Timber-Strong Design Build
Last Update 3/11/2019
The stipend request and SST Materials forms are now available!
1. Download the Stipend Request form here and Simpson Strong-Tie Materials form here
and return with all highlighted areas completed.
2. Send the form to pswc2019@gmail.com or upload to your personal Google Drive team folder.
(If you do not have a team folder, send a request per the competition rules)
3. Deadline to submit stipend requests is March 15.
Teams may use the Materials Cost Spreadsheet to aid in their budgeting and cost estimation portion of the project
1. Download the Stipend Request form here and Simpson Strong-Tie Materials form here
and return with all highlighted areas completed.
2. Send the form to pswc2019@gmail.com or upload to your personal Google Drive team folder.
(If you do not have a team folder, send a request per the competition rules)
3. Deadline to submit stipend requests is March 15.
Teams may use the Materials Cost Spreadsheet to aid in their budgeting and cost estimation portion of the project
1. What are we allowed to construct before the competition? It says no fabrication but does that mean we can cut the wood and mark it before the competition starts?
See Section 9.0 Construction The wall framing assemblies (excluding wall wood structural panel) is the only structural component of the building that may be pre-fabricated prior to the competition date.
2. Will we be responsible for purchasing our own wood? Fasteners will be provided but what about wood?
See Section 8.0 Materials All supplies (materials, connectors, tools, etc.) to construct the structure shall be provided by each team. NOTE: Simpson Strong-Tie will donate connectors and fasteners (see section 10.0 Budget). See Section 10.0 Budget Each participating university has the option to use an allotment of Simpson Strong-Tie products (total maximum retail value of $300.00).
Additionally, to encourage participation, AWC and APA is offering a stipend to qualifying teams of $300.00 max. per team, to offset the materials and t-shirts for the first 20 teams to request the stipend.
3. If wood is donated, what should we mark as the “material cost” of the wood?
See Section 10.0 Budget If materials were donated, obtain an estimated cost from the donor.
4. If wood is bought from a private seller who does not provide receipts, how can we confirm the “material cost” of the wood? Should we create our own invoice for the wood based on an estimate for the wood cost?
Suggest having the private seller provide you with a receipt or create an estimate utilizing a reliable source such as a retail store.
5. How can we obtain feedback for last year's design build bid report?
Please ask the previous and current PSWC organizers.
6. Since structural hand calculations use many assumptions such as assuming there is no rotation about the joint, are we allowed to apply adjustment factors that take into account the “slack” in our connections?
Yes. However, we recommend following the methods in a textbook.
7. Does our roof need to be sloped? Or can it be a flat roof?
See Section 6.0 Structural Design and Figure 1. Also, see section 9.3 Design Constraints item 2.a. The slope of the roof shall be determined by the team.
8. Do we need to show design calculations for our connections?
Use hand calculations showing the design loads, the structural calculations and the specified fasteners and connectors are used to resist the loads.
9. Please clarify if Section 6.2.f means that the deflection of the beam must be between .5" and 1" or if the specifications from last year hold.
See Section 7.1 Report item 6.b.iii and Section 11.6 Additional Possible Points Deducted and Disqualifications. The design parameter is the ridge beam needs to be designed to have a minimum deflection of 0.5 inch and a maximum of 1 inch.
10. Section 7.1.6.a.iii of the 2019 rules state, "Anchorage to the foundation that includes anchor bolt and SST hold-downs to resist in-plane shear and overturning." Please confirm if the aforementioned section stipulates that hold-downs should be a part of the design. If yes, please confirm that the hold-downs should be built into the physical structure even though they will not be used.
See Section 7.1.6.a The design of the structure assumes that the hold-downs will resist the overturning however, the hold-downs will not be part of the physical structure. NOTE: structures are not allowed to be anchored to the job site area and it is the team’s responsibility to provide adequate measures to resist overturning loads as a result of, the applied cantilever loading.
