Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Transferability of credit depends entirely upon the institution to which the student wishes to transfer.  

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Analyze plans for compliance with commercial structural code requirements relating to small commercial structures of three stories and less.  
• Analyze construction for compliance with commercial structural code requirements relating to small commercial structures of three stories and less.

• Communicate commercial code requirements to design and construction professionals.

Activities include in-class illustrated lectures showing concepts of structural engineering requirements in building codes, supported by collaborative group review of case studies.  In-class work will be supported by out-of-class individual reading, research of codes and application to mock problems.

·        Course materials will be presented in a lecture and discussion format, using multimedia presentations (slides, overheads, videos) showing examples of structural code applications in various buildings, and online building codes.

·        Discussions will be supplemented by posting of additional references and resources, on the PCC Course Tools files. 

·        Weekly assignments will provide an opportunity for student to apply class information to actual building examples.

·        Short answer exams will cover a summary of information from the Building Codes.

Student will work on projects where they will use sample structural drawings for commercial buildings, identify applicable structural codes, and analyze structural solutions for code compliance.  Assessment will include review of projects, along with exams requiring ability to find and cite structural code requirements. Student to demonstrate willingness and ability to work in small groups during class to provide input and solve in-class assignments, and articulate findings to class.  Student to demonstrate time management skills by completion of projects by assigned deadlines and by meeting specific objectives for each phase of class projects.

• Commercial building codes regulate the design and construction of commercial structures, specifying the minimum requirements for structural requirements in public and multi-family structures.

• Building Inspectors need to understand their role in interpreting and applying structural requirements for commercial buildings.

• Skills:  Review plans and construction to determine compliance with:

Live load requirements, based on building use

Live load requirements for rain/snow, based on site location

Dead load requirements, based on construction

Lateral Design requirements for earthquake and wind loads, based on geography and climate

Structural charts, including Foundation, Floor, and Roof systems