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Wood Design Tools & Calculators
The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) offers simple, easy-to-use, and free design tools to help architects, engineers, and builders work more efficiently with wood. From electronic design calculators to practical construction guides, our resources make wood design more accessible and straightforward.
CWC offers a number of free resources available to wood professionals as well as wood enthusiasts.
Climate zone-appropriate insulated wall assembly solutions that are easily comparable with national and provincial energy efficiency prescriptive provisions.
Calculate load-carrying capacity for wood beams efficiently. Provides quick, code-compliant results for safe and reliable designs.
Dimension Calculator
Easily convert lumber dimensions for accurate planning. Ideal for ensuring precise cuts and minimizing waste.
Estimate lumber volume for your projects. Simplify material planning and cost estimation with accurate results.
Carbon Calculator
Both the amount of carbon stored and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided.
Code CHEK
Ensure your designs meet safety standards. Verify compliance with the latest building codes for hassle-free projects.
FRR & STC Tool
Evaluate fire resistance and sound performance. Optimize designs to meet safety and acoustic standards easily.
Bolt Selection Table Viewer
Evaluate fire resistance and sound performance. Optimize designs to meet safety and acoustic standards easily.
Bolt Calculator
Performs design calculations for bolted connections in accordance with CSA O86:24 Clause 12.4.
The Canadian Wood Council’s Design Tools have been developed for information purposes only. Although all possible efforts have been made to ensure that the information on these tools is accurate, the CWC cannot under any circumstances guarantee the completeness, accuracy or exactness of the information. Reference should always be made to the appropriate Building Code and/or Standard. This tool should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or design advice, and the user is responsible for how the tool is used or applied.
Explore Additional Tools
Expand your design capabilities with advanced tools tailored for timber construction. From calculators to performance modeling, these resources enhance your workflow for precise and efficient project execution.
Cecobois Online Tools
Climate zone-appropriate insulated wall assembly solutions that are easily comparable with national and provincial energy efficiency prescriptive provisions.
AWC Online Tools
Discover innovative tools designed to streamline your wood construction projects. Optimize design processes and explore solutions crafted for modern timber engineering.
Discover the WoodWorks® Software
Learn how the WoodWorks Software supports design and construction professionals with expert resources, tools, and free technical support for innovative wood building projects.
Explore Premium
Content and Resources
From best practices to innovative techniques, find everything you need to succeed in timber construction.
- The construction environment is a dynamic weather and exposure environment that can range from dry to cold and wet to dry. Wood materials are in a constant state of moisture content change with the environment that affects dimensional change, corrosion activity, fungi and decay, and the tension of embedded screws. The presentation includes some of the new provisions of CSA O86:24 related to mass timber screws and the Simpson Strong-Tie R&D work to understand and mitigate HE as affected by hardness, manufacturing, and use environments. Credits: Participants will earn one professional development hour (PDH). After completing the post-webinar online quiz, you can earn 0.1 continuing education unit (CEU) as well. Attendee Prerequisites: Some experience in this field is helpful. Intended Audience: Structural engineers, specifiers, architects, building officials, residential & commercial contractors, home owners and DIYers. We’ll have a live Q&A at the end. Learning Objectives: Identify the importance of managing the construction environment surrounding fasteners driven through thick steel plates into wood. Describe the effect of wood moisture content on the tension of threaded fasteners embedded in wood. Explain how to prevent HE failures in the construction environment. Summarize the provisions of CSA O86:24 related to mass timber fastening. Incorporate installation provisions for mass timber fasteners driven through thick metal plates into wood.
- With recent Code changes resulting in more stringent seismic requirements, finding efficient and high-performing structural layouts is more important than ever. It is expected that Light-Wood Frame residential mid-rise buildings will be the most affected by these changes. WoodWorks is teaming up with Weyerhaeuser and Simpson Strong-Tie for an engaging educational event to explore strategies to meet these increased requirements. This is a unique opportunity to participate in a discussion with suppliers, educators, and researchers on the direction of the industry. Have your voice heard! Learning Outcomes: Analyze the most recent Code developments and how they affect the lateral design of light wood-frame mid-rise buildings. Review typical lateral layouts and strategies to mitigate increased seismic forces Explore different analysis methods and their effect on lateral force distribution. Discover alternate shearwall designs and how to review the construction of different solutions.
OTTAWA, March 25, 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of over $20 million in funding for 67 projects that support the growth and resilience of British Columbia’s forest sector.
While the announcement includes several strategic large-scale investments in advanced wood manufacturing, a significant strength of this initiative lies in the breadth of smaller-scale, high-impact projects that are collectively transforming communities across the province. From feasibility studies for Indigenous-led forest product businesses to the development of next-generation building technologies, these projects are advancing wood innovation, supporting workforce development, and expanding the role of wood in low-carbon construction.
Administered through Natural Resources Canada, this Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) funding supports a wide range of initiatives—from fire-testing mass timber connections and refining modelling guides for timber structures, to developing bioenergy solutions and value-added wood processing in Indigenous communities.
