ONLY THE FIxEST .A

Columbia Vista speciali'zes in kiln-dried Douglas frr 4 x 4s... high quality, yet affordable dternatives to pine and cedar posts. Available in 8-, 10- and l2-foot lengths, our 4 x 4s are produced by skilled, dedicated people during a single shift for maximum consistency.

Our commitment to the 6ncst extends beyond the mill. Mills are consistcntly upgradcd with state-of-the-art Wc're prcud to bc cenificcl to ISO 14001 standards 3-D scanning systcms, mechaniad lumbcr-handling and by thc EPA for cnvironment-fricndly practiccs, systems, and more. including the usc ofnon-polluting sourccs ofclectricity. ' Employee-fricndlyworkplace means our people take columbia vista ensures qudity in many weys... pride in thcir work end products' Posts are carefully kiln-dried for immcdiatc usc. -7\. To get the 6nest in Douglas lir 4 x 4s, just call rhcrc's no addition'r drying to causc t*istinr allrl and warping down the road' coruMBtA vrslA www.coLuMSlAvrsTAcoRP.coM

The Design Suite features three modes: Beam/Joist Design, Post/Stud Design, and Wood-to-Wood Single Shear Connections. The Beam/Joist mode is for horizontal framing and calculates reactions, shear, stresses, moments and deflections based on the specified loads. Users select the design parameters and the program assigns appropriate adjustment factors and determines whether the specified member size is adequate.

Also displayed are diagrams, bending moments, horizontal shear and deflection per the specified loads, all on one screen.

For vertical framing, the PosVStud Design mode calculates compressive stress, bending stress, and combined stress ratio based on the specified loads for posts or studs. Users select the design parameters and the program determines whether the specified member size is adequate. Adjustment factors for load duration, size, wet use, bearing area, repetitive member, stability, incising, high temperature, column stability, flat use and form can be specified.

The Connections mode calculates the single shear capacity of a nail, bolt, wood screw or lag screw connecting two wood members. Load duration, connector penetration, and wood member end grain conditions are considered. The calculations are only for simple connections.

While created for professional engineers and designers, the Design Salte allows distributors to better serve their customers by providing product recommendations based on the structural requirements in the plans. Retailers using the Design Suite can identify the right species, size and grade of western lumber for a project that they can supply from inventory.

The Lumber DesignEa.sy utilities offer a quick and easy way to determine spans for Western lumber joists, rafters and beams. The Lumber DesignEasy-Joisr.s utility quickly calculates simple joist and rafter spans for western lumber structural grades from 2x4 up to 3x16. Select the species and size, then enter the loading conditions, and DesignEasy generates a table of spans for each of the appropriate structural grades for four different on-center spacings.

LUMBER DEALERS and wholesalers can use sofh4/are design tools to help their customers select the proper grades, spans and more.

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second utility, Lumber DesignEasy-Beams,

allows users to calculate spans for Douglas fir and hem-fir beams and headers. Spans are available for solid-sawn beams in sizes from 6x6 to 14x24. The utility also calculates spans for builtup beams constructed from up to four 2" dimension lumber members in widths of 4" to 18", as well as 4x4 to 4x18 beams.

All Lumber DesignEasy utilities are optimized for use on portable hand-held devices or smartphones that can run mobile versions of Excel.

WWPA is also developing a Lumber DesignEasy-Joist application that will run on iPhones. The app will be available on the iTunes store this spring.

Both the Lumber Design Suite and Lumber DesignEasy utilities can be downloaded at no charge from the WWPA Online Lumber Technical Guide at www.wwpa.org. Free registration is required to access the site.

Additionally, both software programs are included in the WWPA Digital Library, a compact disc containing a full complement of western lumber digital publications.