Tuesday, April 29, 2025
The American Wood Council (AWC) has launched an updated version of its Connection Calculator, designed to enhance the calculation of fastener capacities. The update aligns with the 2024 National Design Specification for Wood Construction (ANSI/AWC NDS-2024) and aims to streamline the design process for professionals in the wood construction industry.
The updated calculator now includes new provisions to calculate fastener head pull-through for nails and wood screws. It also incorporates explicit lateral design provisions for smooth shank metal hardware nails and deform shank nails. Additionally, new provisions for Roof Sheathing Ring Shank nails and Post-Frame Ring Shank nails have been added. These updates ensure more accurate calculations for fastener performance in withdrawal from the main member.
A notable change is the removal of the diaphragm factor for nailed connections in Chapter 11, which is now accounted for in the 2021 Special Design Provisions for Wind & Seismic (ANSI/AWC SDPWS-2021), aligning with current design standards.
The Connection Calculator supports the calculation of lateral capacities (single and double shear), withdrawal capacities, and various adjustment factors for temperature, wet service, varying load durations, and end grain. It can handle a range of connection types, including wood-to-wood, wood-to-concrete, and wood-to-steel, and is compatible with materials such as sawn lumber, glued laminated timber, cross-laminated timber, and wood structural panels.
“We continually update the Connection Calculator to ensure that users have access to the latest design data in line with the 2024 NDS and International Building Code standards,” said Phil Line, AWC Vice President of Codes & Regulations.
These updates follow last year’s improvements to the AWC Heights and Areas Calculator, which incorporated provisions from the 2021 International Building Code and the 2019 California Building Code.
The updated Connection Calculator is available online and as an app for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
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