Click Here to Access Recent SEAW White Papers:

White Paper #1-2009:  "Special Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls as Building Frame Systems for Mid- and High-Rise Buildings.

The intent of the paper is to recommend design and performance criteria for designating seismic force-resisting systems consisting of special reinforced concrete shear walls (SRCSW) as building frame systems for mid- and high-rise buildings per the provisions of ASCE 7-05 Section 12.2.

White Paper 1-2009 can be found online at http://www.seaw.org/resources_white_papers.cfm

or accessed directly at: http://seaw.associationsonline.com/documents/SEAW-EEC White Paper 1-2009.pdf

SEAW White Paper #2-2009: "Study of Structural Failures Associated with the Winter 2008-2009 Snow Event in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Area"

The Spokane Chapter of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington formed an ad hoc committee to study the structural failures resulting from the extreme weather event the Inland Northwest experienced during the December 2008-January 2009 period.  Record snowfalls were recorded in the region during this period.  The committee prepared White Paper #2-2009 to discuss the structural failures resulting from this weather event, and determine how future occurrences might be prevented.

Furthermore, the report summarizes actual snow loads based on available recorded data and makes recommendations concerning the appropriateness of the current design roof snow loads required for building design.  The hope of the ad hoc committee is that the information in this report will be useful not only to architects and engineers, but also to building owners and building officials.

The report can be found at http://www.seaw.org/resources_white_papers.cfm.

The direct link to the document is http://www.seaw.org/documents/SEAW%20Spokane%20Snow%20White%20Paper%2012-09.pdf