11. If additional materials that are not used in the final build are on the receipts, are they expected to be reflected in the cost calculation? That is if we were to purchase 3 boxes of nails, but only half of a box is used, should the reported cost reflect all 3 boxes or only the price of half of a box?
We suggest showing this on the receipt and clearly itemizing which items were not used and the associated cost.
12. If pieces from the previous year's structure are being recycled, should an estimated cost be reflected in the reported cost?
If yes, should the reported cost be an estimated cost? Yes. Whatever material is used on the structure should have an associated cost.
13. The 2019 rules only make references to the building frame. Are there any stipulations on architectural features?
You are free to include architectural features. We encourage aesthetic creativity.
14. Must any included architectural features be made of 100% wood products.
The architectural features do not need to be made of 100% wood products.
15. Can the addition of architectural features such as door trim, baseboards, roofing trim, eaves, etc. extend outside of the 4'x6' footprint per section 9.3?
Yes. The eaves and aesthetic features may extend past the 4’x6’ footprint.
16. Are architectural features not a part of the frame, and are they not expected to be reflected within the reported cost and weight?
Correct, the weight analysis is for the structural components only. Paint and other aesthetics do not need to be included in the weight analysis. We encourage aesthetic creativity.
17. Can translucent paper be used as part of the aesthetic materials?
Yes.
18. Can we use circular windows?
Yes.
19. Can we use bamboo as part of the aesthetics?
Yes.
20. Do our structural calculations have to represent what is constructed at the competition or 10x the structure as well?
The structural calculations are for the actual building size. However, the carbon footprint calculations and analysis must be for a building 10x the actual size, so that the carbon footprint analysis is meaningful. There is not much of a carbon footprint for a 4’x6’ building.
21. Can we have detachable overhang (part of the aesthetics)?
Yes.
22. Can we make the assumption of using Category II for our design, a design for a small residential home, instead of Category I which deals with a non-housing structure?
Yes, Category II should be used.
23. To clarify, does the deflection have to be between 0.5” and 1”? (Section 11.6, Bullet point 4).
See Section 7.1 Report item 6.b.iii and Section 11.6 Additional Possible Points Deducted and Disqualifications. The design parameter is the ridge beam needs to be designed to have a minimum deflection of 0.5 inch and a maximum of 1 inch. When we load the structure, the goal is for the beam to deflect as close to the predicted deflection as possible, not to exceed 1”.
24. Can we use a CD of 1.25 (roof construction load) or 2.0 (impact load)?
We would recommend using Cd 1.25
See Section 9.0 Construction The wall framing assemblies (excluding wall wood structural panel) is the only structural component of the building that may be pre-fabricated prior to the competition date.
2. Will we be responsible for purchasing our own wood? Fasteners will be provided but what about wood?
See Section 8.0 Materials All supplies (materials, connectors, tools, etc.) to construct the structure shall be provided by each team. NOTE: Simpson Strong-Tie will donate connectors and fasteners (see section 10.0 Budget). See Section 10.0 Budget Each participating university has the option to use an allotment of Simpson Strong-Tie products (total maximum retail value of $300.00).
Additionally, to encourage participation, AWC and APA is offering a stipend to qualifying teams of $300.00 max. per team, to offset the materials and t-shirts for the first 20 teams to request the stipend.
3. If wood is donated, what should we mark as the “material cost” of the wood?
See Section 10.0 Budget If materials were donated, obtain an estimated cost from the donor.
4. If wood is bought from a private seller who does not provide receipts, how can we confirm the “material cost” of the wood? Should we create our own invoice for the wood based on an estimate for the wood cost?
Suggest having the private seller provide you with a receipt or create an estimate utilizing a reliable source such as a retail store.
5. How can we obtain feedback for last year's design build bid report?
Please ask the previous and current PSWC organizers.
6. Since structural hand calculations use many assumptions such as assuming there is no rotation about the joint, are we allowed to apply adjustment factors that take into account the “slack” in our connections?
