April Meeting Topic and Speakers:

Connection Solutions for Wood-Frame Structures

This seminar presents current wood connection design philosophy, behavior, serviceability issues, and connection design techniques for small and large wood members, panel products, and wood assemblies, using dowel-type and specialized components. Topics will include techniques for designing efficient, durable and structurally safe connections and available resources.  Learning objectives include:

• Identify basic wood material properties and learn how to avoid splits, notching and checking in connection solutions
• Recommend fastening guidelines for wood to steel, wood to concrete and wood to wood connections.
• Describe effects of moisture on wood connections and implement proper flashing to avoid problems
• Identify proper fastener selection in size, scope and pattern

 

Speaker Bio

Ms. Kam-Biron is a California licensed structural engineer and Director of Education for the American Wood Council (AWC) where she is expanding continuing education resources for architects, engineers, and building officials as well as coordinating the development of university level wood design course.  Before joining AWC, she worked nearly five years in the wood industry as the Senior Technical Director – National Lead Mid-rise/Multi-family Construction for the Wood Products Council initiative WoodWorks.  Additionally, she was a Structural Engineering consultant and Executive V.P. of Harris Engineering, in California.  She has over 20 years of experience managing and designing a wide range of projects of various structural materials as well as Division of State Architect contract plan review.  Ms. Kam-Biron graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in Architectural Engineering.  She is a certified Earthquake Disaster Assessment volunteer, a member of APA - Professional Associates Program, APA Standards Committee PRG-320 on Cross-Laminated Timber, and the International Code Council.   She is an active member and past Director of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California and is currently a volunteer on the Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo Architectural Engineering Advisory Board.