15
ISSUE
The magazine
for building
professionals
from LP Building
Products
WINTER
2016
PG 11
Engineered wood innovations are
helping designers and builders
meet evolving fire codes.
MEETING CODE, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
LSL & Steel
Delivering strength & stability
M I G R AT O R Y B I R D CO N S E R VAT I O N
THE RISE OF TINY HOMES
ENGINEERED WOOD
15
IN THIS ISSUE
W I N T ER 2016
CONTENTS
Facebook.com/EngineeredWood
@Engineered_Wood
Published by
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation:
Vice President,
Sales and Marketing
IN
EVERY
ISSUE
MICHAEL SIMS
Vice President,
Growth & Innovation
BEN SKOOG
National Retail and Sales
Services Manager
JULIET DEPINA
Look outside any window, and you
will likely see the change in your
neighborhood. Urban infill is driving
taller, more condensed buildings
to make use of the available space
in cities. Suburban communities
continue to push outward to take
advantage of fringe territories. Plus,
homeowners embracing a minimalist
lifestyle are forgoing square footage
for compact dwellings as part of
the “tiny home movement.” Homes
and buildings themselves look
different as they adapt to meet the
evolving needs of residents and
businesses alike. It’s an exciting
time for all facets of the building
industry as we stretch our thinking,
expectations and resources to build
smarter in this time of change.
In this issue of Engineered
Wood, you’ll read in the cover
story (“Meeting Code, Exceeding
Expectations,” page 11) how the
building industry is responding to
fire codes with wood. Yes, it may
seem counterintuitive, but advances
in the engineered wood industry are
allowing architects, engineers, codes
officials and builders to produce
creatively designed, structurally
sound and code-adherent structures.
As engineered wood is establishing
itself as a cost-effective replacement
for traditional fire-resistant
materials in fire-rated assemblies,
it’s also helping wood-framed
buildings reach new heights and
meet new goals. Mass Timber
building practices—using products
like laminated strand lumber and
laminated veneer lumber—are
helping architects around the
world build tall, wood-framed
buildings. In “Tall Wood Has
Sky-High Capabilities” (page
05), you can read how Canadian
architect Michael Green has set
his sights on designing a Mass
Timber Building 35 stories high.
Others, like engineering firm Vertika
Structural Engineers, are turning
to Mass Timber members for the
added strength it can provide.
Looking to put a bowling alley on
the second story of a building or
hang a jet plane from the ceiling?
Then be sure to read how Vertika
made this possible with Mass
Timber in “LSL & Steel Deliver
Strength & Stability” on page 04.
Continue reading this issue of
Engineered Wood for these stories
and more so you can stay up to date
on the news, technology and tools
affecting the building industry.
Additional articles and videos are
available at EngineeredWoodOnline.
com, and we encourage you to send
us your ideas for future stories. If
you’d like to see your story featured,
contact our editor Kristin Hampel at
editor@engineeredwoodonline.com.
On behalf of all of us at LP Building
Products, thank you for being a
valued reader of Engineered Wood.
Marketing
Communications Manager
RACHEL SMITH
888-820-0325 - LPCorp.com
Managing Editor
KRISTIN HAMPEL
editor@engineeredwoodonline.com
ON
THE
COVER
15
ISSUE
PG
11
The magazine
for building
professionals
from LP Building
Products
WINTER
2016
PG 03
Zeeland Lumber Rebuilds
Truss Facility After Tornado
PG
PG 04
LSL & Steel Deliver
Strength & Stability
PG 11
Engineered wood innovations are
helping designers and builders
meet evolving fire codes.
TRENDS
& TECHNOLOGY
PG 06
The Evolution of the Floor Plan
Production Manager
LESLIE TORRICO
MEETING CODE, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Chief Creative Officer
PG
ROLAND GIBBONS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Creative Production
LSL & Steel
RENEE BUTLER
Delivering strength & stability
M I G R AT O R Y B I R D CO N S E R VAT I O N
Contributors
THE RISE OF TINY HOMES
JACOB FIELDS
KRISTIN HAMPEL
CAROLINE JERONIMUS
ANNA MCCARTER
MEGHAN SMITH
EMGLO® is a registered trademark of
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. SFI and
Sustainable Forestry Initiative are
registered trademark of Sustainable
Forestry Initiative, Inc.; ICC and IWUIC are
registered trademarks of the International
Code Council; U.S. Green Building
Council
is a registered trademark of U.S.
Green Building Council; CBH Homes is
a registered trademark of CBH Homes,
Inc.; PEFC is a registered trademark
of PEFC INTERNATIONAL; The AIA is a
registered trademark of The American
Institute of Architects; Pyrotite is a
registered trademark of International
Barrier Technology; iTunes is a registered
trademark of Apple Inc.; Google Play is
a registered trademark of Google Inc.;
Amazon is a registered trademark of
Amazon.com; LP, TopNotch, SolidStart,
TechShield, FlameBlock, SmartSide,
SmartGuard, ProStruct, SmartFinish,
SilverTech and Build With Us are
registered trademarks of
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation.
For additional information:
engineeredwoodonline.com.
© 2016 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
PG
TALL WOOD HAS SKY-HIGH POSSIBILITIES
05
16
MARKETING TIPS:
Buzzwords to
use and avoid
PG
PG 17
Dryvit TAFS 3 built on
LP® SmartSide® Substrate
PG 08
Tiny Homes,
Big Opportunities
10
BUILDER
NEWS & TRENDS
Art Director
RYAN SCOTT
02
20
INSTALATION TIPS:
LP® TopNotch®
MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION
is a Long-Term Journey
18
PG
21
INTERNATIONAL
FOCUS:
Western Europe
I N E V E RY I SSU E
D E A L E R S P OT L I G H T
TRENDS &
TECHNOLOGY
BUILDER TOOLKIT
Zeeland Lumber rebuilds
truss facility after tornado
GAINS STRENGTH AND DURABILITY
+ A vailable for
download
on iTunes,
Google Play
and Amazon
MADCAD
Library App
MADCAD, a comprehensive digital
reference library, uses GPS technology
to quickly pull codes and standards
based on the user’s location. The free
app, designed for iOS (iPhone and iPad),
Android and Windows devices, operates
on a cloud-based format to provide up-todate regulations for the project site. The
database features more than 60,000 codes
from sources including the International
Code Council, OSHA, ASHRAE, and the U.S.
