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INSIGHTS

Permanent Wood Foundation

By John “Buddy” Showalter, P.E.

The 2015 Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF) Design Specification addresses structural design requirements of wood foundations for light-frame construction. The standard for designing wood foundations is most commonly used in residential structures in the upper Midwest. The 2015 PWF standard is adopted by reference in the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). Updated from the 2007 version, minimal changes are included in the 2015 PWF. These include updated references to the following standards: • 2015 National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction • 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS). • American Softwood Lumber Standard,

PS 20-10 • Construction and Industrial Plywood

Standard, PS 1-09 • Performance Standard for Wood-Based

Structural-Use Panels, PS 2-10 • Use Category System: User Specification for Treated Wood (Use Category 4B:

Permanent Wood Foundations),

American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) U1-14 A PWF system consists of a load-bearing wood-frame wall and floor system designed for both above and below-grade use as a foundation. Properly designed, a PWF can be engineered with stress-graded lumber framing and plywood sheathing to support lateral soil pressures as well as dead, live, snow, wind, and seismic loads. The 2015 PWF includes criteria for materials, preservative treatment, soil characteristics, environmental control, design loads, and structural design. Moisture control measures based on foundation engineering, construction practice, and building materials technology are employed to achieve dry and comfortable living space below-grade. The most important of these moisture control measures is a granular drainage layer surrounding the lower part of the basement that conducts ground water to a positively drained sump, preventing hydrostatic pressure on the basement walls or floor. Similarly, moisture reaching the upper part of the basement foundation wall is deflected downward to the gravel drainage system by polyethylene sheeting, or by the treated plywood wall itself. The result is a dry basement space that is readily insulated and finished for maximum comfort, conservation of energy, and utility. Framing used in the PWF system is required to be lumber in accordance with PS 20 and needs to bear the stamp of an approved grading agency or inspection bureau which participates in an accreditation program, such as the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) program or equivalent. Sheathing used in the PWF Properly designed, a PWF can be engineered with stress-graded system is required to be plywood lumber framing and plywood sheathing to support lateral soil manufactured with all softwood pressures as well as dead, live, snow, wind, and seismic loads. veneers, bonded with exterior Courtesy of the Southern Forest Product Association. adhesive (Exposure 1 or Exterior), and grade-marked indicating conformance interior basement walls), hot-dipped galvanized with PS 1, PS 2, or applicable code evalua- (zinc-coated) steel fasteners conforming to the tion reports. requirements of ASTM A153 are permitted in All exterior foundation wall framing and lumber-to-lumber connections. sheathing (except the upper top plate); inte- Structural design of a PWF is required to be in rior bearing wall framing and sheathing, accordance with the NDS, SDPWS, and proviposts or other wood supports used in crawl sions of the PWF standard. Reference design spaces; sleepers, joists, blocking and plywood values for sawn lumber, plywood and connecsubflooring used in basement floors; and all tions are provided in the NDS. Nominal unit other plates, framing and sheathing in contact shear capacities for shear walls and diaphragms with the ground or in direct contact with are provided in the SDPWS standard. concrete are required to be pressure treated The 2015 PWF is available for download on with preservatives. Treatment is in accordance the AWC website (www.awc.org). It was first with AWPA U1: Commodity Specification developed in 2007 and is based on information A, Section 4.2 Lumber and Plywood for developed cooperatively by the wood products Permanent Wood Foundations. Each piece industry and the U.S. Forest Service, with the of treated wood is required to bear the qual- advice and guidance of the Department of ity mark of an inspection agency listed by Housing and Urban Development’s Federal an accreditation body complying with the Housing Administration.▪ requirements of the ALSC Treated Wood Program or equivalent. John “Buddy” Showalter is Vice Wood foundation sections of lumber framing President of Technology Transfer for the and plywood sheathing may be factory fabri- American Wood Council and serves as a cated or constructed at the job site. Fasteners member of the STRUCTURE magazine and connectors used in preservative treated Editorial Board. He can be reached at wood are required to be of Type 304 or 316 bshowalter@awc.org. stainless steel. However, when framing lumber is treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and the moisture content of the fram- This article was previously published in ing remains at 19 percent or less (such as the June 2015 issue of The Construction studs, blocking, and top plates of exterior and Specifier and is reprinted with permission.

