bend structural engineering mass timber clt

Seven Benefits of Panelized Mass Timber By Reed Newcomer, PE – Mass timber has become increasingly popular in the building industry in recent years and has placed exposed wood construction into the limelight. Given its many benefits, it is understandable why mass timber has gained popularity. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, research has shown that mass timber buildings can provide occupants with both physical and psychological benefits. The characteristic properties of wood and proportioning of mass timber panels also provide numerous advantages to building owners that are deeper than just architectural appeal. While there are many other reasons to consider mass timber for your nextRead More →

On:
wastewater lagoon design morrison maierle

Staying Safe: Design Solutions for Sewage Lagoons By Rika Lashley, PE – One of the first things that comes to mind when designing a new or rehabilitated lagoon is treatment capacity. As engineers we often focus on functionality first. However, equally important is the ability to safely construct, operate, and maintain the facility. Addressing lagoon safety measures early during design can also help during construction and installation of the lagoon liner and equipment. There are several elements that can be incorporated into the design of a new lagoon (or installed during the upgrade of an existing lagoon) to facilitate safe access where needed and assistanceRead More →

On:
engineering design for building maintainability

Designing for Ease of Building Maintenance By Doug Downie – A good friend of mine once worked at a building maintenance company and would occasionally download with me that day’s work challenges. One theme that kept getting repeated was how difficult it was to maintain the equipment he had to work on. I often use the analogy of the three-legged stool for how buildings can be designed. The three legs are: Permittable – All designs must meet this minimum level from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in order to receive a permit to build.  Constructable – Various aspects of a design are challenging to build, which is relatively common.  Maintainable – A design that locatesRead More →

On:

How to Stay Safe Around a Wastewater Lagoon By Stephanie Seymanski, PE and Rika Lashley, PE Have you ever used a Slip ’n’ Slide? It can be great fun, just as long as it doesn’t empty out into a wastewater treatment lagoon! If you have nightmares of this nature, please read on. Many smaller communities across the country rely on lagoon systems to treat their wastewater. Historically, lagoons were lined with clay liners and overlaid with riprap. Accessing the water surface of these lagoons was also relatively easy and safe. However, over the past couple of decades, synthetic liners have replaced the older clay linersRead More →

On:
grading optimization tool

Rethinking Site Grading with Civil 3D Grading Optimization Site grading can be a challenge. As designers, we work around cut/fill slope constraints, ADA requirements, and minimum and maximum grades that all require grading. Engineers know that it takes time to address each project’s unique grading constraints, and it’s not uncommon to create multiple grading plan iterations during design to arrive at an optimal solution. All told, this process can take days or even weeks and can cost project owners time and money. There must be a more efficient way. Enter the Grading Optimization tool, debuting in the Architecture Engineering & Construction (AEC) Collection of AutodeskRead More →

On:
preliminary engineering report

What is a PER and Why Prepare One? By Stephanie Seymanski, PE – The Montana State Legislature wrapped up their 2021 session thereby replenishing planning grant funding for preparing Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER). So what does this mean for municipal officials in Montana’s cities and towns and what is a PER? If you’re new to this funding process, here is some basic information on PERs and how they are prepared. What is a PER? A PER evaluates the condition, capacity, and function of a water, sewer, storm, or irrigation facility. Typically, a PER focuses on an existing facility, but may also evaluate a new facility.Read More →

On:
cross laminated timber manufacturing

Cross-Laminated Timber: Considerations for the Entire Design Team By Chandra McCarthy, PE – Mmmm. Smell that? That lovely, earthy wood smell? All that timber… Okay, so maybe your nose can’t actually smell the fresh lumber scent as you walk through a new building with abundant timber, but your eyes sure can see it. Furthermore, the sensory appeal of mass timber is only one of its many favorable attributes. It’s no wonder mass timber in general, and cross-laminated timber in particular, are rapidly gaining popularity. While some mass timber products closely resemble their steel and concrete cousins in both form and function, this isn’t necessarily theRead More →

On:
kitchen island electrical code garth stevens

Electrical Code Opens Up New Options for Receptacle Installations By Garth Stevens, PE – Up through the 2017 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC), there were requirements for “at least one receptacle outlet” for any island or peninsular counter larger than the prescribed minimum sizes [2017 NEC Sec. 210.52(C)(2) and (3)]. In the 2020 NEC, however, this was significantly expanded. Both island and peninsular counters are combined in Sec. 210.52(C)(2), and additional receptacles are now required based on the square footage of the countertop work surface. When a counter is located adjacent to the wall, receptacles are required so that “. . . noRead More →

On:
airport pavement strength

Decoding the PCN for Airport Pavement Strength By Cory Kesler, PE – The standard for reporting airport pavement strength has evolved over the years as new types of aircraft, gear configurations, and international travel have increased the need for a standardized reporting method. Airport managers frequently receive calls from charter pilots asking about pavement strength at their airports. Through the Aircraft Classification Number-Pavement Classification Number (ACN-PCN) method, airport managers have a way to determine if their pavements can support aircraft landings at their airport. However, the ACN-PCN method is a new concept to many airport managers. Thankfully, there are several useful tips to help youRead More →

On:
Wildfire smoke can cause respiratory issues.

Improving Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Smoke Events By Doug Downie – Throughout the world, wildfires are becoming larger and more frequent. The effects of breathing wildfire smoke is of increasing concern to building owners and occupants. Even as I write this article from my office in Central Oregon, our skies are clouded with the smoke from nearby fires. Colleagues in adjacent states are feeling the impact as well—from fires in their backyard along with the smoke plumes that carry across state borders. Understanding Wildfire Smoke But what is wildfire smoke, and why is it harmful? Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2),Read More →

On:

The What, Where, and How of Public Facility Planning Grants By Jeff Cicon, PE – For local governments and infrastructure operators, project planning is the first of many steps to making a new public facility a reality. And as we all know, good planning takes time and money. Fortunately, there are several grants available to provide the financial resources needed to complete the necessary documentation for a public facility funding application. If you’re new to this process, or even have some experience under your belt, you might still be wondering about the “what, where, and how” of public facility planning grants. The What Most of our grant-writing and civilRead More →

On:
engineering for mass timber morrison maierle

Mass Timber for Everyday Projects By Maria Chesnut, PE, MLSE – In 2010 a Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) supplier came to my office in the hope of convincing us they were manufacturing the next big thing in construction materials. I was fascinated. I was ready to make CLT (and other Mass Timber framing styles) happen. While I admittedly was much less skeptical a decade ago, this idea stuck: what if we could remove concrete and steel from buildings, embody carbon in them, and then make them easier to build by using tiny sticks of wood? Brilliant! The lunchtime road show and promise for building better failedRead More →

On:
fire protection codes for wastewater and collection facilities morrison maierle

Fire Protection Measures for Wastewater and Collection Facilities By Brian Literski, PE Whether during design or while making operational upgrades, wastewater and collection facilities—like other types of infrastructure—need to be regularly evaluated and kept up to date to avoid potential hazards. One of the standards that frequently raises questions involves fire protection measures and how to make sure facilities have compliant systems in place. Helpful Tools The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Electric Code (NEC) provide several means and methods to use during design and upgrade projects for wastewater and collection facilities. Access NFPA’s information here and NEC’s subscription information can beRead More →

On: