New Residential Structural Design Guide Released

The increasing complexity of homes, the use of innovative materials and technologies, and the increased population in high-hazard areas of the United States have created many challenges to the building industry and design profession. Meeting these challenges means developing and improving efficient engineering methods and making designers aware of the uniqueness of housing as a structural design problem. The Residential Structural Design Guide: 2000 Edition is an effort to document and improve structural engineering knowledge related to housing design and performance. It supplements current design practices and building code requirements with technical information and guidance. The guide addresses deficiencies and inefficiencies in past housing construction practices and structural engineering concepts through a comprehensive design approach that draws on existing and innovative engineering technologies.

Intended to be a comprehensive tool for design professionals, the guide addresses the following objectives:

• To present a sound perspective on American housing history, construction characteristics, regulation, and performance.

• To provide technical knowledge and engineering approaches that complement current code-prescribed design methods.

• To assemble comprehensive design data and methods that are instructional and simple to apply.

• To reveal where gaps in existing research, design specifications, and analytic tools necessitate alternative methods of design and sound engineering judgment to produce efficient designs.

The guide consists of seven chapters. Chapter 1 covers the basic substance of American housing, Chapter 2 introduces basic engineering concepts, and Chapter 3 addresses design loads applicable to residential construction. Chapters 4 and 5 provide step-by-step design procedures for the various components and assemblies that make up the structure of a home—from the foundation to the roof. Chapter 6 is devoted to the design of light-frame homes that resist lateral loads from wind and earthquakes. Chapter 7 addresses the design of various types of connections in wood-frame homes that are important to the overall function of the numerous component parts. As appropriate, the guide offers additional resources and references on the topics addressed.

Because most homes in the United States are built with wood, the guide focuses on appropriate methods of design associated with wood for the above-grade portion of the structure. Concrete or masonry is generally assumed to be used for the below-grade portion of the structure, although preservative-treated wood may also be used. Other materials and systems using various innovative approaches are considered in abbreviated form as appropriate.

The guide is intended to help structural designers perform their services more effectively and integrate their skills with others who contribute to the production of safe and affordable homes in the United States.

Residential Structural Design Guide: 2000 Edition is available for $5 from HUD USER. Use the order form.