LEESBURG, VA. - The American Wood Council (AWC) 2018 National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction has been approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The NDS is referenced for wood design in the International Code Council’s 2018 International Building Code (IBC).

LEESBURG, VA. – In advance of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) National Fire Prevention Week October 8-14, leading fire prevention and code organizations announce the formation of a Construction Fire Safety Coalition dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fires in buildings under construction, alteration, or demolition. The Coalition has been created in collaboration with the American Wood Council (AWC); Davidson Code Concepts, LLC; FireForceOne; International Code Council (ICC); National Association of Home Builders; National Association of State Fire Marshals; National Fire Sprinkler Association; and a representative of the Cambridge, Mass. Fire Department, in response to recent fires in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.

LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) and WoodWorks have released the public beta version of an updated app to calculate maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction. The Heights & Areas Calculator is based on the provisions in the 2015 and earlier editions of the International Building Code (IBC).

Five full-scale mass timber fire tests in a multi-story apartment building have been completed with promising results.

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) Vice President, Government Affairs Andrew Dodson issued the following statement regarding the introduction of H.R. 2361 by Reps. Marsha Blackburn (TN) and Kurt Schrader (OR). The bill encourages product neutrality in building energy codes and defines the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as a technical advisor in the development of model energy codes and subsequent state adoption.

WASHINGTON – The Maryland State Legislature adjourned today for the year without taking action on House Bill 1311 or Senate Bill 722, which intended to prohibit multifamily dwellings above three stories from being constructed using wood-frame construction. American Wood Council (AWC) Northeast Regional Manager Matt Hunter, BCO, along with numerous representatives from building owners, architecture, development, and engineering, testified in opposition of both bills.

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) Northeast Regional Manager Matt Hunter, BCO, along with numerous representatives from building owners, architecture, development, and engineering, all testified yesterday in opposition of Maryland House Bill 1311. The bill would prohibit a multifamily dwelling from being constructed using wood-frame construction in jurisdictions exceeding a specified population density. The legislation is a companion to Senate Bill 722.

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) Northeast Regional Manager Matt Hunter, BCO, along with numerous representatives from building owners, architecture, development, and engineering, all testified today in opposition of Maryland Senate Bill 722. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Joan Carter Conway, would prohibit a multifamily dwelling from being constructed using wood-frame construction in municipal jurisdictions exceeding a specified population density.