Design
Patterns and Recommendations
 7.
Structure
– Providing more with
less
Historically, people built houses using large pieces of lumber and
over-engineered whenever there was a doubt about the capacity of materials. Today we don’t have the luxury of being able
to toss extra beams into a design without significant added cost and environmental impact. We do, however, have a much better understanding
of the performance characteristics of individual materials and materials in assembly. Consequently, it’s possible to design
buildings that stand up to the loads we put on them with far fewer
materials—resulting in both materials and monetary savings.
Recommendations:
§
Employ advanced framing practices to minimize lumber in wood-framed walls,
including in-line framing, single top plate, studs 24” on center, and two-stud
corners.
§
Specify framing members and assemblies (steel framing,
engineered lumber, and trusses) based on performance characteristics rather than
one-to-one substitution for conventional wood framing members. This applies in floor, roof, and
wall framing.
§
Meet local codes for snow loads, seismic and hurricane
standards.
§ Consider
panel-style materials that provide finish and structure with one step, and may allow the
elimination of a material layer (e.g., fiber cement Hardipanel siding eliminates
need for wall sheathing and metal Scanroof panels with integral purlins eliminate
need for roof sheathing).
Reference:
§
Advanced
Framing Techniques: Optimum Value Engineering (OVE), from NAHB Research Center
PATH Technology Inventory
§
Residential Structural Design Guide: 2000
Edition from PATH
§
Efficient
Wood Use in Residential Construction, NRDC
§
Advanced
Framing, Building Science Corporation presentation (very large PDF)
§
Wood
Handbook -- Wood as an engineering material, USDA Forest Service
Forest Products Laboratory
§
Engineered Wood Construction Guide,
APA--The Engineered Wood Association (PDF format)
Applied
in Case Studies:
§
Emeryville Resourceful Building Project
§
Erie-Ellington
Homes
§
Metro Denver HFH “Green” Program
§
O’Brien – Cunningham Home
Additional Examples:
§
Hopelink
Place
§
Muncie Homeownership and Development Center
§
T.E.S.T.
House
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