Due to their high strength, dimensional stability and positive environmental performance, mass timber building products are quickly becoming materials of choice for sustainably-minded designers. This presentation will provide a detailed look at the variety of mass timber products available, including glue-laminated timber (glulam), cross laminated timber (CLT), nail laminated timber (NLT), heavy timber decking, and other engineered and composite systems. Applications for the use of these products under modern building codes will be discussed, and examples of their use in U.S. projects reviewed. Mass timber’s ability to act as both structure and exposed finish will also be highlighted, as will its performance as part of an assembly, considering design objectives related to structural performance, fire resistance, acoustics, and energy efficiency. Other topics will include detailing and construction best practices, lessons learned from completed projects and trends for the increased use of mass timber products in the future.

2 LU/HSW