Where will you find it?
Have you ever wondered where to find information on something new, or something old but forgotten or barely remembered? You need that information quickly to fill an immediate need. The solution normally is a favourite reference book, a library of engineering text or a website set up by a commercial enterprise specialising in your problem with that material.
Popular engineering materials
Popular engineering materials like concrete, masonry, steel or aluminium are very well covered in college courses or commercial marketing facilities. Timber is a material that appears to be just mentioned in engineering courses and gets scant mention in many reference resources; some are very good but not easy to get the information one is looking for.
Timber is a natural renewable resource that grows well in the Irish climate and the forests are a pleasant and healthy environment to enjoy while the trees are growing. The wood in trees sequesters carbon and gives us back the oxygen we are happy to breath. Timber is a great material to give us housing that meets the current standards; is quick to build and warm comfort to live in for many generations.
Although this was recognised by a group of timber engineering experts in 1995, there was little available as a teaching or reference resource, and the timber industry across Europe was disparate with very little information to share. The situation today is little better than 30 years ago.
The solution then was to put together the best up-to-date peer reviewed knowledge on timber design and construction methods across Europe to assist in 'How to ...' knowledge spread along with the release of the Eurocodes including a code on timber design. The scheme was popular, and 2,000 copies of the two A4 sized volumes of design articles were sold in Ireland.
We now look for up-to-date knowledge by searching the internet, and if timber knowledge is what you are looking for then using 'Structural Timber Engineering Program' will bring up a link to e-step.net. The original STEP volumes are now out of print, but copies of each article are available to download at the free web address: e-step.net.
The second generation of the Eurocodes are due for release early in 2027 that will include an updated Timber Design Eurocode. Current experts in timber technology are assembling to update the current STEP articles to include the new material from updated research.
The Structural Timber Education Program (STEP) places this knowledge at your fingertips and straight to your desk.
Articles or lectures include:
- A Basis of design and material properties with 19 articles;
- B Structural components with 17 articles;
- C Joints with 19 articles;
- D Design – details with 11 articles;
- E Design – structural systems with 28 articles.
Topics (A collection of photographic slides)
- 01 General structures;
- 02 Structural systems;
- 03 Joints;
- 04 Beam and post ...;
- 05 Timber frame projects;
- 06 Production of glue ...;
- 07 Salt storage building;
- 08 Bridges;
- 09 Punched metal plate...;
- 10 KERTO laminated veneer;
- 11 Parallam strand lumber;
- 12 TJI – joists;
- 13 Intrallam.
Also covered are:
- Design example;
- Q1 column;
- Q2 bungalow;
- Strength classes;
- Second generation EC5.
The organisers are currently looking for timber engineering experts resident in Ireland who would be interested in assisting with the colossal updating task. Those interested can contact us through the website or directly with colin.short.ceng@gmail.com
Author: Colin Short, Chartered Civil Engineer, Dip Eng, C Eng, Eur Ing, FIEI, FIStructE, FICE