Richard McLain is Senior Technical Director – Tall Wood, at WoodWorks – Wood Products Council. As WoodWorks’ in-house tall wood expert, he provides analysis and technical guidance on architectural, fire and life safety, and structural design topics related to tall mass timber projects. (ricky.mclain@woodworks.org)
Traditionally, the role of the structural engineer on building projects has focused on structure-related tasks – member sizing, connection detailing, general notes, and specifications for structural components. Design criteria such as fire-resistance ratings, acoustics, and aesthetics have primarily been the architect’s domain. …
There is a reason more developers and building designers are using wood-frame construction for large mid-rise projects. Designed to code, wood-frame buildings are safe, cost-effective, and sustainable, and increasing the use of wood in these projects can enhance their value proposition. …
Part 1 of this article (STRUCTURE, September 2018) addressed code considerations and detailing related to wood-frame shaft walls in multi-family and commercial buildings that are also wood-frame. Building on those fundamentals, this article examines fire design requirements, construction constraints, and other potential differences associated with applications such as stairs, elevators, and MEP shafts. With a greater understanding of the nuances, the goal is to better equip engineers to realize the cost, schedule, and other benefits of this increasingly common approach to shaft wall design. …
It is relatively common for light wood-frame commercial and multi-family buildings to include shaft walls made from other materials. However, with an increase in wood construction nationwide, many designers and contractors have come to realize that wood-frame shaft walls are a code-compliant means of reducing costs and shortening construction schedules. …