ADAPT Corporation

Phone: 650-306-2400 Email: fl orian@adaptsoft.com Web: www.adaptsoft.com Product: ADAPT-Builder Description: A complete solution for 3D FEM design of post-tensioned fl oor systems that combines global, multi-level lateral analysis capabilities with the detailed design requirements of single levels. Off ers integrated column design module that automatically considers the hyperstatic moments from post-tensioning. PT Shop Drawing module reports chair heights and elongations of tendons.

Product: ADAPT-PTRC Description: Popular software for design of posttensioned slab systems and beams. A simple and easy-to-learn 2D equivalent frame analysis solution. Automatically calculates optimized tendon layouts for any design strip confi guration, eliminating the usual guess work and iterations when designing posttensioned projects. Ideal for parking structures. PT and RC design.

American Wood Council

Phone: 202-463-2766 Email: info@awc.org Web: www.awc.org Product: National Design Specifi cation® (NDS®) for Wood Construction and Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic Description: Contains design provisions and tabulated anchor bolt design values for wood-to-concrete connections. AWC’s Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic contains design provisions for lateral, shear, uplift, and hold-down connectors used to attach wood frame shear walls to concrete.

Product: Connection Calculator Description: AWC’s Connection Calculator allows design of wood-to-concrete anchor bolts per the National Design Specifi cation® (NDS®) for Wood Construction.

Bentley Systems

Phone: 800-BENTLEY Email: Samantha.Langdeau@bentley.com Web: www.bentley.com Product: RAM Concrete Description: Effi ciently obtain reinforcement quantities your gravity and lateral frames. Quickly compare alternative design schemes with accurate material takeoff s . Increase productivity and provide superior service to clients, from conceptual design through construction, by producing detailed drawings and accurate cost estimates even in the most preliminary stages of projects.

Product: RAM Concept Description: Quickly design post-tensioned and reinforced concrete fl oors economically, with exceptional visibility into compliance, effi ciency, and practicality while designing slabs, mats, and rafts. Design fl oors and foundations reliably and effi ciently, saving time and money using features that specifi cally target the most common concerns. Product: STAAD Foundation Advanced Description: Get effi cient foundation design and documentation using plant-specifi c design tools, multiple design codes with U.S. and metric bar sizes, design optimization, and automatic drawing generation. Provides a streamlined workfl ow through its integration with STAAD.Pro or as a stand-alone program.

CTS Cement Manufacturing Corporation

Phone: 800-929-3030 Email: jong@ctscement.com Web: www.ctscement.com Product: Rapid Set® Cement Products and Type K Shrinkage-Compensating Cement Description: CTS Cement manufactures Rapid Set fast-setting hydraulic cement and Type K shrinkagecompensating cement. Make structural repairs and rehabilitation, and return the concrete to full use in just one hour. Install industrial-size fl oors with no curling, no cracking, and no control joints.

Decon® USA

Phone: 707-996-5954 Email: frank@deconusa.com Web: www.deconusa.com Product: Studrails® Description: Th e North American standard for punching shear enhancement at slab-column connections. Studrails are produced to the specifi cations of ASTM A1044, ACI 318-08, and ICC ES 2494. Decon Studrails are also increasingly used to reinforce against bursting stresses in banded posttension anchor zones.

Product: JORDAHL® Anchor Channels Description: Decon USA is the exclusive representative of Jordahl in North America. Hot rolled Anchor Channels are embedded in concrete and used to securely transfer high loads. Main application is for fl exible connections of glazing panels to high-rise buildings. Anchor Channels with welded-on rebar or corner pieces are available.

Dlubal Software, Inc.