Green Building Council.
+
Sage Glass
PROJECT SUMMARY
This low-emittance smart glass is an
eco-friendly solution for windows. The
product is comprised of all traditional
materials, and it was created to effectively
withstand natural elements. Sage glass
blocks the sun’s harsh rays during summer
and secures heat inside during the winter.
According to the manufacturer the smart
glass is coated with metallic oxide, and it is
proven to significantly bring down HVAC
costs. Using minimal electricity, the smart
glass charges ions to control the amount
of light it reflects. Thus, the glass tints
during the sun’s peak hours, returning to
transparent at night.
+
• Installs like traditional
lumber, but surpasses in
strength and consistency
• Provides uniform dimensions
and straight, long lengths
• Consistent low moisture
content helps resist twisting,
warping and shrinking
• Wood sourced through
programs certified
under the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative®
Zeeland sought a product that would:
• Allow for easy installation
• Provide a strong, durable foundation
SOLUTION
Zeeland selected LP® SolidStart® LSL for the interior wall frames.
“Since the facility is externally solid steel, we needed a strong
product with long-length availability to support the 20-foot-high
ceilings on the interior,” explained Mike Dykstra, CEO of Zeeland
Lumber & Supply.
Dykstra, who has over 20 years of industry experience, found
that LP SolidStart LSL was easy to install thanks to its uniform
dimensions and straight edges.
The EMGLO® Air Force Power Stacked Air Compressor is a
compact, four-gallon stacked-tank compressor. According to the
manufacturer, it is equipped with enough power to simultaneously
run four pneumatic trim nailers, two framing nailers, two roofing
nailers, or two flooring nailers. The EMGLO unit comes with a twowheel dolly and extendable handle, making it easily transportable
through the messiest construction sites and even up and down
stairs. It features an oil-lubricated pump with cast-iron cylinders,
125 maximum air-pressure output, and dual soft-start valves for
fast and easy start-up in cold weather.
OUTCOME
The new state-of-the-art truss manufacturing facility is on track for
completion later this year. “This facility wouldn’t have been possible without
the strong foundation that SolidStart LSL provided,” said Dykstra. “We have
had a valuable relationship with LP for nearly ten years thanks to their
reliable service and consistent, quality products.” ■
Courtesy: Emglo
* This information and the websites identified above are provided solely as a convenience to the reader.
They are not intended to state or imply that the editors of Engineered Wood or LP Building Products
sponsor, recommend, endorse or are affiliated or associated with the companies or products listed.
02 WINTER 2016
• Allows for fast and
efficient installation
• Build a meaningful relationship with a building products
manufacturer that stands behind its products and offers excellent
education opportunities
MADCAD.com
emglo.com
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
• Helps builders construct
high-performance structures
• Reduce jobsite waste
sageglass.com
EMGLO® EM810-4M Air Force
Power Stacked Air Compressor
+
For nearly 70 years, Zeeland Lumber & Supply has been providing building
solutions throughout the Midwest in remodel, residential, multifamily and
commercial construction. In 2014, when a powerful tornado caused major
damage to its truss manufacturing facility in Michigan, the company needed
a product that would allow it to rebuild the structure even stronger than it
had been.
The benefits of
LP® SolidStart® LSL:
For more case studies visit LPCorp.com and click on the
“Resources” tab, and visit Zeeland Lumber & Supply at
ZeelandLumber.com.
ENGINEERED WOOD 03
L S L I N M A S S T I M B E R CO N S T R U C T I O N
LSL & STEEL DELIVER
STRENGTH & STABILITY
Over the past several years,
wood has become a viable
choice for taller projects that
typically require the strength of
steel or other similar products.
This trend—known as Mass
Timber—is based around the
use of large prefabricated wood
members such as laminated
strand lumber (LSL), laminated
veneer lumber (LVL) or crosslaminated timber (CLT) for wall,
floor and roof construction.
Mass Timber supports an
accelerated construction process,
but it’s also expanding the
possibilities of wood construction.
A 33,000 sq. ft., two-story multiuse facility near Houston recently
incorporated LSL products into
Mass Timber members, marking
one of the first uses of LSL in
this application.
“BECAUSE OF THE NEED
TO ACHIEVE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF STRENGTH WHILE
STILL BEING ECONOMICAL,
I THOUGHT A HYBRID OF
STRUCTURAL STEEL AND MASS
TIMBER WOULD BE THE BEST
SOLUTION.”
04 WINTER 2016
Vertika Structural Engineers,
LLC worked with BIGenterprise
using wall and floor panels made
of LP® SolidStart® LSL. Engineer
Thomas Bellace, Principal for
Vertika, designed the unique
structural system. “The owner
asked me to create a design
for a structural system for this
building. Because of the need
to achieve a significant amount
of strength while still being
economical, I thought a hybrid of
structural steel and Mass Timber
would be the best solution,”
Bellace said. “After working on
some projects with LP SolidStart
LSL, I knew that was the product
I needed—both because of its
strength and the support I trusted
my LP sales rep to provide.”
Bellace had a prefabricator create
7-inch-thick LSL panels, using
Dowel screws and two 3.5-inchthick LSL panels, which were
then secured on-site using steel
connections. The strength and
thickness of the LSL panels
helped with both noise control
and fire resistance, and combined
with LSL reinforcing strips
provided a stiff floor with almost
no perceptible bounce, even on the
second story intended for a dance
floor and a bowling alley.
The structure also has a garage,
apartment, commercial kitchen,
flight simulator and an elevator, all
wrapped by a veranda. “We did our
own unofficial test of the stiffness
of the floor by having eight of the
workers—all 250 pound men—
jumping up and down,” Bellace
said. “It felt like you were jumping
on a concrete floor.” The building
also has tall ceilings from which
the owner planned to hang a
jet. Bellace designed the main
roof joists, beams and spandrels
with LSL combined with massive
steel ridge frames to provide the
necessary additional strength.
The build took nearly two years
since it was both a unique design
and Bellace’s first foray into Mass
Timber, but he doesn’t expect it to
be his last. “Since completing the
building, I’ve been innovating more
ways to use the technology in other
projects here in Houston, including
plans for some multi-story wood
structures,” said Bellace. ■
WOODEN “SK YSCR APERS” ARE GAINING
POPULARIT Y AROUND THE WORLD
Tall Wood Has Sky-High Possibilities
Thanks to the engineering
strengths of Mass Timber
products—including those made
with laminated strand lumber
(LSL), laminated veneer lumber
(LVL) and cross-laminated
timber (CLT)—tall wood-framed
structures (sometimes referred
to as “plyscrapers”) are beginning
to accent skylines throughout
the world. According to The
Economist, Tall Wood buildings
use about six times as much
wood as a structure made with
conventional techniques.
Builders just completed
construction of the world’s tallest
wood structure, known as “The
Tree”—a 14-story, 160-foot-tall
apartment building in Bergen,
Norway. The structure of The Tree
is made of wooden columns in a
stacked modular system. A facade
of glass and metal will enclose the
structure once all modules are in
place to protect it from the wet
climate of Bergen.
Canadian architect Michael
Green, considered the “father
of the Tall Wood movement,” is
planning a 35-story wood tower
as part of the “Reinvent Paris”
initiative in the French capital.
Green recently told CNN that “just
as the Eiffel Tower redefined the
skylines of the world, our wood
tower in Paris will help champion
a new global wave of building with
more sustainable, renewable and
beautiful materials.”
Tall wood-framed towers have a
bright future, according to the
architectural firm Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill (which built both
the Freedom Tower in New York
and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the
world’s tallest building). In a 2014
study, the firm noted that a 38-story
wood skyscraper was technically
possible—and that it would be
economically competitive with
conventional construction while
also cutting the carbon footprint
by as much as 75 percent.
This night shot of the Wood
Innovation Design Center
in Prince George, British
Columbia reveals Tall
Wood’s stunning beauty.
We won’t be seeing any extremely
Tall Wood towers in the United
States in the near future. The
current limit is five stories for
residential and six stories for
office buildings.
Though not as tall as our
international counterparts, U.S.
Tall Wood structures create many
domestic opportunities for LP
products. Because LP® SolidStart®
LVL and LSL are less susceptible
to moisture changes and shrinkage,
they’re being used to help reduce
plate shrinkage in tall (heavy
timber) construction.
Despite pushback from concrete
and steel trade groups, the Tall
Wood movement has a lot of
momentum in the United States.
Many architects and builders are
convinced that soaring wood towers
will soon be a reality—not just a
tall tale. ■
Photo by Ema Peter courtesy of Michael Green Architecture
ENGINEERED WOOD 05
B U I L D I N G TO M E E T H O M E B U Y E R N E E D S
According to a 2014 survey of 500 residential architect
firms by the American Institute of Architects, nearly
39 percent of respondents said they are seeing
increased demand for floor plans with an in-law
suite (for example, a secondary master bedroom with
full bathroom) or dedicated guest room. This was an
increase of 26 percent and 10 percent who cited the
same in 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Evolution of the Floor Plan
While a master bedroom seems second nature to many
Americans, the trend only began in the mid-1980s
during the rise of the “McMansion.” Many of today’s
homes include the much larger master suite, complete
with a larger closet and full bathroom.
But while many Americans have become accustomed
to a floor plan with a traditional master bedroom, a
new trend in floor plans has begun in which a second
suite—nearly comparable to the master suite—is
included. This new movement can be attributed to
certain economical, generational lifestyle and physical
influences occurring recently in the United States.
Take Millennials, for example. Compared to their
parents’ and grandparents’ generations, Millennials
are, on average, waiting until later in life to start a
family and buy a house in which to settle down. On
the economic front, the cards seem somewhat stacked
against Millennials. They are faced with more student
loan debt, incomes that don’t match the rising cost
of a home, and skyrocketing rental costs. What is the
solution for Millennials entering the housing market?
Stay at home with Mom and Dad.
According to a July 2015 report by the Pew Research
Center comparing U.S. Census Bureau data from 2010
to 2015, more young adults are living at home now
than five years ago—despite a rebounding economy
and decreasing unemployment rate among young
adults in the United States.
06 WINTER 2016
Another factor is attitude, be it positive or negative.
Many Millennials are choosing to stay under their
parents’ roofs longer as a way to pay off student
loans or to save for big “adult” moments, like buying
a car, paying for a wedding, or putting a large down
payment on a house. Admittedly, this is not the case
for all Millennials, with some opting to stay at home
longer not for the financial footing it provides, but out
of convenience.
On the other end of the spectrum, Americans are
living longer. The average life expectancy continues
to increase, and most Americans are expected to live,
on average, to nearly 79 years old. To avoid the cost
of an assisted living center and to provide in-home
care longer, many Baby Boomers are cohabitating
with their own aging parents even more frequently.
Additionally, retirement finances may start to dwindle
due to extended lifespans, new healthcare concerns
and inflation.
The concept of “aging in place” has picked up steam as
more adults prefer to age at home as long as possible,
which often means relying on in-home caretakers.
This also means custom-built or remodeled homes to
accommodate an aging homeowner over time.
The housing industry has taken notice of these trends
in cohabitation between generations, and industry
professionals are adjusting accordingly.
“As many households become caretakers for aging
relatives, separate living suites have become popular
options for accommodations,” said Kermit Baker, chief
economist for the AIA, in a news release.
Williams Custom Art Builders has a project under
development in the Chatham Hills community near
Indianapolis. Chatham Hills includes a section
specifically for empty nesters. The Williams project is
a custom home with in-law quarters on the main level
in addition to the master bedroom. Though the master
is larger, the in-law quarters are very large as well.
The in-law quarters in a Williams home often include
features like zero-threshold showers to eliminate the
step up when entering and exiting as well as threefoot-wide doorframes to accommodate a wheelchair
or walker.
Likewise, CBH Homes is addressing the “aging in
place” concept and multigenerational living in its Idaho
developments. Corey Barton, CEO and president of
CBH Homes, explained, “We created this new floor
plan, Dwellinghood, to give buyers flexibility with their
home as life stages evolve. Whether you have adult
children, in-laws or even for a renter, the Dwellinghood
option allows everyone to have their own space, yet still
be close together should they choose.”
Said Barton, “Incorporating flexibility into the plan
designs along with the latest trends will benefit resale
and allow future consumers to live in their home the
way they desire.” ■
For Steve Williams, of Williams Custom Art Builders,
building houses in this style is not totally new. “We’ve
been hearing this for a couple of years. A lot of people
are talking about one of their elderly family members
moving in with them.”
Williams continued, “It is important to have both main
bedrooms on the main level of the house or to include
an elevator.” For some projects, the elevator shaft is
put in place during initial construction, but it is used
as closet space until the resident requires the actual
elevator be built into the shaft space. As a current LP
Building Products user, Williams Custom Art Builders
will be incorporating a number of LP materials into
the Chatham Hills projects, including LP® TopNotch®
Sub-Flooring; LP® SolidStart® LSL and LVL; and LP®
SmartSide® fascia and soffit.
Zero-clearance thresholds, wider doorframes and
elevators are, according to Williams, going to eventually
become the norm for houses built for aging in place.
“In this type of home, it’s going to become a thing
like all houses now having nine- or ten-foot ceilings,”
Williams explained, comparing it to the trend in rising
ceilings. “It is going to become standard because there
are so many aging people.”
ENGINEERED WOOD 07
D O W N S IZI N G
Tiny Homes,
Big Opportunities
The tiny house movement began to
attract attention when the financial
crisis hit in the late 2000s, with
more people trading space for a
simpler, more affordable lifestyle.
Still growing in popularity today,
tiny homes are less than 400 sq. ft.
and typically cost between $20,000
and $50,000. Living in them takes
a radical shift in mindset—and so
does building them.
First, you’ve got to be able to offer
the homeowner options. That
means knowing what materials
are appropriate for a tiny home.
“One of the things to understand
about a tiny house is that it is
a glorified shed that has been
converted into a custom, nice,
small house,” says Andrew Odom,
Founder of Tiny r(E)volution.
Odom has been writing about
the trend since he built his own
tiny home six years ago. His
relationship with LP Building
Products began in 2009 when he
called asking for guidance about
what products would work best
for his needs.
As the trend for tiny homes increases, more homebuyers are
downsizing as a way to live simply, more affordably and with fewer
possessions. To build a tiny house that meets the needs and wants
of buyers, building professionals should approach each project with
both a creative and practical lens. Consider that to build a tiny home
is, essentially, to reduce a whole house to the size of someone’s
master bedroom.
“It’s perfect siding for a structure
that’s small. I wouldn’t use this
on a 2,800 sq. ft. house without
sheathing underneath, but for a
tiny house—a cottage, cabin,
shed, or small house on wheels—
I wouldn’t hesitate,” says Odom.
What initially drew him to the
product was the natural looking
texture and the natural look of
real wood lap siding. LP SmartSide
Trim & Siding comes in a variety of
finishes, including trim and fascia,
cedar shakes, lap, soffit and panel.
According to Odom, “Because it’s
such a tight composite it’s just a
smooth cut all the way down, so all
you need is a table saw. And all of
the finishes are pre-primed so the
painting process is faster and
less expensive.”
The product and the process both
worked. “We rode out two major
storms on the East Coast with no
damage whatsoever to the siding,”
says Odom.■
Odom didn’t want to go the
traditional sticks and bricks
method of using a sheathing coat,
sheathing layer, and then adding
siding. He chose LP® SmartSide®
Trim & Siding because it can be
used as an exterior for tiny homes
without sheathing underneath it.
LP Building Products provided LP® ProStruct® Flooring with
SmartFinish®, LP® ProStruct® Roofing with SilverTech®, and
LP® SmartSide® Panel with SilverTech® in-kind to Andrew
Odom for use in his tiny home.
One of the things
to understand
about a tiny
house is that it is
a glorified shed
that has been
converted into
a custom, nice,
small house.
FUN TINY HOUSE
ILLUSTRATION
GOES HERE
From choosing the right materials to taking advantage of
smaller crews and faster dry-in times, building a tiny house
is different than building a home of traditional size. But it’s
still possible for building industry professionals to find big
success in the smaller-sized market.
Learn more about Andrew Odom at www.tinyrevolution.us
08 WINTER 2016
ENGINEERED WOOD 09
I N E V E RY I SSU E
#NOW TRENDING
NO.
