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More mass timber beam and column options available in the U.S.

Codes and Standards

More mass timber beam and column options available in the U.S.

Freres Lumber unveils new line of structural elements suitable for high-rise buildings.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | May 14, 2020

Availability of manufactured mass timber elements that can be used in high-rise construction projects is increasing in the U.S.

The latest line of timber beams and columns was recently announced by Freres Lumber Co., Inc. of Lyons, Ore. The APA-certified products currently run up to 12 inches in length with a depth of 72 inches, but, the company says, could be produced up to 24 inches thick.

The product line is capable of being produced up to 60 feet in length, but Freres’ current press is limited to 48 feet. The company will seek certification for products in larger widths and depths in the coming months.

Freres’s Mass Plywood Panel (MPP) manufacturing process is patented, producing engineered wood products that use 20%-30% less wood than other mass timber products, according to a Freres’ news release.

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Standards

Design guide offers details on rain loads and ponding on roofs

The American Institute of Steel Construction and the Steel Joist Institute recently released a comprehensive roof design guide addressing rain loads and ponding. Design Guide 40, Rain Loads and Ponding provides guidance for designing roof systems to avoid or resist water accumulation and any resulting instability.


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