Building Systems — Wood Panel Products & Heavy Timber Buildings

This course provides a comprehensive technical overview of wood panel products, heavy timber construction, and light-frame wood systems, emphasizing their structural performance, environmental benefits, and alignment with modern building codes.

Learners will explore how structural wood panel products—including plywood, OSB, and other engineered components—maximize forest resource efficiency, often incorporating recovered, recycled, or waste wood materials. The course also examines the health, safety, and environmental performance contributions of panel-based building systems.

The module further highlights Type IV heavy timber construction, examining fire-resistive behavior, floor and roof deck requirements, connection detailing, long-span applications, and unique structural characteristics that support both safety and architectural expression.

Finally, the course reviews the evolution and principles of wood light-frame construction, including platform and balloon framing, foundations, material efficiency, prefabrication methods, and code compliance.

This program equips architects and design professionals with a practical understanding of how timber-based building systems perform and how to apply them effectively within modern, sustainable, and code-aligned residential and commercial projects.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Structural Wood Panels

Identify major structural wood panel types, including plywood and OSB.

Understand manufacturing processes, performance classifications, and specification requirements.

Evaluate wood treatments, fasteners, engineered components, and panel-based structural assemblies.

2. Heavy Timber Construction

Review the history and evolution of heavy timber framing.

Understand fire-resistive properties, charring behavior, and inherent fire performance of Type IV construction.

Identify considerations for shrinkage, connection detailing, lateral bracing, integration of building services, long spans, and unique structural behaviors.

Assess how combustible heavy timber buildings comply with modern code requirements.

3. Wood Light-Frame Construction

Review the development of platform and balloon framing, including wall, floor, and roof systems.

Understand foundation requirements, variations in framing methods, and common detailing challenges.

Learn strategies for optimal lumber usage, prefabricated assemblies, and material-efficient design.

Evaluate how light-frame systems interface with building codes, structural performance, and architectural design needs.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of panel-based, heavy timber, and light-frame wood construction systems.

Apply improved judgment when selecting, detailing, or specifying wood-based structural solutions.

Strengthen awareness of material performance, fire resistance, code requirements, and sustainable design considerations.

Integrate timber-based systems into a wide range of residential and commercial architectural projects.

AIBC-Approved Continuing Education Course

The goal of this course is not to overwhelm learners with technical minutiae, but to equip professionals with practical, actionable insights that support safer job sites, smarter decision-making, stronger design outcomes, and high-performance practices.

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