BUILDER
NEWS & TRENDS
1
LP® TechShield®
used in LEED
“House of the
Year”
This year, the U.S. Green Building
Council’s (USGBC) outstanding
single-family LEED home of the
year featured LP® TechShield®
Radiant Barrier Sheathing. The
four bedroom, three-and-a-half
bath, 3,400 sq. ft. house is in
Kailua, Hawaii, and is the first
in the state to be certified under
the latest version of the LEED
for Homes program.
The builder, Mokulua High
Performance Builder, emphasized
the need for a radiant barrier
in the home’s design, given
the region’s warm climate
and abundant UV radiation.
LP TechShield sheathing was
selected as the roofing solution
for the sustainable home.
LP TechShield is America’s
original and #1 radiant barrier
sheathing, able to reduce monthly
cooling costs by blocking up to 97%
of the radiant heat in the panel
from emitting into a home’s attic.
10 WINTER 2016
NO.
NO.
2
Let the outdoors
in … and take
the indoors out
For practical climates, an indoor/
outdoor living space can be a unique
way to blend your house with the
beauty of its surrounding nature.
Whether it’s an open-air courtyard
or a living room with large sliding
glass doors to let the outdoors in,
spaces that open to nature bring
a serenity that is hard to capture
with indoor plants.
An outdoor facing fireplace can
bring the coziness of a living room
outside to a comfortably furnished
patio for the perfect indoor/outdoor
effect. Even fully covered kitchens
are making a move outdoors so
chefs can entertain guests outdoors
while cooking up a summer meal.
According to realtors, many
homebuyers are seeking properties
with outdoor living features.
3
AIA accepts the
2030 Challenge
In 2002, a nonprofit think tank
called Architecture 2030 began with
a mission to “rapidly transform the
built environment from the major
contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions to a central part of the
solution to the climate crisis.” Thus
came the 2030 Challenge that all
new buildings, developments and
major renovations shall be carbonneutral by 2030.
In response to this challenge, the
American Institute of Architects
(AIA) formed the AIA 2030
Commitment to help architects
meet the energy efficiency and
emission reduction goals of the
2030 Challenge. The AIA’s national
initiative provides firms with a
standardized reporting system
to help evaluate the impact that
design decisions have on a project’s
energy performance. Architects are
encouraged to take AIAU courses
on the 2030 Commitment to help
architects create the next generation
of energy-efficient buildings. ■
MEETING
CODE,
EXCEEDING
EXPECTATIONS
ENGINEERED WOOD INNOVATIONS ARE HELPING
DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS MEET EVOLVING FIRE CODES
WHEN THE GREAT FIRE OF ROME OCCURRED
during Nero’s reign, the results led to the world’s first fire
code. This code in 64 A.D. banned common walls except
those made of fire-resistant materials. In America, building
codes date back to the Jamestown colony in Virginia in the
1600s, and the first actual fire code was recorded in 1631
when Boston outlawed thatched roofs. As communities,
architectural styles, materials and populations evolved,
so have codes.
ENGINEERED WOOD 11
F I R E CO D E S
A CLOSER LOOK AT CODES
Fast forward to today, where many skylines are dotted with rising
multifamily housing developments and new infill construction
is burgeoning. This change has a direct impact on the evolution
of building codes. In a 2015 report by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) on “Multifamily Residential
Building Fires (2011–2013),” multifamily residential building
fires accounted for an annual estimated 106,000 reported fires.
This is equivalent to 28 percent of all residential fires responded
to by fire departments across the United States. On average,
the multifamily residential fires resulted in nearly 400 deaths,
around 4,250 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property loss annually.
The good news, however, is that fire fatalities and injuries have
declined over the past 35 years. In addition to stricter fire codes,
the increased presence of smoke alarms as well as the increased
use of residential sprinkler systems contributed to the decline. But
according to the FEMA report, smoke alarms were only present—
though not necessarily working—in 62 percent of non-confined
multifamily fires during the survey period. Within that 62 percent,
the alarms failed to operate or the fire was too small to activate the
alarm in 11 percent and another 12 percent of fires, respectively.
In 1994 three building inspection agencies merged to
form the International Code Council (ICC), and in 2000
the group introduced the first edition of its International
Building Code (IBC). The IBC is a “model” code that
provides guidelines for the structural requirements of
buildings. Various jurisdictions (states, cities and fire
districts) can then either adopt or amend the IBC model
by enacting it into law. For example, Texas is still using
IBC 2006 and Connecticut continues to use IBC 2003.
A majority of U.S. states are now officially using IBC
2012, while South Dakota and Maryland have promptly
enacted IBC 2015.
Every three years the ICC revises its model codes, which
include the IBC, the International Residential Code (IRC)
and the International Fire Code (IFC). The IRC solely
addresses one- and two-family dwellings that are three
stories or less.
“In an effort to help designers and builders, the IRC
incorporates some of the provisions from ICC’s other
model codes like the ones for fire and plumbing,” says
LP EWP Application Engineer Reid Williams.
“Texas has a decentralized system of building codes that
allows local jurisdictions to adopt the 2006 code or more
up-to-date editions,” says Si Farvardin, manager of codes
and standards at the Insurance Institute of Business and
Home Safety. “Many U.S. jurisdictions have also enacted
the International Wildland Urban Interface (IWUI) code.
Western states like Colorado and Utah have adopted it,
plus a few eastern states like Georgia and Pennsylvania.
These jurisdictions have the ability to modify and even
exceed IBC code requirements. California’s wildland fire
code is the most restrictive in the United States, and it
predates the IWUI code.”
New techniques and materials are continually emerging to help
the building industry build fire-resistant structures that are code
compliant, aesthetically appealing, and cost-effective. For nearly
a century, designers and builders of wood-framed structures have
been using gypsum to meet fire codes. Architects can now also look
to engineered wood products that meet fire codes and provide greater
strength, savings and design flexibility than either gypsum or fireretardant treated (FRT) plywood when used in certain assemblies
in single-family, multifamily, and light commercial construction. As
these building codes evolve, the demand for fire-resistant wood-based
products will likely continue to grow across these building types.
Buildings are classified into construction types numbered
Category I through Category V, based on height, area, intended
usage and occupancy. The International Building Code (IBC) requires
fire-rated assemblies (exterior/interior walls and floors/ceilings) and
materials within the building to meet various fire resistance and
flame spread ratings based on construction type and other factors,
such as fire separation distance (e.g., distance from property line).
Materials have fire-resistance ratings, referring to the “ability of a
material or an assembly to resist burn-through and, in load-bearing
assemblies, to support a given load for a specified time period under
standardized fire conditions,” per the IBC. Assemblies, on the other
hand, have flame spread ratings that refer to the “measure of the
speed of travel of flame on the surface of a given product or material
under a standard set of conditions,” per the IBC. Fire resistance
ratings specify the time duration for which an assembly must
withstand a standard fire resistance test (typically one to four hours).
12 WINTER 2016
LP ® FL A M E B LO CK®
EX TERIOR LOAD - BEARING
WALL – I N TE R TE K LI S TI N G
L P B / W P P S - 6 0 - 01
LP ® FL A M E B LO CK®
EX TERIOR LOAD - BEARING
WALL – U L D E S I G N
NO. U349
ENGINEERED WOOD 13
F I R E CO D E S
F I R E CO D E S
CONFUSING PATCHWORK OF CODES
On a local level, one of the most difficult aspects of code compliance
is understanding the differences in the dozens of jurisdictional
codes within a single metro area. “There are 90 municipalities and
a large number of fire districts in St. Louis County, plus a different
code for the City of St. Louis,” says Matt Belcher, a principal at
Verdatek Solutions in Wildwood, Missouri. “There are so many
jurisdictions that architects and builders frequently have to contact
each district themselves to sort through the local requirements. On
large commercial projects, they sometimes use a code consultant to
help address overall code issues.”
For some architects, the extra work is justified if it leads to more
innovative designs, speedier construction, or reduced material/labor
costs. “The better architects look for value-added opportunities
throughout a project, including fire-rated wall design,” adds Belcher.
“Other architects are content with the same-old, same-old. Staying
educated about new technologies is what separates the first group
from the latter.”
ARCHITECT- FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY
Fire-resistant building materials from LP Building Products—
LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated OSB and LP FlameBlock I-Joists—
start with the proven strength of OSB panels. For LP FlameBlock
Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing and LP FlameBlock I-Joists, a patented
non-combustible Pyrotite® layer is added to the OSB panels.
When exposed to extreme heat the Pyrotite layer releases
moisture which slows the spread of heat and flames through
or along the wall or roof.
Technological advances, like LP
FlameBlock sheathing and I-joists,
continue to help the building industry
reach new heights in fire resistance.
“A building needs to be safe but also
serviceable, delivering added value
like greater fire resistance, moisture
management and sound reduction,”
says Dr. Richard Bennett, a University
of Tennessee engineering professor
who’s one of the world’s leading
experts on building material trends.
“Fire-resistant OSB products have
many advantages over other materials
because they can be engineered to meet
changing performance criteria.” ■
14 WINTER 2016
Value-Added Features in Fire-Rated Products
STRUCTUR AL STRENGTH – OSB has design values for load/span and shear that
are superior to FRT plywood at the same thickness. LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated
OSB Sheathing assemblies reduce dead load and wall thickness versus
common alternatives.
DESIGN FLEXIBILIT Y – An OSB panel with fire-resistant coating carries load/span
and shear design values equivalent to an untreated wood structural panel in the
same thickness category. Using that combination in fire-rated wall assemblies
can provide more flexibility in designing wall openings as well as more options in
framing and bracing to meet structural requirements.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT – Some fire-resistant materials, like LP FlameBlock
sheathing, are Exposure 1 rated, which means that they can withstand exposure
to moisture during normal construction delays.
SOUND REDUCTION – Today’s building code requires walls to have a Sound
Transmission Class (STC) rating of 50. This includes partition walls between
living units and exterior walls adjacent to walkways and alleys. Certain wall
assemblies—including some using LP FlameBlock sheathing—can deliver up
to a 61 rating depending on the configuration.
Where Fire-Resistant Products Are Used
Fire-resistant products are code-compliant components of 1-hour and 2-hour firerated wall assemblies, roof deck applications, and I-joist and LSL applications that
need to meet the “Fire Protection of Floors” requirement in the IRC.
EXTERIOR LOAD - BEARING WALLS – Fire-resistant panels are used in a variety of
exterior load-bearing walls, including those designed to meet code for zero lot line
and infill construction where a structure comes close to the property line.
INTERIOR LOAD - BEARING WALLS – These are typically 2-hour fire-rated partition
walls in multifamily construction.
ROOF DECK APPLICATIONS – Fire-resistant panels are commonly used to provide
vertical continuity of roof decks in townhomes, condos and apartments. Architects
can choose products with 7/16˝ thickness to provide consistency with 7/16˝ standard
OSB roof sheathing where desirable. Plywood is not available in that thickness.
IRC- COMPLIANT I -JOIST AND LSL APPLICATIONS – Designers must now comply with
2012/2015 IRC provisions for the fire protection of floors while achieving the level
of performance that homeowners have come to expect.
ENGINEERED WOOD 15
I N E V E RY I SSU E
MARKETING TIPS
FOR BUILDING
PROFESSIONALS
“GREEN” TERMS TO USE AND AVOID
First, you should
stop using the
word green.
It’s not as descriptive as it once
was and is often associated with
greenwashing, which is when
public relations or marketing is
deceptively used to promote the
perception that an organization’s
products, aims or policies have
environmental benefits. Consumers
and buyers have noticed that
organizations sometimes spend
more time and money claiming to be
“green” than actually implementing
business practices that minimize
environmental impacts.
It’s important for building industry
professionals to understand (and
use) the various industry terms
in circulation.
SUSTAINABILIT Y
Also known as sustainable
harvesting, practicing sustainability
means you meet the needs of the
present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. This is done by
using an array of sound practices
in the conservation of forests—
including appropriate protection,
growth, harvest and use of those
forests—incorporating the best
scientific information available.
16 WINTER 2016
At LP, we believe that sustainable
forestry can be best accomplished
when forest landowners, contractors
and wood producers are informed and
work together toward a similar goal.
CERTIFIED WOOD
Certified wood comes from forests
that meet particular standards
regarding responsible management
practices. Independent thirdparty organizations develop
the standards of good forest
management, and independent
auditors issue certificates to
forest operators that comply
with those standards. More than
50 certification programs exist
worldwide, addressing all of the
various types of forests.
CHAIN - OF- CUSTODY
Chain-of-custody is a tool used to
track wood from the forest through
the manufacturing process to
the customer and consumer. This
provides a clear link between
certified forests and certified
products. Through chain-of-custody,
it’s possible to accurately identify
the percent content from certified
forests in each product. Just like
certified wood, chain-of-custody is
verified by an independent thirdparty audit. ■
+ To read more about the sustainability
initiatives of LP Building Products,
visit LPCorp.com and click on the
“Sustainability” tab.
Dryvit TAFS 3 built on
LP SmartSide Substrate
®
®
The look of stucco has been a popular home exterior
for decades. Today, LP Building Products and Dryvit
have teamed up to offer that great look, utilizing new
technologies which apply faster, perform better and
save money.
The LP® SmartSide® Substrate is a smooth, treated
engineered wood strand panel that comes in 8-, 9- and
10-foot lengths. It is the structural panel for the house
and replaces the normal OSB sheathing in the framing
package. It works and cuts like wood, and it requires
no special tools. Like all LP SmartSide products, the
substrate is manufactured with the proprietary LP®
SmartGuard® process to help prevent fungal decay and
termite damage. It is applied over a code-approved
weather barrier.
Dryvit Textured Acrylic Finish System (TAFS) 3 is
then applied to achieve the desired aesthetics. TAFS
3 includes joint treatment, primer and a textured,
integrally colored acrylic finish used with the
LP SmartSide substrate.
With a range of textures and color options, TAFS 3
can be customized to meet the homeowner’s taste.
While many of the textures replicate stucco, others
are available to provide the realistic look of granite,
limestone and even brick. This design flexibility allows
builders to offer many other high-demand exterior
finishes beyond stucco when using the TAFS 3 built
on LP SmartSide Substrate system.
The combination of LP SmartSide and Dryvit TAFS
3 is, in essence, a siding system with a proven and
durable finish option, which together apply faster, look
better, and offer more value than traditional three-coat
stucco. From a building science and building codes
perspective, that is a big advantage to both builders
and their installers.
This system is already used in Texas and will be
introduced in other markets around the country
throughout 2016. ■
+ For more information, please contact LP segment
marketing manager David Josey (david.josey@lpcorp.com).
ENGINEERED WOOD 17
SUS TA I N A B I L I T Y
LP considers many factors both prior to and after harvest, not
only for migratory birds but also for many plant and animal
species that inhabit the lands we manage. We are committed to
responsible forest stewardship and helping to ensure that forests
are provided for generations to come.
Migratory Bird Conservation
is a Long-Term Journey
BY DONNA KOPECKY
Every year, millions of migratory birds leave locations
in Central and South America to make the long journey
north to return to their treasured nesting grounds in
habitats across Canada and the Northern United States.
forests with a variety of canopy openings that are littered
with dead-standing, gnarly-looking trees. Still others
prefer prime residential property adjacent to streams,
rivers, lakes or wetlands.
LP works to minimize its environmental footprint
adjacent to sensitive ecosystems such as riparian areas
for species that prefer to nest along streams, rivers, lakes
and wetlands.
From ducks and geese to warblers and hummingbirds,
migratory birds travel great distances and overcome
many obstacles in order to breed and grow in number.
Birds are able to navigate back to breeding and
wintering grounds using information from the stars, the sun, and the earth’s magnetic field.
Many habitat combinations exist across forest landscapes
that are suited just perfectly for different species of birds
and bird communities as a whole.
In areas where heron colonies or raptor nests are
detected, LP often will protect them by avoiding
activity during the birds’ nesting period or by applying
a no-harvest zone to protect the site from operational
activity over the long term. These operational practices
and many others contribute to conservation efforts for
migratory birds.
For example, the hummingbird is the smallest bird
species, but it can travel up to 2,000 miles to breeding
grounds in the United States and Canada. Flying
an average of 25–30 miles per hour, it can take a
hummingbird about 20 hours to cross the Gulf of Mexico.
With research showing that some migratory bird
species numbers are declining, government scientists,
conservation groups and the forest industry are working
together to better understand factors in both summering
and wintering locations that may be contributing to
the decline. These collaborations aim to best manage
habitats so that both birds and forests continue to thrive.
Depending on the species, forest birds require specific
habitats throughout their breeding and nesting cycle.
Some prefer young regenerating forests with thick
understory vegetation, while others prefer mature
18 WINTER 2016
Scientists and land managers agree that no single forest
type or age class, nor any single forest management
strategy or practice, will benefit all species. LP Building
Products is working collaboratively with stakeholders
to develop and implement planning and operational
strategies to help ensure that a variety of habitats are
maintained for birds throughout the forest areas
LP manages.
