Course Overview

Born out of years of research and real world experience Les Jezsa applies his unique perspective in exploring the wood quality attributes of: strength, stiffness, density, dimensional stability and natural durability.

Many of the examples and teaching tools developed by Les Jozsa and used in this course are also used in university architect and engineering programs around the world. 

Learning Objectives

1. Wood availability and wood use will span from the global scale to the local picture, from the temperate zone and tropical rainforest, in terms of industrial and non-industrial uses.
2. Old-growth and second-growth wood attributes will be illuminated in terms of density, strength and stiffness, dimensional stability, and natural durability.
3. Hardwoods- softwoods, lumber grades, wood-moisture relationships, and protecting wood through pressure treating and painting.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Les Jozsa
Research Scientist Emeritus
FPInnovations | Forintek

Les Jozsa’s expertise and knowledge, as a wood technologist, spans a wide perspective, from the macroscopic to the microscopic realm. The above graphic, designed and drawn by the author, could be his business card. His responsibilities included planning, coordinating and conducting research on wood quality attributes, utilizing X-ray densitometric techniques. His resource evaluation projects have dealt with all the major commercial tree species in western Canada, and involved stand selection, tree sampling, laboratory measurements, analysis, and reporting. Log diagramming, lumber conversion, and lumber grading protocols were followed to examine the impact of silvicultural treatments (like spacing, thinning, fertilization and pruning) on wood production and wood quality. Intensive tree sampling techniques provided information on stem size, stem taper, branch size, heartwood-sapwood distribution, and juvenile- mature-wood classification. His three-dimensional analysis of ring width, ring density, fiber length and shrinkage was ground-breaking in Canada. It was made possible through techniques developed by his colleagues at Forintek under his leadership. His other projects have dealt with climate-tree-growth relationships, the acoustical properties of wood, shrinkage and swelling, and lumber drying. Other responsibilities included conducting workshops with professional foresters, wood workers, architects and engineers. He developed an extensive variety of teaching aids which are being used around the world at several universities, dealing with wood technology and wood-structure. He is an expert witness in Forensic Dendrochronology in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Course Overview

While many designers are familiar with engineered wood products such as I‐joists and structural composite lumber, it is important to understand the structural requirements associated with each in order to achieve proper performance—especially in mid‐rise Construction. With an emphasis on products used in commercial and multi‐family buildings, this presentation will cover engineered wood product acceptance, testing requirements, lateral design, and proper detailing.

Learning Objectives

1. Testing requirements and acceptance of wood I‐joists and structural composite Lumber (SCL) products.
2. Dimension stability in regards to moisture content changes and the differences between solid wood products.
3. Lateral design, including information on I‐joist diaphragm capacities and the detailing of rim board connections.
4. Fire resistance design, including wood I‐joist assembly requirements and SCL char rate equivalency to solid wood.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Jeff Olson, P.E., P.Eng.
Boise Cascade EWP, White City, OR

Jeff is currently the Technical Services Manager for Boise Cascade, Engineered Wood Products division. He has over 30 years of experience in the design and testing of engineered wood products and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in several western Canadian provinces and U.S. states.

Course Overview

This presentation aims to help designers and construction companies/builders assess the potential for moisture related issues arising during the construction appropriate actions to mitigate such risk. Information on wetting and drying potential, and solutions and available resources related to onsite moisture management as well as design measures will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

1. Wood’s basic physical properties related to moisture management.
2. Categories of wood materials/built up assemblies.
3. Wetting and drying performance of different assemblies.
4. Different level of onsite moisture protection.
5. Design solutions to facilitate drying performance.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Jieying Wang
Senior Scientist – Building Systems Department
FPInnovations

Jieying Wang is a senior scientist in the Building Systems department of FPInnovations.

Since she joined FPInnovations (then operating as “Forintek”) about 11 years ago, her research has primarily focused on wood durability, moisture management and thermal performance of wood‐based building envelopes.

Course Overview

This webinar will discuss the fire-related national building and fire code changes related to a new construction type called Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) to be used for wood buildings up to twelve storeys. As well, it will provide an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings.

Learning Objectives

1. Proposed new construction type EMTC.
2. Proposed new ULC encapsulation rating test.
3. Proposed additions for EMTC in the 2020 NBC and NFC.
4. Mass timber fire testing.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Marc Alam
Manager, Codes and Standards in the fire division Canadian Wood Council

Marc Alam is a member of the Canadian Wood Council. As Manager, Codes and Standards in the fire division, Marc assists through participation in CWC’s building code and standards fire‐related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire research projects.

Course Overview

Coming soon…

Learning Objectives

Coming Soon…

Course Video

Speaker Bio

John Paone
Director / Sr. Vice President
Alfred Horie Construction Co. Ltd., Burnaby, BC

Mark Porter, P.Eng.
Struct. Eng.
FIStructE, Associated Engineering, Burnaby, BC

Course Overview

Examining recent 6-storey projects, this presentation will highlight specific challenges, important details and procedures, and to illustrate how various engineered wood products were applied strategically to ensure success.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain insight into some of the critical structural challenges for wood framed mid‐rise buildings.
2. Understand how use of Engineered Lumber (particularly LSL) can assist in decreasing building shrinkage and resisting higher loads.
3. Know what a qualified ELP supplier can provide to assist in these projects.
4. Examine a few emerging technologies that may impact this type of construction in the future.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Steve McManus, P. Eng.
Weyerhaeuser

Course Overview

The presentation will address common modes of fire spread in mid‐rise buildings of combustible construction and the measures implemented into building codes to limit fire spread. The presentation will look at several case studies and quantify the impact of key mitigation measures that have been implemented into building codes following these fires.

Learning Objectives

1. Knowledge of key fire spread modes and mechanisms in combustible mid‐rise buildings.
2. Knowledge of key building code requirements to limit fire spread.
3. The importance of fire stopping and blocking.
4. Methods to limit fire spread.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Keith Calder, P.Eng.
Jensen Hughes

Keith Calder, P.Eng., has almost 20 years’ experience in fire engineering, fire modelling, building and fire code consulting and fire investigation. He has developed a vast knowledge of the application of current and historical building codes and has provided analysis and advice on the development of several wood initiatives.

Course Overview

Durability by design is all in the detail. It is the detail, an aspect of wood design which is sometimes overlooked, that determines the durability of a building’s exterior, especially when wood is exposed to the elements. Knowing what happens to the wood when exposed to moisture or the sun’s UV rays and applying that information, results in a design that stands the test of time. Bill Billups’ presentation will include illustrated examples of what happens when design principles of durability are ignored.

Learning Objectives

1. The participant will look at four design elements of wood structures: Canopies, Eave Lines, Siding and Caps & Bases.
2. Examples will show what does / does not work and through these examples the presenter will show how Durability by Design is in the details.
3. The participant will learn where the water goes and how nature teaches us how to handle the sun.
4. They will come away with a Durability check list they can apply to any design they are working on.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Bill Billups, AScT
Technical Consultant
Wood WORKS! BC

Course Overview

Fire performances of CLT fire separations with closure (door) or service (pipe) penetrations will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

Beyond the introduction of a new, 18 storey limit, you will:

1. Basic CLT fire separation performance.
2. CLT‐penetration interface design principles.
3. Testing of a CLT wall with a fire door.
4. Testing of a CLT floor with pipe penetrations.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Conroy Lum
Research Leader – Advanced Building Systems
FPInnovations

Conroy is a structural engineer by training and oversees the work of the research groups on structural performance, durability, and sustainability in the Advanced Building Systems department of FPInnovations. His research contributions have been in the areas of developing methods for evaluating wood products and structural adhesives, and implementing such methods in standards to support product development and manufacturing.