Phone: 267-702-2815 Email: info-us@dlubal.com Web: www.dlubal.com Product: RFEM Description: Performs the required ultimate and serviceability limit state designs of reinforced beams, columns, slabs, and walls according to ACI and other international standards. Further advanced capabilities include non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete elements in the cracked state for a realistic view of deformations, stresses, and crack widths considering non-linear behavior. Halfen USA

Phone: 800-423-9140 Email: info@halfenusa.com Web: www.halfenusa.com Product: Halfen Anchor Channels Description: Embedded in concrete, HALFEN Anchor Channels and T-bolts provide the most durable, reliable and adjustable connection to concrete elements. Available in a range of hot-rolled profi les, including toothed channels to provide mechanical load transfer in all directions, they are superior to post-installed anchors and weld plates for many applications.

Product: Halfen Reinforcement Products Description: HALFEN off ers a wide range of reinforcement products connecting concrete members; HALFEN Shear Dowels and Rebend Connections are innovative and time saving structural slab-to-slab and slab-to-wall connections. A wide range of capacities is available; HALFEN insulated connections secure concrete balconies to the main building structure while forming a thermal break.

Hilti, Inc.

Phone: 800-879-8000 Email: us-sales@hilti.com Web: www.us.hilti.com Product: Hilti HIT-RE 500 V3 Adhesive Anchoring System with SafeSet™ Technology Description: Delivers ultimate performance and safety in design while making installation even easier and faster than ever before. Teamed up with Hilti’s SafeSet self-cleaning hole system and PROFIS Anchor and Rebar design software, HIT-RE 500 V3 is nothing short of revolutionary.

IES, Inc.

Phone: 800-707-0816 Email: info@iesweb.com Web: www.iesweb.com Product: VisualAnalysis w/Design Description: Rebar helps with cracks and strains, while VisualAnalysis lessens pains, as you design to optimize, that concrete frame we analyze.

Intergraph

Phone: 800-766-7701 Email: joe.harrison@intergraph.com Web: www.coade.com Product: GT STRUDL Description: Structural analysis software with a high-quality, fully integrated, and database-driven system for comprehensive frame and fi nite element analysis, and steel and reinforced concrete design.

All Resource Guide forms for the 2016 Editorial Calendar are now available on the website, www.STRUCTUREmag.org. Listings are provided as a courtesy. STRUCTURE® magazine is not responsible for errors.

The Masonry Society

Phone: 303-939-9700 Email: info@masonrysociety.org Web: www.masonrysociety.org Product: Publications including TMS402/602 Description: The Masonry Society is a non-profit, professional organization of volunteer Members, dedicated to the advancement of masonry knowledge. Through Members, all aspects of masonry are discussed. The results are disseminated to provide guidance to the masonry and technical community on various aspects of masonry design, construction, evaluation, and repair.

Mitek Builder Products

Phone: 800-754-3030 Email: DLopp@mii.com Web: www.mitekbuilderproducts.com Product: Hardy Frame/Z Anchorage Solutions Description: New Hardy Frame pre-engineered anchorage details for Unreinforced, Reinforced and Back-to-Back Reinforced Anchorage Solutions are available to download. Embed details are also available for Z4 continuous tie-down systems. Details are organized to be used as supplemental sheets for plan submittals.

Product: USP CIA-GEL 7000-C Description: The new 7000-C Epoxy Adhesive for post-installed holdowns in high seismic zones (SDC C-F) and other anchoring applications is approved in ICC-ES ESR-3609. The 7000-C complies with the 2012 IBC Code for use in concrete that is or may become cracked due to wind or cyclic earthquake loading.

Powers Fasteners

Phone: 510-364-6263 Email: jacob.olsen@sbdinc.com Web: www.powers.com Product: Ac100+Gold Description: One of the most versatile adhesive anchoring systems on the market for bonding threaded rod and reinforcing bar into concrete and masonry base materials. ICC-ES approved for grouted & hollow masonry (ESR-3200); cracked & uncracked concrete (ESR-2582); seismic design categories A-F; approved for dispensing down to 14°F.