By implementing practices such as variable retention
harvesting and snag retention, LP maintains residual
forest structure within a harvest unit to provide habitats
for a variety of bird species such as woodpeckers, raptors
and songbirds.
A woodpecker can peck 20 times per second and make
8,000–12,000 pecks per day to create tree cavities crucial
to creating homes for many other species of forest birds,
as well as other animals such as bats and pine marten.
LP has also established partnerships with organizations
such as Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Bird
Studies Canada (BSC) to collect information on the bird
communities that inhabit LP’s wood supply areas in
Manitoba and British Columbia. Information obtained
through these partnerships—the BSC’s Atlas of the
Breeding Birds of British Columbia, for example—will
assist LP and others in making more informed forest
management decisions that will contribute to long-term
conservation efforts for bird populations in Canada. ■
DONNA KOPECKY
CANADIAN NATIONAL FOREST
RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
Donna is originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she graduated from
Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Science degree and a certificate in
Environmental Impact Assessment. She has worked with LP for over 18 years
as a forest/wildlife biologist in Canada.
ENGINEERED WOOD 19
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S P OT L I G H T
I N E V E RY I SSU E
ENGINEERED WOOD
LP® TopNotch®
Installation Tips
LP® TopNotch® Sub-Flooring has long been used as a single
layer sub-flooring designed for residential and light commercial
construction. Here are a few installation tips that can help builders
continue to reap the benefits of the engineered wood featured in
LP TopNotch panels. Builders using this product are encouraged to
take advantage of LP’s training program and materials. This will help
ensure installation is done correctly so the product functions at its
best, meets expectations, and adheres to installation guidelines.
INSTALLATION
TIPS
Installation Checklist
•
efore installation, allow panels to acclimate to existing jobsite
B
moisture conditions. Be sure to allow wet wood framing to dry
before flooring installation.
GLUE- NAIL APPLICATION
•
se of the APA Glued Floor System is highly recommended.
U
It ensures greater floor stiffness and helps reduce nail popping
and floor squeaks.
SPACING
•
•
n each row, slide panels into place. If necessary, tap panels
O
into place, allowing for 1/8˝ gap along the panel edges. Fasten
panels 3/8˝ from panel edges and space nails according to
Fastening Schedule for LP TopNotch Sub-Flooring in the
Installation Instructions available at LPCorp.com. Note: Closer
nail spacing may be required by some codes or for diaphragm
construction. The finished deck may be walked on and will
carry construction loads without damage to glue bond.
hen floor members are dry (and just prior to the installation
W
of floor coverings), ensure that fasteners are flush with or
slightly below the panel surface to help prevent any nails
popping upon drying.
“DON’T HIT ME!”
—LP TOPNOTCH
LP® TopNotch® Sub-Flooring is engineered with a selfspacing tongue-and-groove design that fits together
easily during installation. Framers may mistakenly
overdrive the sub-flooring together with sledgehammers
attempting to close this space. They ultimately damage
the product and prevent the rainwater drainage system
from working properly. Proper installation helps builders
avoid the need to sand the floor due to edge swell
from standing water caused by improper draining.
Visit LP University at LPCorp.com for complete installation
instructions and on-demand online courses.
20 WINTER 2016
The Rise of Technical Doors
in Western Europe
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
FINISHING
Want to know more?
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Protect your investment, construction materials
and margins—and reduce callbacks—by properly
installing LP TopNotch panels the first time.
Since 2013, construction in Western Europe
has been steadily on the rise, according
to the Euroconstruct Market Forecast.
The rise is projected to continue through
2017, creating a need for quality building
products in the region.
With new construction flourishing and
historical architecture being restored,
Western Europe has experienced relatively
steady growth in the technical door market
due to increasingly stringent building
codes and regulations. Because of this, the
Western European market has been tasked
with keeping up with the particularly high
standards for doors.
Technical high-security doors have been
in high demand, particularly in areas of
Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium.
In response, suppliers to the Western
European door industry, like WWP
Woodproducts and High Tech Timber, have
selected LP® SolidStart® LSL (Laminated
Strand Lumber) for the best technical stile
and rail solution for the sector. Convinced
about the product and international
strategy of LP, these Dutch companies are
working closely together in marketing LP
SolidStart LSL in the Western European
door market.
LP SolidStart LSL offers predictability
and stability as it relates to fire, sound,
climatic and security performance. The
product offers a strong, durable stile and
rail solution for Western European door
manufacturers. With no knots or natural
defects, LP SolidStart LSL is known for
its strength and consistent quality in the
building industry, making for a better,
stronger, straighter and more stable door.
The need for technical fire-rated doors
is especially prevalent in hotels, office
developments and high-rise construction,
where smoke and fire are a constant
risk. LP SolidStart LSL maintains its
straightness against smoke and fire,
giving it a competitive advantage over
traditional timber and a lower cost
solution to hardwoods.
LP SolidStart LSL machines like traditional
timber, but surpasses it in straightness
and consistency. Long lengths and
uniform dimensions reduce waste and
low moisture content reduces shrinkage
and improves stability, making it ideal for
a variety of door applications.
The product is certified by the
Programme for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification® (PEFC), which
promotes good practice in the
production of timber and other forest
products, thus making it environmentally
sound and backed by a full Chain of
Custody (COC) through the PEFC as well
as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI).
LP SolidStart LSL is also fully CE certified,
ensuring the highest quality standards in
this demanding door industry. ■
+
E mail intlsales@lpcorp.com or visit
LPCorp.com/EU to learn more about
LP products specific to the European
Union building industry.
“LP offers one of the best products on the
market when it comes to technical doors,”
said Marten de Jong, Managing Director,
High Tech Timber. “LP SolidStart LSL serves
as a very unique product for the application
and brings the best performance solution.”
ENGINEERED WOOD 21
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