ICC, APA Team Publish IRC Lateral Bracing Guide
Interactive DVD Equips Designers, Code Officials, Contractors for Residential Design and Construction
Updated Masonry Handbook Includes Requirements, Specifications to 2012 IBC, TMS 402/TMS 602-11
ICC Offers New Roofing Guidelines for Energy Code
ICC-ES, APA Agree to Offer Combined Reports for Engineered Wood Products
 
ICC, APA Team Publish IRC Lateral Bracing Guide

Third edition improves understanding and application of the 2012 IRC lateral bracing requirements.

A new illustrated book, co-published by the International Code Council and APA—The Engineered Wood Association, provides an explanation of the lateral bracing provisions of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC). The Guide to the 2012 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions, the third edition in the series, details the correct application of the code-bracing requirements, explores the history and theory behind wall bracing, and provides real-world bracing examples. The book is now available in hardcopy and digital format.

"Bracing is one of the most critical, yet most misunderstood, safety elements in one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses constructed under the IRC," says Mark A. Johnson, ICC Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development. "The Guide is an important and helpful resource for inspectors, plan checkers, builders, designers and others involved in residential construction. The ongoing collaboration between APA and ICC benefits public safety and the industry. We are pleased to build on a long-standing relationship with APA."

The IRC contains numerous prescriptive lateral bracing provisions intended to help residential structures resist lateral loads that can result from wind and seismic events. The type and amount of bracing required for a given structure depends on many factors, including location and size of the structure, and the location of bracing segments within the structure. Bracing must be applied correctly and consistently to sufficiently protect the building from lateral loads, according to ICC and APA.

"Most of the buildings in the U.S. are residential, and most of them are built to the IRC. Wall bracing is what makes those buildings perform well against wind and seismic loads," says co-author Ed Keith, Senior Engineer for the APA Technical Services Division. "So I would say that the bracing provisions are very important.

"These provisions are complex, given the great number of aesthetic, cultural, economic and energy-related variables that factor in," says Keith. "This guide makes these provisions easy to understand."

A Guide to the 2012 IRC Wood Wall Bracing Provisions addresses bracing options available to the builders and designers, the amount of bracing required with adjustments and variations, rules for the use of bracing, the new simplified wall bracing provisions, whole house bracing considerations and many other related topics. The full-color book features numerous specific examples and more than 200 figures, tables and photos.

A portion of the book's content was adopted from the previous edition, A Guide to the 2009 IRC Wood Wall Bracing, and Keith adds that the 2012 version reflects several refinements to the 2009 provisions. He also notes that the book was reformatted extensively to better accommodate the user in search of specific code references. "In the book, the bracing provisions are explained in the same order as they appear in the IRC, and the top of each page is annotated with the page content, so looking up a specific provision of the code is much simpler."

"The book is written to help the more causal user understand the bracing provisions," Keith adds, "but we have also provided plenty of background information and theory to clarify the principles of bracing to engineers, architects and building officials."
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Interactive DVD Equips Designers, Code Officials, Contractors
for Residential Design and Construction

Illustrated Codes for Designers: Residential explains laws, codes, standards.

A picture, especially for complex design issues, is worth a thousand words. So what is an interactive DVD that describes laws, code provisions, standards and how they affect residential design and construction worth?

The new DVD, Illustrated Codes for Designers: Residential, is based on the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC). It creates an active learning environment with relevant examples and explanations, which building departments can quickly use to show designers what is incorrect or missing in a plan. The DVD explores each stage of the design process, including plumbing, mechanical and electrical provisions in the design of one- and two-family dwellings.

"I love the format," said Sheila Flener of Western Kentucky University. "I think architects, other design professionals and students will like having the interactive areas, especially having access to codes sites in various cities."

"Illustrated Codes for Designers: Residential brings the details of the IRC to life as animations," said Sandra Hyde, PE, ICC Staff Engineer. "The DVD thoroughly covers the International Residential Code in an easy to understand layout with figures and animations useful to the construction community and building departments. It is a perfect mix to aid designers and plan reviewers of all calibers."

Illustrated Codes for Designers: Residential, authored by Katherine S. Ankerson—Kansas State University, Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design, is now available through the International Code Council for $76.50 (Member price); $85 (nonmember).

