Canadian Wood Council Webinar: Custom Steel Connections for Mass Timber

Explore custom steel hangers in mass timber: how they work, transfer loads, and address fire, moisture, and real-world design considerations in this upcoming webinar from WoodWorks and Western Archrib. Presented by Patrick Geers, Senior Structural Designer & Head of Quality Control for Western Archrib.

As mass timber construction continues to grow in popularity, understanding how structural connections work is essential for anyone involved in the design and construction process. This webinar introduces custom steel hangers as a practical and flexible solution for connecting timber beams and columns, explaining why they are sometimes preferred over off-the-shelf options. Using clear, visual examples, participants will be guided through how forces travel through a connection, what needs to be checked to ensure safety, and how factors like fire performance and moisture are considered in real projects. No advanced engineering background is required to follow along and gain valuable insight into this important aspect of mass timber design.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the difference between predesigned and custom steel hangers, and describe situations where a custom connection offers practical advantages in mass timber construction.
• Describe in plain terms how structural loads travel through a steel hanger assembly, from the supported beam through to the primary supporting member.
• Recognize why eccentricity occurs in hanger connections and understand, at a conceptual level, how it affects the design of the surrounding structure.
• Identify key real-world considerations for custom steel connections in mass timber, including fire protection strategies and the importance of accounting for wood shrinkage.