Technical Stuff
Timber Design
TFEC 1 – 2019 Standard for Design of Timber Frame Structures & Commentary
This standard defines the engineering and design requirements for timber frame structures. This standard is intended as a supplement to the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS).
TFEC 2 – 2018 Code of Standard Practice for Timber Frame Structures
This Code is intended to represent a reasonable consensus of what constitutes ordinary and acceptable practice within the timber frame industry.
TFEC 3 – 2019 Guide to Structural Evaluation of Existing Timber Structures
This is a guideline for the structural assessment and evaluation of the structural load capacity of older timber structures.
TFEC 4 – 2020 Design Guide for Timber Roof Trusses
This document is a guideline for the Design of Timber Roof Trusses.
Timber Design Guides
2009-02 - The Specialty Timber Frame Engineer
2011-03 - Rules of Timber Joinery Design
2016-06 – Moment Connections in Timber
2016-07 – Edge Spacing of Pegs
2016-08 – Keyed Through Tenon Joints
2018-08A – Keyed Through Tenon Joints – Structural Design Guide
2018-09 – Effect of Moisture Content on Bending Strength of Timber
2018-10 – Seasoning Checks in Timbers
2019-15 – Detailing Cross Laminated Timber Connections
2019-16 – Detailing Glulam Timber Connections
2019-17 – Fire Resistance of Mass Timber Structures
2019-18 – Moisture Considerations for Mass Timber Structures
2020-19 – Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Diaphragms
2020-20 – Draw Boring of Pegged Joints
Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural Engineer
Jim authored the section of the Structural Engineering Institute’s Sustainability Guidelines for Structural Engineers dealing with the design of wood and timber structures. View this chapter for free.
Timber Design
TFEC 1 – 2019 Standard for Design of Timber Frame Structures & Commentary
This standard defines the engineering and design requirements for timber frame structures. This standard is intended as a supplement to the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS).
TFEC 2 – 2018 Code of Standard Practice for Timber Frame Structures
This Code is intended to represent a reasonable consensus of what constitutes ordinary and acceptable practice within the timber frame industry.
TFEC 3 – 2019 Guide to Structural Evaluation of Existing Timber Structures
This is a guideline for the structural assessment and evaluation of the structural load capacity of older timber structures.
TFEC 4 – 2020 Design Guide for Timber Roof Trusses
This document is a guideline for the Design of Timber Roof Trusses.
Timber Design Guides
2009-02 - The Specialty Timber Frame Engineer
2011-03 - Rules of Timber Joinery Design
2016-06 – Moment Connections in Timber
2016-07 – Edge Spacing of Pegs
2016-08 – Keyed Through Tenon Joints
2018-08A – Keyed Through Tenon Joints – Structural Design Guide
2018-09 – Effect of Moisture Content on Bending Strength of Timber
2018-10 – Seasoning Checks in Timbers
2019-15 – Detailing Cross Laminated Timber Connections
2019-16 – Detailing Glulam Timber Connections
2019-17 – Fire Resistance of Mass Timber Structures
2019-18 – Moisture Considerations for Mass Timber Structures
2020-19 – Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Diaphragms
Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural Engineer
Jim authored the section of the Structural Engineering Institute’s Sustainability Guidelines for Structural Engineers dealing with the design of wood and timber structures. View this chapter for free.
Flood Resistant Construction
ASCE/SEI 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction
This standard is referenced in the International Building Code and embodies the code requirements for flood resistant construction. Jim DeStefano serves on the committee that wrote the standard.
Design for Flooding
Jim DeStefano co-authored the chapters on flood resistant construction.
Fire Resistance
Structural Engineers Guide to Fire Protection
From the time that Neolithic man first tamed the power of fire to cook his meats and heat his hut, man has lived with the risk of being consumed by its power. Throughout recorded history there are accounts of entire cities being destroyed by fire – ancient Rome, London, Chicago, San Francisco and Dresden. These cities were all rebuilt with more fire resistant construction, but still the threat of fire remained.
Fire Resistance
Structural Engineers Guide to Fire Protection
From the time that Neolithic man first tamed the power of fire to cook his meats and heat his hut, man has lived with the risk of being consumed by its power. Throughout recorded history there are accounts of entire cities being destroyed by fire – ancient Rome, London, Chicago, San Francisco and Dresden. These cities were all rebuilt with more fire resistant construction, but still the threat of fire remained.
Special Inspections
Structural Engineers Guide to Special Inspections and Quality Assurance
Are there common problems associated with structural failures, the elimination of which would decrease the number of failures? Yes. Two of the most critical contributing factors are:
- The need for improved organization on construction projects and better communication between participants.
- The need for construction inspection by the Structural Engineer of Record (SER) during the construction of principal structural components.
Special Inspections
Structural Engineers Guide to Special Inspections and Quality Assurance
Are there common problems associated with structural failures, the elimination of which would decrease the number of failures? Yes. Two of the most critical contributing factors are:
- The need for improved organization on construction projects and better communication between participants.
- The need for construction inspection by the Structural Engineer of Record (SER) during the construction of principal structural components.
50 Thorpe Street
Fairfield, CT 06824-5725
(203) 254-7131
