Span Tables and Software Resources

Listed below are a number of software packages available from FWPA and related industry groups that assist in designing construction in compliance with codes such as AS 1684:

TimberLife Educational Software Program - this leading edge, world first, multi-million dollar project has delivered an extensive range of the necessary tools that gives building and construction industry professionals the confidence to specify and detail timber in a wide range of applications, from sole plates to suspension bridges. The TimberLife Educational Software package provides a means of predicting timber's service life performance, with confidence, using  predictive models including in-ground decay,
above-ground decay and marine borers.

AccuRate ECO2 Module: Carbon Calculator & Life Cycle Analysis Software - The new ECO2 module enables the CSIRO's AccuRate software to incorporate the embodied carbon of building components into an analysis of a structure.

Supplier design programs:

Carter Holt Harvey DesignIT Software - DesignIT is a software tool for all building practitioners to design houses and similar structures using Carter Holt Harvey's Engineered Wood Products range and other selected materials. The program is noted for its ease and speed making it quick and simple to use. DesignIT is useful for the selection of beam sizes making it suitable for all levels of engineering knowledge and experience of professional engineering judgement.

This company specific design software includes span tables for Hyne timber products as well as generating member sizes and grades according to load input.

Hyne Design Software - Hyne Design v6 (latest release October 2010) incorporates the complete new range of Hyne structural products combined with an extensive range of generic timber products. The software provides design solutions for a vast range of domestic construction applications which comply to the relevant Australian Standards. Hyne Design v6 provides design solutions in both single member and span table format and includes Hyne Assist. Hyne Assist includes comprehensive product information, detailed design information, important fixing and connection guidelines, technical and material safety datasheets, and easy-to-follow instructions for using Hyne Design.

Wesbeam e-house Software - the e-house software integrates the activities of design, drafting, specification and engineering with a suite of e-house software packages.

e-house beam sizes individual beams; e-house [floor] is a complete 3D roof and floor design suite; e-house [stick] is a 3D software which integrates and automates the design and engineering of stick roofs; and, e-house [WoH] is a 3D software which integrates and automates all major design elements when specifying and engineering framing environments for wood-framed structures in Australia.

This is a company specific program that provides users information as to whether the timber size selected satisfies the various load cases and conditions. Span tables are not included in this software.

Tilling Timber Design Program (Smart Frame) - Tilling offers a SmartFrame design package that incorporates SmartFrame Design and SmartJoist Details:

SmartFrame Design - this software is an easy to understand and use full engineering analysis routine, and structured in a way that any user familiar with the use of span tables can easily calculate required performance criteria. It is widely reported that this software package offers a high level of sophistication in combination with ease of use.

SmartJoist Details - relevant construction details from an interactive graphics screen showing the general floor or roof layout, can be viewed or printed out to accompany any other documentation. Building Designers can import these details to their drawings to provide explicit construction details along with their layout drawings.

Design Pine Software - Span tables and diagrams. A simple, easy to use assistant for designers, builders and architects to ensure correct specification of Design Pine.

Pryda Designer Solutions - Pryda provides an exclusive range of innovative problem-solving software to design and estimate. These programs are supplied to building designers, engineers and builders at no cost. The Pryda Designer Solutions CD contains:

Truss Systems Designer - The only software available for designers and builders to design floor and rafter trusses. The software allows the design of residential and commercial floors with selected dynamic performance levels, plus concentrated loads from walls, tiled areas, spas, etc. Roof rafters and purlins designed for a full range of wind speeds and roof materials. The software is user friendly and intuitive, and includes a cost comparison analysis for selection of the most cost effective specification for each truss application.

Pryda Frame - Designs virtually any structural timber component and calculates the most cost effective sizes of structural beams, joists, roof members, wall plates and studs. A company specific design program that generates span tables in accordance with input of various parameters.

Laminated Timber Supplies GLTAA Software - the GLTAA software is a simple to use program which allows designers, builders and architects to input various load cases for a number of structural elements to generate a span table in accordance to the Glulam product selected.

Books:

Pocket Span Table Book  - The PSTB is designed as an easy to use supplement to AS1684.2 Residential timber-framed construction.