Course Overview

Melissa will discuss the role of the specialty structural engineer in glulam connection design for your project. Tips will be provided to help streamline the work of the project architect and engineer of record, and also highlight specific detailing situations to help construction run more smoothly. Glulam fabrication will be discussed: from chisels to CNC machines. Some examples will be given to see what is possible during this timber connection renaissance, made possible by 3D fabrication models and CNC machines.

Learning Objectives

1. Mass timber fabrication processes and the role of shop drawings.
2. Detailing to accommodate for differing tolerances of different trades on the construction site.
3. Tailoring timber specifications to meet architectural needs.
4. Information required in construction documents for delegated design of mass timber connections.
5. New timber connection possibilities through use of CNC Fabrication.
6. How to communicate scope delineation for multiple suppliers of structural systems on your project and where are the potential gaps / overlaps.
7. How involving your mass timber supplier early in the design process can create material and construction efficiencies.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C
Structural Project Engineer
ISL Engineering and Land Services

Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C, is a structural project engineer for ISL Engineering and Land Services. With 400 people in 14 offices in western Canada, ISL established a Buildings Group in 2012 with the acquisition of Cascade Engineering Group, and Melissa joined the growing team in the Canmore office in 2015.

Melissa supports the successful delivery of building engineering to a range of clients, from independent homes owners to internationally renowned architects, timber framers, and mass timber fabricators. With over 15 years of experience in design engineering and construction, Melissa has experience in commercial, residential, and industrial developments of various shapes and sizes. Her material of choice is timber and she focuses most of her time on both concept and detailed design of timber structures. These range from modern developments to repairs of heritage structures and even playgrounds.

She passionately believes that to engineer a structure in wood, one must respect the unique properties of this natural material and even use them to enhance the design, both structurally and architecturally. Close attention is paid to the contribution of the structure to the sustainability features of a building project and these are even more easily achieved when the structure is timber.

Course Overview

Building a wood frame Car Dealership is a unique proposition to begin with. Making it a Certified Passivehouse building in cold windy Red Deer is an added level of complexity. Scottsville Autogroup, along with Cover Architectural Collaborative and Peel Passivehouse was up for the challenge. Now nearing completion, the project will set a new bar for energy efficient and sustainable construction in the industrial sector. The project shows that manufactured wood products are not only capable but preferable when designing sustainable buildings. The use of wood not only significantly reduces the embodied energy of the structure, but allows for thermal bridge free construction – a critical consideration when building a super-efficient envelope.

Learning Objectives

1. How to achieve tall, long span structures using dimensional and engineered wood products.
2. How to design thermal bridge free envelopes.
3. How to achieve Passivehouse certification in a cold climate with significant storefront glazing.
4. How to account for process loads in PHPP calculations.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

Lukas Armstrong
Architect and Principal
Cover Architectural Collborative

Lukas Armstrong, as an Architect and Principal at Cover Architectural Collborative in Nelson BC, has been responsible for some of Canada’s first Certified Passivehouse projects, including his own home in a multifamily residential building. Lukas has presented at the New York and Vancouver Passivehouse conferences and provides an engaging and informative window into wood frame Passivehouse design and construction.

Course Overview

This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction.

Learning Objectives

1. Acoustic complaints & Law Suits.
2. Customer negative perception of your building (ex; wood frame vs concrete).
3. Code regulations (ex; need to reduce weight, acoustic requirements, etc.).
4. Abundance of possibilities and unclear information.

Course Video

Speaker Bio

André Rioux
Co-Owner/Business Development
AcoustiTECH

André has been working alongside building professionals for more than 15 years and is recognized for his passion for the field of acoustics and his expert knowledge.

Promoting wood construction across Canada and the US has been a great focus of his, participating in various organizations, giving conferences and joining innovation projects.

André’s experience with wood construction combined with over 20 years of research and development from AcoustiTECH has resulted in a group being able to bring invaluable expertise and knowhow.