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ICC News Release

For Immediate Release: August 27, 2019

2018 Code Conforming Wood Design Now Available

LEESBURG, Va. – The 2018 Code Conforming Wood Design (CCWD), a joint publication of the American Wood Council (AWC) and the International Code Council, is now available as a free download. The publication concisely summarizes the most important provisions related to the use of wood and wood products as they appear in the 2018 International Building Code (IBC).

Among the 2018 IBC code changes mentioned in the 2018 CCWD
are:

  • Alternatives for protecting attics in buildings
    using an NFPA 13R automatic sprinkler system. This code change has specific
    application to construction designed in accordance with IBC Sections 510.2 and
    510.4, based on the height of the roof above the lowest level of required fire
    department vehicle access.
  • Provisions for a fire-watch during non-working
    hours when construction exceeds 40’ in height above the lowest adjacent grade,
    if required by the fire code official. The International
    Fire Code
    contains additional fire watch provisions.
  • Updated references to AWC’s 2018 National Design Specification®
    for Wood Construction
    and 2018 Wood
    Frame Construction Manual
    .

“The complexity and scope of the IBC makes it difficult for
designers to know about all of the code provisions that affect the use of wood
products in construction,” said AWC Vice President of Codes & Regulations
Kenneth Bland. “CCWD consolidates and provides additional explanation for many
of those provisions to make wood building compliance with the IBC as simple as
possible. Most notable is the presentation of expanded tables which provide the
maximum allowable building size for eight common occupancy groups.”

“The main goal of Code Conforming Wood Design (CCWD) is to
compile the occupancy and height and area provisions of the IBC for wood
structures into one easy to use publication,” said Code Council Executive Vice
President and Director of Business Development Mark Johnson. “We are pleased to
partner with the American Wood Council to share this valuable information to
aid in the safe and sustainable construction of wood buildings.”

A free eCourse (BCD430) providing an overview of the 2018 CCWD is available.

The 2018 CCWD, along with 2015, 2012 and 2009 versions, can be downloaded for free here.

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About the
International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing
model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

About the American Wood Council

The American Wood Council is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, an industry that
provides almost 450,000 men and women in the United States with family-wage jobs. AWC represents 86 percent of the structural wood products industry, and members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building, and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products.