This announcement underscores the importance of decentralized innovation, where targeted investments in communities and research institutions alike contribute to a stronger, more sustainable forest sector. The Canadian Wood Council applauds this commitment and looks forward to continuing its work with design professionals, governments, and industry partners to support the expanded use of wood in the province through its market-leading WoodWorks program.
View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-announces-support-for-british-columbias-forest-sector.html https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-announces-support-for-british-columbias-forest-sector.html
- This session provides a thorough exploration of the key factors affecting floor system performance. Participants will gain insights into how to identify and address these factors through effective design strategies that can be used to produce engineered wood floor systems with exceptional reliability and long-lasting performance. Learning Objectives: Identify key factors that influence floor system performance. Analyze how these factors impact the performance and durability of floor systems. Apply effective design strategies to overcome floor system performance challenges and improve reliability. Ensure consistent results and long-term floor system performance.
OTTAWA, March 24, 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) applauds the joint investment of over $8.5 million by Natural Resources Canada and Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests in four innovative wood construction-related projects across Quebec. These strategic initiatives will help strengthen the manufacturing sector and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon, Canadian-made wood products and technologies in residential construction and other critical community infrastructure.
By supporting advanced wood construction methods—including modular mass timber housing, artificial intelligence to modernize engineered wood manufacturing, and the design of tall wood residential buildings—this investment reinforces the essential role of wood in delivering high-performance, low-carbon construction solutions. From a 20-unit modular development and a 21-storey design study to the cultural leadership of the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi in forest-to-form construction, these projects demonstrate how innovative wood technologies can meet urgent housing needs in a sustainable way, through scalable and repeatable, locally driven approaches.
The Canadian Wood Council commends both levels of government for recognizing the critical role of Canada’s forest sector in delivering smart, climate-friendly building systems. These investments demonstrate how advanced wood technologies can contribute to addressing urgent housing needs while helping to lower the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Design and construction professionals in Quebec can access free technical support related to wood design and construction through the market-leading resource program, Cecobois. The CWC is pleased to provide support further expand the use of wood in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings throughout the rest of Canada through its WoodWorks program.
View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-and-quebec-invest-in-sustainable-wood-construction.html
OTTAWA, ON, 21 MAR 2025 – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) applauds the Government of Canada’s strategic investment in Nova Scotia’s mass timber sector, recognizing its role in advancing low-carbon construction, economic growth, and job creation.
This funding will accelerate the fabrication of high-value mass timber components from undervalued eastern spruce, unlocking new opportunities for Canada’s forest sector and expanding the use of advanced wood materials in construction. By supporting the production of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam in Nova Scotia, this investment strengthens supply chains, creates skilled jobs in the region, and enhances the competitiveness of low-carbon building solutions across Canada.
Mass timber is increasingly recognized as a proven strategy for the rapid construction of much-needed housing and other critical infrastructure. Its benefits extend across multi-residential and commercial buildings, offering a scalable, efficient, and sustainable approach to modern construction.
Canada’s forest sector is well-positioned to meet the growing domestic demand for sustainable construction materials. This investment will drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, creating economic opportunities in Nova Scotia while enhancing Canada’s capacity to produce and supply mass timber products nationwide. Expanding domestic production advances low-carbon building solutions and strengthens Canada’s wood manufacturing sector.
The CWC applauds this commitment to fostering a resilient and competitive mass timber industry in Atlantic Canada. Through our WoodWorks technical program, we look forward to supporting construction professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to integrate mass timber into more projects across the country.
View the announcement from Natural Resources Canada here: https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/03/canada-invests-in-nova-scotias-local-mass-timber-industry.html
- Discover the innovative approach to housing supply undertaken by Pathway Non-Profit Community Developments Inc. of Peel. The Arbor Mill expansion sets a remarkable precedent for other non-profit affordable housing providers who want to build more housing and can do it by adding additional units on top of their existing buildings. Globally, it is estimated that approximately 20-25% of existing buildings can support a vertical addition in wood, which is a comparatively light weight building material. This novel approach removes the need to find new land to develop and has the added benefit of immediately integrating new residents into an existing supportive community. This project added 6 barrier-free, affordable apartments on top of a 35-year old, occupied residential building using prefabricated mass timber, delivering more affordable housing through the “gentle densification” of existing infrastructure. In this webinar, the project team will discuss the architectural, structural, and design challenges of the project, including blending prefabricated mass timber construction methods with an older structure built with conventional materials. Key sustainability and construction considerations will also be highlighted. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from one of the first project teams in North America to pursue this innovative approach to housing delivery. Learning Outcomes: Participants will learn how Pathway, a non-profit community developer in Peel Region, created a plan to expand its housing portfolio while addressing tenant needs and priorities. Participants will gain insights into the design and approval challenges of the project, including navigating site plan approvals, integrating mass timber, and meeting acoustic and fire safety requirements. Participants will understand the structural considerations for vertical expansions, which include performing load assessments and evaluating structural options. Participants will understand the mass timber fabricator’s process and the key considerations for successfully integrating prefabricated mass timber components into a project, including early involvement, securing production spots, and managing construction timelines.
The Canadian Wood Council is proud to share the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) latest updates to the design values for Hem-Fir (N) dimension lumber, effective April 1, 2025. These changes result from a routine reassessment of strength and stiffness properties, ensuring Hem-Fir (N) continues to meet structural performance expectations.
Key Points:
- Minimal Practical Impact: The updated design values should not result in significant changes to the practical use of Hem-Fir (N) in most applications, maintaining continuity for builders, designers, and engineers.
- Consistent Performance: Hem-Fir (N) remains a trusted and dependable choice for residential and commercial construction, with values that closely align with previous standards.
- No Impact on Existing Construction: Structures built under previous building codes remain compliant.
- The updates are reflected in the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber, CSA O86 – Engineering Design in Wood, and the National Design Specification® (NDS®) Supplement for Wood Construction.
For additional details, including specific design value changes, affected lumber grades, and implementation considerations, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for Canada or the USA.
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Some engineered wood panel products, such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) are able to be treated after manufacture with preservative solutions, whereas thin strand based products (OSB, OSL) and small particulate and fibre-based panels (particleboard, MDF) are not. The preservatives must be added to the wood elements before they are bonded together, either as a spray on, mist or powder.
Products such as OSB are manufactured from small, thin strands of wood. Powdered preservatives can be mixed in with the strands and resins during the blending process just prior to mat forming and pressing. Zinc borate is commonly used in this application. By adding preservatives to the manufacturing process it’s possible to obtain uniform treatment throughout the thickness of the product.
In North America, plywood is normally protected against decay and termites by pressure treatment processes. However, in other parts of the world insecticides are often formulated with adhesives to protect plywood against termites.
- Presented by Ontario WoodWorks, Element5 and WoodSure An opportunity to explore the insights into mass timber manufacturing methods and capabilities, a review of design strategies and real-world challenges. Design specifications for CLT and Glulam along with beam to beam connection will also be reviewed. Anticipate an engaging evening with these two industry leaders. Kevin and Lee look forward to this robust conversation and welcome questions from other mass timber enthusiasts (and newbies). Learning Outcomes: Understand the evolution of the mass timber industry through the insights of Lee Scott and Kevin Rocchi, focusing on manufacturing methods and design capabilities. Examine design strategies and real-world challenges in mass timber construction, with a focus on practical applications and overcoming industry hurdles. Learn about design specifications for Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam, including beam-to-beam connection techniques for effective integration in mass timber projects.
- Join us as we explore the basic design principles and best practices for efficient tall wall design using engineered wood products. Discussion will include material selection, design for climate conditions, and a complete design example using freely available software tools. Learning Outcomes: Understand the design principles and inputs required to size tall wall framing members Recognize some of the pitfalls of inadequate tall wall design Learn about easy-to-use tools and software available to simplify this process Sponsored by Ontario Structural Wood Association
- We will explore the use cases for incorporating more wood into a sector that is typically dominated by structural steel construction. We will look at Light Wood Framing (LWF), Structural Composite Lumber (SCL), Mass Timber (MT) as well as Hybrid Systems that incorporate, which can include all or some of the above, as well as structural steel. What is important is using the right material in the right application. But perhaps more importantly is where NOT to use a material. Several examples from the CWC Publication “Low-Rise Commercial Construction in Wood: A guide for Architects and Engineers”, as well as real project examples from the presenter. Learning Outcomes: Identify strengths and weaknesses of various wood products. Learn to select the right wood material/system for the most efficient and cost effective structure. Highlight critical details and identify potential red flags to ensure a successful project. Provide useful examples, resources and tools for the practitioner to add to their “tool belt”. Sponsored by Ontario Structural Wood Association
- Woodrise 2025 is the premier international congress dedicated to the future of mid- and high-rise timber construction. Hosted by FPInnovations in collaboration with FCBA and JUBH, this event brings together global leaders in architecture, engineering, policy, and industry to explore the latest advancements in mass timber and sustainable building practices. With over 2,000 participants from 25+ countries, 30+ international speakers, and a 25,000+ sqft exhibition space featuring 60+ exhibitors, Woodrise 2025 is a key platform for: Networking & B2B Meetings – Connect with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators. Insightful Discussions – Gain valuable perspectives on sustainability, regulations, and emerging trends. Showcasing Innovation – Discover groundbreaking projects and technologies shaping the future of wood construction. Who Attends? Woodrise attracts professionals from across the building, forestry, and manufacturing industries, including: Architects, Engineers, and Developers Mass Timber Manufacturers and Suppliers Government Officials and Policymakers Researchers, Educators, and Students Set against the stunning backdrop of Vancouver, a global hub for mass timber innovation, Woodrise 2025 will inspire and engage attendees in shaping the future of sustainable construction. Join us for an event where knowledge meets innovation, and connections create opportunity.
