A Resource Guide to Engineering Timber Wood Projects

Architectural Drawing
16230558_1847485138830270_6257253856866992128_n.jpg
16465194_1817482245170227_2966892949138309120_n.jpg

Heavy Timber & Wood Engineering Resources

In the world of construction and civil engineering, timber remains staple and a tradition of timeless and essential material. Its natural characteristics, strength, durability, adaptability, and sustainability have cemented its place in the annals of building history. Recognizing the ever-evolving demands of the industry and the need for precise knowledge in wood construction, we've collected the resources below as a guide aid engineering with heavy timber and to help guide your timber construction projects.

Design Values for Joists and Rafters

This document contains reference tables of design values for joist and rafters, when using a variety of common lumber wood species.

Published by the AWC.  (29 pages)

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Span Tables for Joists and Rafters

A series of tables referencing live load values for determining correct spans for joists and rafters.

Published by the AWC.  (52 pages)

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Lumber Design Values and Framing Spans

Selected lumber design values and span tables for Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir and Southern Pine grown in the U.S., and Canadian Spruce-Pine-Fir.

Published by the WWPA. (4 pages)

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

National Design Specification (NDS) 2018 Supplement

The NDS Supplement contains design values for sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, and round timber poles and piles.

Published by the AWC. (86 pages)

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Beam Design Formulas with Shear and Moment Diagrams

A guide to beam design for various load distributions.

Published by the AWC and AF&PA. (20 pages)

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Interior Shear Walls

This document describes how interior shear walls are designed to resist lateral loads.

Published by the AWC and AF&PA. (5 pages)

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Design Load Tables for Solid-Sawn Lumber Beams and Headers

This PDF provides load tables for headers and timber beams, including load totals for single 4x and 6x, as well as built-up double and triple 2x wood members from 3-14 ft. spans.

Published by the WWPA. (9 pages)

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Design Load Tables for Wood Columns (Posts)

Design loads of axial compression for simple wood columns subjected to concentric compression loads of commonly-used lumber products; loads for 4x4 and 4x6 lumber for the
commonly used grades; incised lumber; and design loads for 6x, 8x, 10x and 12x timbers. 

Published by the WWPA. (7 pages)

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Design Load Tables for Wood Studwalls Subjected to Wind Pressure

A set of design load tables for Douglas Fir-Larch and Hem-Fir, according to the 1991 NDS for wood construction.

Published by the WWPA. (6 pages)

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Manual for Engineered Wood Construction

Guidance for design of most wood-based structural products used in the construction of wood buildings.

Published by the AWC. (112 pages).

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

Size-Adjusted Design Values for Western Lumber

A set of tables with Base Values for Dimension Lumber (2" to 4" thick), adjusted for the appropriate size factors. Intended for those who are more comfortable selecting a size-adjusted number from a table rather than using a Base Value along with a Size Adjustment.

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

Resources Quick Links

Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers