The 2021 IBC code changes are critical for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction(AEC) industry. As various jurisdictions adopt the latest version...
Read moreThere is a famous African proverb that reads “It takes a village to raise a child.” It also takes a village to design and construct a building. The goal for all project team member...
Read moreWith the growing use of Mass Timber and its increasing acceptance in building codes, it has become a strong option for construction thanks to its inherent fire resistance and ability to leave structural elements exposed. However, special attention must be given to connection detailing—particularly fastener spacing and edge distances—to ensure strong and reliable performance.
The required thickness of CMU walls can be estimated by dividing the unbraced wall height (in inches) by 30. Note that larger openings and high loading conditions may increase the required wall thickness.
Example: 19 foot tall wall -> 19 x 12 / 30= 7.6 inches -> Use 8" CMU
Did you know that shorter buildings (lower periods) experience higher seismic accelerations than taller buildings (longer periods) that experience lower seismic accelerations due to their ability to "ride out" the ground motions more gradually?
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Did you know there has been an explosion of different types of fasteners available to make construction more efficient? One example is replacing a traditional wood truss hurricane clip with a single Simpson SDWC Truss Screw. One resource is the 2025 Simpson Strong-Tie Fastening Systems Catalog C-F-2025.pdf
