An Introduction to Mass Timber Buildings in the IBC

Identify the differences between legacy Heavy Timber or Post and Beam (IV-HT) construction, with the newer Mass Timber buildings (IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C) and introduce the criteria and manufactured products commonly associated with Mass Timber buildings.

Provide a brief review of the International Code Council’s (ICC) consensus-based process along with the work of the Tall Wood Building Ad Hoc Committee (TWBAH) that validated and approved the code changes associated with Mass Timber in the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). Provide a cursory overview of fire tests performed in support of the code changes.

Introduce the overall heights and maximum number of stories permitted under the newer Mass Timber Construction Types.

Review the basis for required fire resistance and discuss the importance of non-combustible protection applicable to Mass Timber structures.