Oregon recently became the first state to approve the use of science-based building code requirements for tall mass timber buildings.
Under Oregon’s statewide alternate method (SAM), developers can receive early technical consideration and approval on tall mass timber structures. The Administrator of the State Building Codes Division issued SAM No. 18-01, which provides a prescriptive path for utilization of the code requirements developed by the International Code Council (ICC) Tall Wood Building Ad Hoc Committee over the past two years.
The requirements also received a favorable recommendation during the April 2018 ICC Code Action Hearings—the first step of the process to include them in the 2021 International Codes.
“Mass timber is a new category of wood products that will revolutionize how America builds, and we’ve seen interest in it continue to grow over the last several years,” said American Wood Council President & CEO Robert Glowinski in a news release. “This action by the Codes Division Administrator helps code officials in Oregon by making provisions consistent throughout the state.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 16, 2016
Calm weather tidal flooding impacting several communities on East and Gulf Coasts
Local officials face the prospect of costly mitigation projects.
Codes and Standards | Sep 15, 2016
OSHA appoints new director for its construction directorate
The forty-year industry veteran has been a GC and business owner.
Energy | Sep 13, 2016
Oberlin College to hold conference on post-fossil fuel economy
The gathering will address climate change and new sources of energy.
Industry Research | Sep 12, 2016
Evidence linking classroom design to improved learning mounts
A study finds the impact can be as much as 25% per year.
Legislation | Sep 8, 2016
Half of U.S. states now allow design-build on public projects
Missouri is the latest to enact design-build legislation.
Codes and Standards | Sep 8, 2016
Vapor intrusion risk addressed in new ASTM guide update
The updates address industry confusion over how to handle the issue.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 7, 2016
Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool updated to factor in waste management
The costs and benefits of managing 29 types of waste are now included.
Wood | Sep 6, 2016
Atlanta suburb prohibits wood-framed construction for high rises
The new building code prevents any structure with more than three stories from being built from a CLT frame.
Codes and Standards | Sep 1, 2016
Overuse of air conditioning hurts office productivity
A study found temperatures in the low 70s reduce worker performance.
Regulations | Aug 31, 2016
FEMA wants to toughen flood regulation on projects using federal funds
The proposal ‘would essentially rewrite the current 100-year flood standard.’
