2005 Western Conference

Conference Schedule: Presenters & Their Talks

The Conference schedule is subject to change. Continuing Education Units for architects and engineers are available for many of the seminars. Contact our office for a specific listing, or you may pick it up at the Conference.

Highlighted Presentations at the Conference

Denis Buet and Rudy Christian: “Barn Failure and What Engineering Protects Us From”

Rudy Christian writes: “The barn is a 68' x 128' Doug Fir canted purlin post barn in Washington State. It suffered a major roof failure from rotted shed sills causing roof sagging and a heavy snow load causing the north side roof to slide about 8" at the apex of the failure. As you can see, it broke every purlin post and every wall post allowing the plates to slide out.

“Insurance covered the repair and Denis Buet got the job. No experience in barn repair, no crew and no equipment didn’t stop him. He called and asked for consultation and I basically held his hand over the phone to effect repair of one of the most major frame failures I ever seen fixed in situ with almost no loss of fabric.”

Mira Jean Steinbrecher, AIA: “Design Case Studies: Round Pegs & Square Holes”

Former International Log Builders Association secretary and treasurer Mira Jean Steinbrecher presents case studies using a mix of log and timber elements in the design of three completed buildings: a round log post and beam structure, a dovetail log home with a timber roof, and a hybrid using log posts and beams with timber trusses.

Take a look at the process that created three unique BIG wood structures.

Robert Savignac: “Are You Building With Logs?”

In an attempt to be pro-active with new building codes coming into effect with the International Codes Council (dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes for the USA; formerly BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI), the International Log Builders Association is currently under final revision of the Standard for the Design and Standard for the Design and Construction of Log Structures ICC-400.

Building with logs, per se, is all over the map. Other than the ILBA publishing its own Log Building Standards since 1977, there has been nothing official for designers, builders and building inspectors to refer to that meets with code compliance. The advent and implementation of ICC-400 will have a significant impact on our industry, and by general given definitions, some timber framing might well fall under the same regulation. Now are you interested? Come and learn where all this is going!

Patti Southard: “Success With Sustainable Wood”

The workshop will focus on procurement of wood from alternative regional resources, examining what programs exist outside certification criteria. A case study of Oregon's “Healthy Forest Healthy Communities” program will be used as an example.

The workshop will also review the “Meridian Study” and compare and contrast the two major forest certification schemes: the U.S. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The two programs will be assessed to aid both the design community and consumers to make informed decisions when specifying and purchasing “certified” or sustainably harvested wood. Topics of discussion will include: market labels, forestry management practices, ecological impact, harvesting methods, tracking a forest product from the forest to its final point of sale, availability and cost of products, and how certified wood fits into LEED and NAHB “Green” building certification.