Lunch and Learn Presentations

WoodWorks technical advisors are available to provide one-hour educational seminars in-house to architects, engineers, builders, contractors, code officials and others. (We require a minimum of six people and we’ll bring lunch!) WoodWorks is an approved AIA provider. Eligible attendees qualify for one HSW credit per presentation.

Presentations available in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina include:

Sustainable Design Considerations – This presentation looks at how wood construction can contribute to a green building. Using scientifically-based life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, this session demonstrates why wood products are better for the environment than other materials in terms of indicators such as embodied energy, air and water pollution and global warming potential. LCA is becoming the world standard for evaluating the sustainability of materials and assemblies and improving environmentally based decision-making. New tools that make it a viable and cost effective part of building design are discussed as are the two largest green building rating systems available for non-residential design, LEED® and Green Globes™. This presentation also examines why wood from sustainably managed forests is a good choice when it comes to one of society’s most pressing issues—climate change.

Air, Water and Moisture Management in Commercial Building Envelopes – Participants will receive an overview of how air and moisture infiltrate commercial wall systems and the ramifications of improper design. A leaky envelope can cause damage to building materials, contributing to poor indoor air quality and resulting in call-backs and costly repairs. Reviewing the mechanics of moisture movement will help participants understand how moisture impacts building performance, how to identify common design defects that lead to moisture problems, how to identify common construction defects that lead to mold and decay and how to properly flash envelope penetrations.

Fire Protection I: Allowable Heights and Areas – This presentation will focus on the use of wood products allowed by the International Building Code, taking into account allowable heights and areas along with the benefits of incorporating fire mitigation techniques such as protected construction and sprinklers. Topics will include how building type affects the available choice of wood products (including fire retardant treated wood) and the American Wood Council’s Heights and Areas Calculator. 

Fire Protection II: Basic Principles for Wood Frame Structures – This session will highlight basic fire protection principles for non-residential structures, including fire rating of interior and exterior walls, fire blocking and draft stopping. Examples of fire assemblies to achieve one and two hour fire ratings will be shown, utilizing materials such as I-Joists, plated floor trusses and solid sawn lumber. Topics will also include common details for fire walls, elevator shafts and other critical assemblies in commercial structures.

Why Use Wood Framing – This introduces users to many of the considerations when using wood frame construction including cost effective construction, aesthetics, durability, heights and areas, and combustibility. The latter half of the presentation will review examples of commercial retail and business structures that utilize wood framing. This will include roof, wall and floor systems using lumber, engineered wood, and wood structural panels. 

Reducing Moisture Problems in Commercial Buildings – This presentation focuses on the core principles needed to understand the mechanics of moisture movement and its impact on the building envelope. Examples will be provided to illustrate common design and installation defects that cause moisture to infiltrate commercial wall systems. Other topics include best practices for flashing penetrations, and mold and mildew causes, prevention and solutions.

Designing for High Winds – This presentation focuses on the differences between ASCE-7-05 simplified and analytical methods of wind design as it relates to commercial wood frame structures. Critical elements needed for proper design of diaphragms and shear walls are reviewed, including blocked vs. unblocked diaphragms, conventional shear walls, perforated shear walls, and design for combined uplift and shear. This presentation also includes considerations for improving efficiency in the design and construction of lateral force resisting elements. 

Introduction to Post-frame Construction, Buildings and Design – This session will focus on post-frame building systems in comparison to other construction types. Topics will include: unique features of post-frame systems that make them a cost and energy efficient option with great flexibility in architectural detailing, structural design approaches, embedded post foundations, structural diaphragms and shear walls, structural integrity, longevity, code compliance, and preservative treatment for embedded wood posts. 

Wood Product Overview – This presentation covers the palette of wood products available for non-residential structures. It addresses topics such as availability, spans, depths, fire code requirements and grading—both for solid sawn lumber and engineered wood products, which include I-joists, wood metal gusset plate trusses, heavy duty trusses (open web, wood chord/steel web and laminated wood chord), structural composite lumber, glulam beams and high strength glulam beams. Also included will be design and pricing issues to be considered when selecting from a wide range of series, spacings and depths, as well as tips on coordinating these products with structural engineers, architects, mechanical/electrical/plumbing and manufacturers. 

Common Framing Errors – Based on hundreds of job site inspections, staff at APA – The Engineered Wood Association have identified the most common wood construction framing and sheathing errors found in today’s construction market. This presentation examines the consequences of these errors and provides practical ways to avoid them. 

Education Credits

WoodWorks is an approved AIA provider. Lunch and Learn Presentations qualify eligible attendees for continuing education credit.

For more details or to book a presentation, please contact a member of our technical field staff:

Bruce Lindsey
Technical Director
WoodWorks Southeast
Telephone: 704.877.6255
Email: bruce@woodworks.org

Scott Lockyear, PE
Technical Director
WoodWorks Southeast
Telephone: 615 907-7383
Email: scott@woodworks.org

Fritz Mertins
Technical Director
WoodWorks Southeast
Telephone: 704 907-6903
Email: fritz@woodworks.org