Welcome to the CWC Portal
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.
- Site Entrance Building (Minwamon Building) Opened in 2020 and serves as a key role in campus-wide logistics, warehousing services and manages all items and vehicles entering or exiting the Chalk River Laboratories site. Support Facility Opened in 2021 and is used for maintenance and manufacturing activities. Science Collaboration Centre Opened in 2023 and is an open and inviting space that enables collaboration with international and academic partners from all over the world that work to foster nuclear science innovation and research. At six storeys tall, it also serves as a welcoming event space for conferences and seminars. The mass timber structures at the Minwamon Building, Support Facility and Science Collaboration Centre are the first modern mass timber buildings constructed on a federal site, and construction of the Support Facility and Science Collaboration Centre was supported through a grant from the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program. This program is administered by Natural Resources Canada to increase the use of wood in infrastructure projects as a sustainable construction material and supports Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. In the three new buildings, mass timber has allowed CNL to sequester nearly 2,500 tonnes of CO2 and avoid nearly 1,000 tonnes of CO2 since 2015. The three non-nuclear new builds which use 3,750 m3 of structure in mass timber means: 4,125 tonnes of CO2e embodied and avoided Approximately 800 cars off of Canadian roads for one year Energy for approximately 400 homes in Canada for one year Canadian forests regrow this timber in 10 minutes Hydrogen Laboratories CNL is accelerating the transition to a hydrogen economy with advanced hydrogen production and energy storage technologies. Our strategic partnerships with industry, academic institutions, national and global organizations demonstrate our commitment to innovation and exemplary quality assurance. Areas of expertise include: Heavy water production and management Hydrogen production technologies Hydrogen safety technologies Energy storage technologies Actinium Laboratories Scientists at CNL are working hard on the development of advanced life-saving treatments that harness the power of nuclear science and radioisotopes to achieve unprecedented levels of precision in beating cancer. This work includes the production of a promising new weapon in the fight against cancer – Actinium-225 – a radioisotope so rare that the annual global production is less than a grain of sand. Reactor Fleet Sustainability Laboratories For decades, CNL has been standing ready to sustain reliable and affordable nuclear reactors. We support utilities, their suppliers, and industry research organization by providing extensive research through: Operations and maintenance practices that improve reactor operations and respond to emergent issues Life extension initiatives that enable long-term operations Innovation that develops technologies to support reactor modernization and efficiencies Environment Laboratories Through Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) Federal Nuclear Science and Technology (FNST) Work Plan, CNL undertakes research activities to support environmental stewardship and responsible nuclear waste management. Overarching federal priorities and goals to which CNL applies its science capabilities include: Support Canada’s national and international leadership to improve the understanding and reduce environmental impact of nuclear energy. Enhance Canada’s environmental stewardship by ensuring that nuclear energy is developed within a robust framework that addresses environmental and waste management concerns. Support implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework and achieve Canada’s international greenhouse gas reduction targets by identifying the environmental impacts of nuclear energy production that could be reduced. Develop and demonstrate innovative technologies to reduce environmental impacts, increase competitiveness, and promote the use of clean technology including in Canada’s natural resource sectors. Providing science and technology to support the understanding of the effects of radiation on the environment. Improving the understanding of the migration of radioisotopes in the environment (terrestrial and aquatic), and their potential impacts on human health and non-human biota. Enhancing prediction methods of radionuclide concentrations in the environment during the recovery phase following an unplanned radioactive release. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring government-issued photo ID (Passport, driver’s licence, health card, etc.). Wear flat-soled safety shoes or safety boots, socks, long pants, and high visibility vests. Dress appropriately for the weather as time will be spent walking outside. Photo and video taking is restricted. Please inquire before any photos and videos are taken. Advise of severe allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions / devices. Once your registration is completed you will recieve a Security form via email for CNL. This must be completed by January 30th to be able to attend the tour. TRANSPORTATION: All participants are to meet at Andaz Hotel (325 Dalhousie Street Ottawa ON K1N7G1). We request that all participants are at the pick-up location no later than 7:15 am for a 7:30 am departure.
Courtesy of the Mass Timber Institute
There is much to learn from the resilient and adaptable warehouse buildings that line the streets of Canada’s historic manufacturing districts. ‘Historical Tall-Wood Toronto’ is an evidentiary database of late 19th and early 20th century vernacular brick and beam buildings that were built using the fire restrictive specifications and construction technology of Heavy Timber Mill-Construction (mill-construction) in Toronto.
- This presentation explores the art and science of inspired structural design, emphasizing how engineering can harmonize beauty, efficiency, and sustainability. By allowing the structure itself to help inform the concept, it is possible to craft designs that are not only innovative but also deeply connected to their environment. This session will delve into strategies for designing sustainably, focusing on the most structurally efficient use of materials to reduce waste and environmental impact. Through case studies and examples, the presentation highlights how thoughtful engineering creates beautiful structures that people love to own and use. Attendees will leave with actionable insights into achieving designs that inspire and perform. Inspired Design Date: January 22nd, 2025 Time: 12 p.m. (MST) / 2 p.m. (EST) Duration: 60 minutes Learning Outcomes: Inspired design does not need to cost more, it is often more economical Design-Build is the perfect delivery method for true Inspired Design Inspired design requires a cohesive design team from the start Collaboration of project constraints is key to Inspired Design
