Lesson Overview

This lesson will introduce changes to the International Building Code which greatly increase the allow building area and height for Mass Timber construction. Type IV construction has been reorganized to include three subtypes IVa, IVb and IVc with the previous provisions for Heavy Timber construction now included in sub-category IV(HT).

Lesson Goals

The goal of this lesson is to provide you with a working knowledge of the 2020 IBC revisions which greatly expand and specifically regulate the use of mass timber construction. The lesson will familiarize you with these changes so that you can productively determine the allowable building height and area for a mass timber project or inversely to understand the opportunities and fire safety requirements for a mass timber construction system you anticipate using. The code is very specific as to how much exposed wood is allowable and in what circumstances. The designer must be very knowledgeable of these fire safety requirements in order to develop a project that meets both design ambitions and required safety protocols.