RISA Technologies

Phone: 800-332-RISA Email: info@risa.com Web: www.risa.com Product: RISAFloor ES Description: RISA offers everything you need for concrete design. For concrete floors, including beams and two way slabs, nothing beats RISAFloor ES for ease of use and versatility. The design of columns and shear walls with RISA-3D offers total flexibility. Integration between RISA-3D and RISAFloor ES provides a complete building design. continued on next page

State-of-the-Art Products

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V-Wrap™

Carbon Fiber System

DUCON®

Micro-Reinforced Concrete Systems

VSL

External Post-Tensioning Systems

Tstrata™

Enlargement Systems

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To learn more about Structural Group companies visit www.structuralgroup.com DUCON® trade names and patents are owned by DUCON GmbH and are distributed exclusively in North America by STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES for strengthening and force protection applications. VSL is the registered trademark of VSL International Ltd.

S-FRAME Software Inc.

Phone: 604-273-7737 Email: info@s-frame.com Web: www.s-frame.com Product: S-CONCRETE Description: The only truly interactive design solution for reinforced-concrete columns, beams and walls. Design and optimize a single section or evaluate thousands of concrete sections at once. S-CONCRETE’s comprehensive and multi-code support generates detailed reports that include clause references, equations employed, intermediate results and diagrams.

Product: S-FOUNDATION Description: Quickly design, analyze and detail foundations with a complete foundation management solution. Run as a stand-alone application, or utilize S-FRAME Analysis’ powerful round-tripping integration links for a detailed soil-structure interaction study. S-FOUNDATION automatically creates and manages the meshed foundation model. Includes powerful import/export 3rd party links.

Product: S-LINE Description: Design and detail continuous reinforced concrete beams for both strength and serviceability to multiple codes. Th e interactive GUI updates results, including capacity envelopes on shear, moment and torsion diagrams. Comprehensive reports incorporate equations employed, clause references and diagrams. Simpson Strong-Tie

Phone: 800-925-5099 Email: web@strongtie.com Web: www.strongtie.com Product: Speed Clean™ DXS Dust Extraction System Description: Developed in conjunction with the Bosch Alliance partnership, the Simpson Strong-Tie Speed Clean DXS dust extraction system reduces dust while producing precise, clean holes for adhesive anchor installation. Speed Clean drill bits work in conjunction with Bosch and other commonly available vacuum systems and rotohammers to off er best-in-class concrete drilling.

Product: FX-70® Structural Repair and Protection System Description: Repairs concrete pile damage in-place without the need to dewater or take the structure out of service. It repairs and protects from tidal action, river current, salt water exposure, chemical intrusion, fl oating debris, marine borers, electrolysis and general weathering.

All Resource Guide forms for the 2016

Editorial Calendar are now available on the website, www.STRUCTUREmag.org. Listings are provided as a courtesy. STRUCTURE® magazine is not responsible for errors. Strand7 Pty Ltd

Phone: 252-504-2282 Email: anne@beaufort-analysis.com Web: www.strand7.com Product: Strand7 Description: An advanced, general purpose, FEA system used worldwide for a wide range of structural analysis applications. It comprises preprocessing, solvers (linear and nonlinear static and dynamic capabilities) and postprocessing. Features include staged construction, a Moving Load module and quasi-static solver for shrinkage and creep/relaxation problems.

Trimble Solutions USA, Inc.

Phone: 770-426-5105 Email: kristine.plemmons@trimble.com Web: www.tekla.com Product: Tekla Structures Description: Move from design-oriented to construction-oriented engineering and off er improved additional services for your clients. Th rough our open and collaborative software environment, you can work with other disciplines and reduce RFIs. From concept to completion, Tekla software gives you collaboration and control.

Product: Tedds Description: A powerful software that will speed up your daily structural and civil calculations, Tedds automates your repetitive structural calculations. Perform 2D Frame analysis, utilize a large library of automated calculations to US codes, or write your own calculations while creating high quality and transparent documentation.

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