Blog

WoodSolutions Tutorials are a series of non-proprietary technical presentations written for architects, engineers and other building professionals. Covering topics ranging from durability and finishes to sustainability and fire ratings, the Tutorials are an opportunity to increase your knowledge of designing and building with one of the world's most sustainable materials - wood.

A new paper by Andrew Buchanan, David Carradine and Justin Jordan examines the performance of engineered timber structures in the Christchurch earthquakes.

The durability of timber has never quite been tested and proven like this - more than 100 years exposed to blizzards or covered in ice in one of the harshest environments on the planet.

In this 200+ page report the authors look at the case for tall wood buildings, the challenges to their adoption and produce a detailed case study design.

If you're involved in specifying wood or wood products, as an architect, engineer, developer or any other role, this is your chance to shape the future of certification in Australia.

The people with a real hands-on role in building with wood are carpenters and National Carpenters Day is a celebration of their work and contribution to carbon sequestration.

Will the growing popularity of wood structural elements drive a renaissance of traditional craft - or be restricted to innovative engineered wood products? This mortice and tenon pegged red ironbark frame argues for the former.

If you're an architect and would like to top up on CPD points - or hear about the latest in wood design and durability, don't miss the National Seminar Series.

The 2012 Australian Timber Design Awards showcase the best in Australian timber design. With more than 12 categories the Awards are nationally and internationally recognised.

Wood and urban railway stations are not terms that most people think of together. Add a long span pedestrian bridge and you’ve three fascinating projects that make this Canadian video well worth watching.

Building a timber bridge that not only goes over water, but through it, is an innovative and award-winning wood design solution for Dutch architects, RO&AD.

Windmill Hill, in the heart of the Rothschild Waddesdon Estate, designed by Stephen Marshall Architects, has been recognised for its architectural excellence with the RIBA National Award 2011. You can visit Windmill Hill as part of the WoodSolutions 2012 UK Field Tour.

It's not too late to enrol in the 2012 intake for the University of Tasmania's Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing & Building). It's a great way to be inspired, learn new skills and build your CV - and it's available online too!

Designers selecting plywood are faced with a potentially confusing situation with different standards listing different stress grades. A recent project aimed to simplify the situation by relating the strength and stiffness properties of current softwood/hardwood plywood resources from both Australian and New Zealand to the existing plywood stress grades.

This project investigated how fire really affects timber construction and whether the building codes for Class 3 buildings, such as boarding-houses, guest houses, hotels, motels, or aged care facilities, could be modified with safety.

Using timber concrete composite (TCC) floors in multi-storey buildings is a viable, lightweight alternative to other flooring systems that offers potential cost savings and environmental benefits.

In this blog, Timber + Design magazine editor Tony Nielson introduces some of the content in the latest issue - 4th Quarter 2011.

Wood is frequently used in single residential and low rise structures – but why not more in taller buildings? Fire regulations are often the problem – read on to discover more about recent research….

We spoke to architect, David Pennisi about why he decided to go back to study - and why wood.

Enter your favourite photos of wooden objects and win an iPad 2 with Make It Wood

Associate Professor Gregory Nolan discusses the first year of the course – and some of the thinking behind it.

Now you can design, specify and build with windows and doors approved for Flame Zone use without shutters or screens.

WoodSolutions Tutorials are free, non-proprietary technical workplace presentations. We spoke to Alastair Woodard, one of the Victorian Lunch & Learn presenters.

A comprehensive booklet covering the design, specification, manufacture and installation of timber doors and windows, WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide 10, Doors and Windows is now available for free download.