Ankerson, backed by 15 years of architectural and interior design, skillfully offers graphic and written timelines illustrating key times during project phases to consult specific laws, codes, regulations, and standards; multiple interactive tools that encourage critical decision making; and case studies that provide examples in application of varying scope, reflecting the wide variation in design and contractor practice.

Not only is the DVD an excellent resource for building departments, designers and builders, the format works well for today's design students.
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Updated Masonry Handbook Includes Requirements,
Specifications to 2012 IBC, TMS 402/TMS 602-11

From the pyramids of Egypt to Las Vegas' Excalibur Hotel, masonry has provided a solid foundation of construction throughout the world. And for the past 40 years, the Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook—Clay and Concrete Masonry, has been the go-to guide for the industry.

The Masonry Institute of America (MIA) and the International Code Council announce the release of the seventh edition of the handbook, updated to conform to the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) and the TMS 402/TMS 602-11, Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures and Related Commentaries.

"This is the best edition ever," said John Chrysler, P.E., Executive Director of the Masonry Institute of America. "The graphics are state of the art, and 25 percent of the handbook contains design aids, something that most other books lack."

"This 708-page revised edition includes two complete masonry building design examples and design of masonry retaining walls," said John Henry, P.E., Principal Staff Engineer for the Code Council. "The Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook is still the best masonry engineering book on the market since I used the 3rd Edition in college back in 1979. It's a 'must have' book for practicing civil and structural engineers and engineering students. It's the most illustrated engineering book I know of."

The book, which sells for $99.95, includes detailed discussions of masonry components and materials, strength properties of masonry assemblies, gravity and lateral loads, and numerous illustrated design examples for the various masonry members.

"My goal as editor of this edition was to carry forward the legacy of the original author of the publication, James Amrhein, in providing a reference on reinforced masonry design that was for practicing engineers and written by a practicing engineer," said John M. Hochwalt, P.E., S.E., an associate with Seattle-based KPFF Consulting Engineers who put a year and a half into the revised edition.

While his primary focus was to update the manual to the existing codes, Hochwalt said, "We also took the opportunity to reorganize the book for improved ease of use. There is now a more logical flow to make it easier for practicing engineers."
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ICC Offers New Roofing Guidelines for Energy Code

ICC and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) have partnered to release a new technical publication, Guidelines for Complying With Energy Code Requirements for Roof Assemblies: International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 and 2012 Editions. The book assists with effective roof construction which is a critical element of energy conservation.

The new publication is a step-by-step guide for complying with the requirements of the 2009 and 2012 editions of ICC's International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the 2007 and 2010 editions of ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings referenced in the IECC 2009 and 2012 editions, respectively. The IECC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for meeting the agency’s energy-saving goals.
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ICC-ES, APA Agree to Offer Combined Reports for Engineered Wood Products

ICC Evaluation Service and APA-The Engineered Wood Association have signed an agreement to offer joint ICC-ES and APA reports for engineered wood products. The goal is to provide manufacturers with an efficient way to apply for technical evaluations with each organization and receive a joint ICC-ES evaluation report (ESR) and APA product report.

"This partnership addresses the needs of our mutual clients and provides a more direct path to market for engineered wood products," said ICC-ES Senior Staff Engineer, Daniel Cheney. "The program represents a significant move forward in ICC-ES and APA relations and is a good example of how these organizations are working together to provide clear, concise information to building officials and the design community."

ICC-ES and APA will designate a single point of contact for the report applicant to serve as the project manager and to simplify and expedite the process on behalf of the applicant. The project manager will coordinate all arrangements and data transfers between ICC-ES, APA and the applicant.

"We are very pleased to reach agreement with ICC-ES in eliminating duplication of efforts between the ICC-ES ESR and APA Product Report," said APA Director of Technical Services Division, BJ Yeh. "This joint report enhances the value of both organizations to building officials, designers and manufacturers by providing consolidated product evaluation information in accordance with the building codes."

The joint reports will serve as an alternative to the current product evaluation system being used by many engineered wood product manufacturers. Currently, products are evaluated separately by ICC-ES and APA resulting in individual ESR and Product Reports.
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