Wood Frame Construction Manual
2012 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM)
The 2012 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings was developed by the American Wood Council’s (AWC) Wood Design Standards Committee and is referenced in the 2012 International Building Code.
The 2012 WFCM is currently available for purchase in electronic format (PDF) only. Once the WFCM Commentary is updated, printed copies will be available for purchase. Purchasers of the 2012 WFCM will receive the 2012 WFCM Commentary in electronic format at no additional charge.
If there is a change to lumber design values in 2012, affected AWC design standards and design aids would be amended accordingly. Once amended, purchasers of electronic versions of AWC 2012 design standards would receive those documents in electronic format at no additional charge.
Non-member $80.00
Member/Student* $40.00
* Qualified students are those who are full-time students enrolled in a wood design course at a university or college.
2001 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM)
The 2001 Edition is the current code-referenced version of the Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. The 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) contains an erroneous reference to the 2008 WFCM. ICC has acknowledged the error and will be correcting it in the next printing of the IRC. The next version of the WFCM is tentatively slated as the 2012 Edition to coincide with the 2012 IRC.
Non-member $80.00
Member/Student* $40.00
The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2001Edition is an ANSI approved document that provides engineered and prescriptive requirements for wood frame construction based on dead, live, snow, seismic and wind loads derived from the 2000 International Building Code (IBC). Tabulated engineered design and prescriptive design provisions are applicable where any of the following loads exist:
- 0-70 psf ground snow load
- 85-150 mph wind speed (3 second gust) Exposure B and C with adjustment factors for Exposure D
- Seismic Design Categories A-D (A-E in Chapter 2)
The WFCM includes design and construction provisions for connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are covered, including sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural sheathing, I-joists, and trusses. Also included are provisions approved by the 2000 IBC for perforated shear walls, wall stud system factors, and increased capacities for shear walls and diaphragms used in high wind applications.
Accompanying the WFCM is an extensive Commentary, which provides background information and example calculations for various sections and tables of the WFCM.
* Qualified students are those who are full-time students enrolled in a wood design course at a university or college.
Technical Questions
To submit a technical question regarding the WFCM, e-mail to info@awc.org or see contact information.
Updates
Several errata and addendums have been developed for the NDS and ASD Manual. These are available in PDF format here.
Design of Wood Frame Buildings for High Wind, Snow, and Seismic Loadings (WFCM Workbook) provides a design example, typical checklist, and background information related to design of a wood-frame structure in accordance with AF&PA's Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two- Family Dwellings, 2001 Edition. The design example uses plans from a 2-story residence as the basis for a structural design to resist wind, seismic and snow loads. The WFCM Workbook is available as a free download here.
Non-member $24.00
Member/Student* $18.00
* Qualified students are those who are full-time students enrolled in a wood design course at a university or college.
AWC has developed a new series of easy-to-use Guides to Wood Construction in High Wind Areas. Separate documents address wind design requirements in 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130 mph (Exposure B) wind zones (for other wind speeds and exposures see the 2001 WFCM). These Guides are based on provisions contained in AF&PA's 2001 WFCM, the reference document for high-wind wood-frame construction in the International Residential Code (IRC). Use of the high wind provisions of these Guides will result in design solutions that prescriptively meet the requirements of the WFCM and the IRC.
Exposure B High Wind Guides (click the cover to download a free version)
Non-member $16.00 each
Member/Student* $12.50 each
| 90 mph | 100 mph | 110 mph | 120 mph | 130 mph |
* Qualified students are those who are full-time students enrolled in a wood design course at a university or college.
The Caribbean Basin Builders’ Guide to Penalized Wood Construction in High Wind and Seismic Areas (Guide) is provided to simplify construction and design of wood frame buildings in areas where design wind velocity requirements do not exceed 150 miles per hour, mph (241 kilometers per hour, km/h) exposure category C and design seismic requirements do not exceed seismic design category D2. This Guide is also in compliance with the 2001 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. The provisions of this Guide focus on ensuring structural integrity for resisting wind and seismic loads (not simultaneously). Additionally this Guide provides basic design provisions to resist floor and roof live loads. This Guide does not specifically address other loading conditions. These additional loading conditions must be considered as required by the building code and are addressed in the WFCM.
Traducción de Español Incluido
Traduction Française Incluse
The Wood Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 1995 SBC High Wind Edition (WFCM-SBC) was published in February 1996. This comprehensive design and construction manual provides engineered and prescriptive design requirements for wood frame one- and two-family dwellings in high wind areas only (90-120 mph fastest mile windspeed). Provisions of the WFCM-SBC are based on wind loads derived from provisions of the 1994 Standard Building Code with 1996 revisions, for buildings 60 feet or less in height.
WFCM-SBC includes design and construction provisions for connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are covered, including sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural panel sheathing, I-joists, and trusses. Also included are provisions approved by the Standard Building Code for perforated shear walls, wall stud system factors, and increased capacities for shear walls and diaphragms used in high wind applications.
Download Permission - Limited License
Limited License: Permission is granted to download and print one copy each of the WFCM Workbook and High Wind Guide PDF files available on this website. However, you may not otherwise reproduce, resell, or reconvey, nor grant others permission to download or reproduce these files. All High Wind Guides and the WFCM Workbook are owned by the American Wood Council, and all rights are retained.
Related To This Publication
- WCD1: Details for Conventional Wood Frame Construction
- Learn about changes to the 2001 WFCM...
- Learn about 2001 WFCM with eCourse STD302 - WFCM 2001