On-demand Webinar

View Important Policies and System Requirements for this course.

This webinar was co-sponsored by ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and ASCE Continuing Education

Instructor:  Nicholas Lutzweiler, P.E., S.E., M.ASCE

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

Purpose and Background

Nearly all non-residential buildings in the country are considered low-rise buildings. From retail spaces to industrial spaces to office buildings, these buildings make up a large share of the construction market. Understanding how to design and detail common examples of them is an important part of a structural engineer's knowledge base. This webinar shows real details from existing low-rise projects, while at the same time explaining a design approach that can be applied to any and all types of low-rise construction. From the roof to the foundation, it has you covered.

Primary Discussion Topics

  • Big picture concepts of working on low-rise construction
  • Getting design loads and a structural system selected
  • Designing/detailing roof systems
  • Designing/detailing floor systems
  • Designing/detailing foundation systems

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Discuss how to look at a low-rise project
  • Identify how to apply the building code to low-rise projects
  • Produce efficient and effective details for use in construction
  • Describe design approaches that can guide you through a low-rise process
  • Determine methods for designing roofs, floors, and foundations

Webinar Benefits

  • Learn how to start out on the right foot early in a low-rise project
  • See how specific details can be created that help in design and construction
  • Understand a design process that works for nearly all low-rise building projects
  • Appreciate how to apply engineering judgment to low-rise building projects
  • Examine and understand real-world low-rise roof, floor, and foundation framing details

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

  • Structural engineers
  • Civil engineers
  • Architects
  • Building officials

Webinar Outline

  • Introduction to low-rise construction
    • What is it
    • 30,000-foot view
    • Starting out on the right foot
  • Code issues related to low-rise construction
    • Gravity loads
    • Wind loads
    • Seismic loads
    • This is not in ASCE 7 type loads
  • Global design process
  • Roof framing design
    • Design of roof framing
    • Details of roof framing
  • Floor framing design
    • Design of floor framing
    • Details of floor framing
  • Foundation design
    • Design of foundations
    • Detailing of foundations
  • Overall approach and summary
  • Conclusion/questions

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]