Engineering & Testing

TPI's SP Visual Inspection Proposal Rejected by ALSC

March 12, 2012

A proposal submitted by Timber Products Inspection that would use visual grading to assure lumber design values was rejected by ALSC.

Turning Trash in Homes Helps the Third World?

March 12, 2012

A Texas inventor says his idea of turning trash into treasure could change the way developing countries build and rebuild homes, especially following a natural disaster.

New Study Promotes Tall Wood Buildings

March 12, 2012

The Case for Tall Wood Buildings is a more than 200-page document that aims to encourage architects, engineers and designers to push the envelope of conventional thinking about wood construction.

NYC Energy Consumption Mapped

March 12, 2012

A team of researchers at Columbia Engineering has launched an interactive online energy map that breaks down the patterns of power consumption in New York City.

Simpson Strong-Tie Joins TPI

March 12, 2012

On February 27th, the TPI Board approved Simpson Strong-Tie Co., Inc.'s;Truss Plate Manufacturer membership application.

Robotic Construction Next for Housing Industry?

February 27, 2012

A team from Cornell’s Creative Machine Lab have come up with a new robot which can not only crawl along truss structures, but that can actually manipulate them and move them around.

Natural Disaster Housing Research Project Results Announced

February 27, 2012

Newport Partners, LLC, a Maryland-based consulting firm, recently announced the initial results of a HUD-funded research project, Safer, Stronger Homes: Protecting Your Risk During a Natural Disaster, at the NAHB Codes and Standards Committee during the 2012 International Builders Show.

Energy Efficiency Could Save Billions

February 20, 2012

New white paper puts a whopping price tag on the possible energy savings of multifamily buildings.

ITW Enters BIM Partnership

February 20, 2012

Four companies, including ITW, are looking to create a framework around which the workflow components associated with using BIM will flow naturally.

Quake Proof: 'Harry Potter' the Building?

February 20, 2012

A team of British mathematicians has developed a theoretical design for a Harry Potter style ’cloaking’ device which could protect buildings from earthquakes.