The American Wood Council (AWC) has released its 2024 wood design standards, comprising the National Design Specification® for Wood Construction (NDS®), the Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, and the Fire Design Specification for Wood Construction (FDS). These standards, integral to the International Code Council’s 2024 International Building Code and International Residential Code, guide the design of wood structures.

Key updates in the 2024 NDS include revised design provisions for shear in bending members and multi-ply connections, aligning with the 2024 FDS. The FDS is a new addition, focusing on the fire design of wood members, assemblies, and connections. It provides calculation methods for structural fire resistance and burn-through resistance, incorporating additional protection measures like wood cover, gypsum panels, and insulation.

The WFCM offers detailed guidelines for designing wood structural elements to withstand various loads. The 2024 edition aligns its structural requirements with the latest wind and snow loading provisions in ASCE 7-22.

AWC Vice President of Engineering, Bradford Douglas, noted that this release culminates over five years of work and that efforts will continue to enhance user-friendliness through supporting publications and further research. These standards, developed through a consensus process approved by the American National Standards Institute, are available for free viewing on the AWC website, with purchasable versions expected later this year.

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