Yes. However, we recommend following the methods in a textbook.
7. Does our roof need to be sloped? Or can it be a flat roof?
See Section 6.0 Structural Design and Figure 1. Also, see section 9.3 Design Constraints item 2.a. The slope of the roof shall be determined by the team.
8. Do we need to show design calculations for our connections?
Use hand calculations showing the design loads, the structural calculations and the specified fasteners and connectors are used to resist the loads.
9. Please clarify if Section 6.2.f means that the deflection of the beam must be between .5" and 1" or if the specifications from last year hold.
See Section 7.1 Report item 6.b.iii and Section 11.6 Additional Possible Points Deducted and Disqualifications. The design parameter is the ridge beam needs to be designed to have a minimum deflection of 0.5 inch and a maximum of 1 inch.
10. Section 7.1.6.a.iii of the 2019 rules state, "Anchorage to the foundation that includes anchor bolt and SST hold-downs to resist in-plane shear and overturning." Please confirm if the aforementioned section stipulates that hold-downs should be a part of the design. If yes, please confirm that the hold-downs should be built into the physical structure even though they will not be used.
See Section 7.1.6.a The design of the structure assumes that the hold-downs will resist the overturning however, the hold-downs will not be part of the physical structure. NOTE: structures are not allowed to be anchored to the job site area and it is the team’s responsibility to provide adequate measures to resist overturning loads as a result of, the applied cantilever loading.
11. If additional materials that are not used in the final build are on the receipts, are they expected to be reflected in the cost calculation? That is if we were to purchase 3 boxes of nails, but only half of a box is used, should the reported cost reflect all 3 boxes or only the price of half of a box?
We suggest showing this on the receipt and clearly itemizing which items were not used and the associated cost.
12. If pieces from the previous year's structure are being recycled, should an estimated cost be reflected in the reported cost?
If yes, should the reported cost be an estimated cost? Yes. Whatever material is used on the structure should have an associated cost.
13. The 2019 rules only make references to the building frame. Are there any stipulations on architectural features?
You are free to include architectural features. We encourage aesthetic creativity.
14. Must any included architectural features be made of 100% wood products.
The architectural features do not need to be made of 100% wood products.
15. Can the addition of architectural features such as door trim, baseboards, roofing trim, eaves, etc. extend outside of the 4'x6' footprint per section 9.3?
Yes. The eaves and aesthetic features may extend past the 4’x6’ footprint.
16. Are architectural features not a part of the frame, and are they not expected to be reflected within the reported cost and weight?
Correct, the weight analysis is for the structural components only. Paint and other aesthetics do not need to be included in the weight analysis. We encourage aesthetic creativity.
17. Can translucent paper be used as part of the aesthetic materials?
Yes.
18. Can we use circular windows?
Yes.
19. Can we use bamboo as part of the aesthetics?
Yes.
20. Do our structural calculations have to represent what is constructed at the competition or 10x the structure as well?
The structural calculations are for the actual building size. However, the carbon footprint calculations and analysis must be for a building 10x the actual size, so that the carbon footprint analysis is meaningful. There is not much of a carbon footprint for a 4’x6’ building.
21. Can we have detachable overhang (part of the aesthetics)?
Yes.
22. Can we make the assumption of using Category II for our design, a design for a small residential home, instead of Category I which deals with a non-housing structure?
Yes, Category II should be used.
23. To clarify, does the deflection have to be between 0.5” and 1”? (Section 11.6, Bullet point 4).
See Section 7.1 Report item 6.b.iii and Section 11.6 Additional Possible Points Deducted and Disqualifications. The design parameter is the ridge beam needs to be designed to have a minimum deflection of 0.5 inch and a maximum of 1 inch. When we load the structure, the goal is for the beam to deflect as close to the predicted deflection as possible, not to exceed 1”.
24. Can we use a CD of 1.25 (roof construction load) or 2.0 (impact load)?
We would recommend using Cd 1.25
