2025 BES Session: Preliminary Building Enclosure Design Guidelines for Use with the ASCE 7 Tornado Chapter (Smith)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description

This presentation will offer an overview of the new ASCE 7 tornado provisions and provide updated design guidance regarding roof and wall wind-borne debris (WBD), including recommendations for specifying test missiles, as a function of the building Risk Category and tornado speed. Additionally, recommendations will be provided for modifying the test method given in the ASCE Prestandard for Performance-Based Wind Design, so that it is applicable to tornado design. The presentation will review best practices for roof and wall assembly design guidance to minimize the potential for building enclosure elements to become WBD. Special attention is needed in the design of the building enclosure to minimize interior building damage and to avoid occupancy disruption. The goal of this presentation is to provide updated comprehensive guidance that designers can use in conjunction with the new ASCE 7 tornado provisions. 

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
A general understanding of building enclosure wind design. Familiarity with building enclosure design for Risk Category III and IV buildings. A general awareness of the tornado building enclosure design provisions from the 2022 edition of ASCE 7. Familiarity with the wind-borne debris provisions in the ASCE 7 hurricane-prone region. NOTE: Those with intermediate or minimal knowledge of the above are also encouraged to attend this session as the format of this presentation will be as such that attendees will not be overwhelmed.

IIBEC Core Competencies:  Building Enclosure

Knowledge Level: Advanced

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.

Speaker/Author

Tom Smith, RRC, AIA, F.SEI
Lake In The Hills, IL

Tom Smith specializes in forensic architecture and architectural technology and research, with an emphasis on roof systems and wind performance of buildings. Smith received the Carl G. Cash Award from ASTM International in 2013 for his body of work regarding wind damage investigations. Also in 2013, he was promoted to Fellow-grade membership of ASCE’s Structural Engineering Institute. He has served on the ASCE 7 subcommittee on wind loads since 1990 and was involved in the development of the tornado chapter in the 2022 edition of ASCE 7.

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date 7/17/2025              
Credit Expiration Date  7/17/2028

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: BES25_01_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs, learners are required to:

• Achieve a passing score of 70% on the summative assessment (learners are provided unlimited attempts)
• Complete the course Evaluation & Attestation Survey

After completing the Evaluation & Attestation Survey, learners will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.  Learners are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: [email protected]

To claim AIA LU, learners are required to complete the above requirements, as well as:

• Complete the AIA Survey (AIA member number is required)

AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES ([email protected] or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.