IRC for Engineers: Part 4 Wind Examples
October 29, 2024; 11:00 AM –
John ``Buddy`` Showalter, P.E., M.ASCE and David Sparks, S.E., P.E., M.ASCE
This multi-part series provides an overview of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) structural provisions for engineers. With a focus on wood construction, the course addresses gravity and lateral loads on residential structures. Prescriptive solutions for floor, roof, and wall systems are described to help engineers understand where engineering is required. Based on a 2-story residential wood frame structure, Part 3 provides a prescriptive solution using the IRC for a 115-mph wind speed and a prescriptive solution using the IRC-referenced Wood Frame Construction Manual for a 160-mph wind speed.
Speaker Bios
Buddy Showalter is a senior staff engineer with the International Code Council`s (ICC) product development group. He develops technical resources in support of the structural provisions of the International Building Code and International Residential Code. Showalter reviews publications authored by the Code Council and engineering groups, while also developing publications and technical seminars on the structural provisions of the International Codes for building departments, designers and special inspectors. He is the project lead in the development of Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC and associated education programs, jointly developed by ICC and the American Wood Council (AWC). A graduate of Virginia Tech, Showalter has also been a member of the editorial board for STRUCTURE magazine for more than 15 years. Before joining ICC, Showalter spent 26 years with AWC where he led its technology transfer program with oversight responsibility for publications, website, helpdesk, education and other technical media. He has more than 35 years of experience in the development and support of building codes and standards, publishing more than 60 technical articles for industry-related trade journals.
Dave Sparks has been working in the residential engineering and construction industry since 1998 after graduating from the University of Arizona in August of 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis. He started as an associate engineer in training at Bingham Engineering in Phoenix, Arizona before joining the newly formed Felten Group, Inc. in 2001. He obtained his California PE in 2003 and then his Arizona SE in 2006. During his tenure at Felten Group, Dave has developed many design aides and AutoCAD customizations using Excel, VBA, C#, and Visual Studio .NET. Many of which must be maintained to stay current with changes in the model building codes as they are reissued. Dave has engineered structures in over half of the states around the country from hurricane prone regions of the east coast to the seismically controlled regions of the west coast. Dave has taught several classes both for the Arizona Building Officials meetings (AZBO) and Sacramento Valley Building Officials (SVaBO) meetings including Wall Bracing from the IRC, Changes to the ASCE7-16 Wind Provisions, Forensic Engineering, Inspection Nightmares, The Devil Isn’t the Only Thing in the Details, and Truss Calculations from an Engineer’s Perspective. Dave is an avid runner and enjoys being outdoors as much as possible. Skiing/Snowboarding in the winter as well as wakeboarding in the summer.
David Sparks has been working in the residential engineering and construction industry since 1998 after graduating from the University of Arizona in August of 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis. He started as an associate engineer in training at Bingham Engineering in Phoenix, Arizona before joining the newly formed Felten Group, Inc. in 2001. He obtained his California PE in 2003 and then his Arizona SE in 2006.
During his tenure at Felten Group, Dave has developed many design aides and AutoCAD customizations using Excel, VBA, C#, and Visual Studio .NET. Many of which must be maintained to stay current with changes in the model building codes as they are reissued. Dave has engineered structures in over half of the states around the country from hurricane prone regions of the east coast to the seismically controlled regions of the west coast.
Dave has taught several classes both for the Arizona Building Officials meetings (AZBO), Sacramento Valley Building Officials (SVaBO), and the Colorado Chapter of the ICC (CCICC) meetings including Wall Bracing from the IRC, Changes to the ASCE7-16 Wind Provisions, Forensic Engineering, Inspection Nightmares, The Devil Isn’t the Only Thing in the Details, Truss Calculations from an Engineer’s Perspective, and Wind Design in the Colorado front-range Special Wind Region. He has also collaborated with John “Buddy” Showalter for presentations and development of material for Wind Loads on Open Projecting Attached Porches.
Dave is an avid runner and enjoys being outdoors as much as possible. Skiing/Snowboarding in the winter as well as wakeboarding in the summer.