Continuing Professional Development
Ted says: I love nothing more than sharing what I have learnt, sometimes the hard way, with anyone who will listen. I am passionate about my role in Continuing Professional Development and feedback has been only positive.
See: Sheehy & Partners CPD endorsement › 360KB PDF and John Grealy director of Architectus CPD endorsement › 70KB PDF
Topics Available and CPD Points
As well as Full Day Courses, the available Professional Development topics are listed below. From the guidelines laid out by the Board of Architects Queensland and by Engineers Australia each presentation will be eligible for one hour of CPD (Continuing Professional Development).
Topic 1: Timber Preservation
This presentation teaches, in the context of AS1601.1, how to achieve a long service life by combining natural wood durability with timber treatments. Time 45 minutes plus question time.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Understand the limitations of timber preservation;
- Understand the difference between sapwood stabilization and preservation;
- Understand aspects of the Standards that cannot be achieved;
- Recognize areas of the Standard that could be in error;
- Be able to specify natural durability.
Topic 2: Hardwood Grading
This presentation explains stress grades in the context of AS2082 and case histories. Time 40 minutes plus questions.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Understand the strengths of stress graded hardwood;
- Understand what the grades of timber specified look like;
- Understand the deficiencies of stress graded hardwood;
- Identify and name and assess different natural features;
- Think critically about performance criteria for products.
Topic 3: Timber Decks - Designing for Durability
Careful specification of commercial decking means that deck failure is now frequently related to the substructure design. This presentation teaches how to design to avoid common problems. Time 55 minutes plus questions.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Recognise the difference between a domestic and a commercial deck;
- Recognise the importance of protecting the joist from fastener damage;
- Recognise the importance of designing for set length decking, not lineal;
- Learn how to design for set length decking;
- Recognise the importance of stainless fasteners.
Topic 4: Utilising Small Diameter Hardwood
The Queensland Forests Agreements have seen the average log stem size and quality drop dramatically. This presentation teaches how to adjust expectations and work with the available resource. Time 53 minutes plus question time.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Understand the significance of SE Qld Forests Agreement;
- Understand how the available resource is changing;
- Recognise heart in timber and understand its consequence;
- Lean how to detail to accommodate heart in timber;
- Examine cases of good use of heart in timber.
Topic 5: The Seven Deadly Sins of Timber Design
Successful external timber design required that many small points of detail be attended to. The same main problems keep occurring. This presentation highlights these and reinforces important points made in Topic 3 and 4. Time 48 minutes plus question time.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Learn how to design to give a self cleaning deck;
- Understand the importance of joist width and screw patterns;
- Understand the problems associated with 150x150;
- Learn how to set hardwood posts in the ground;
- Learn the pitfalls in specifying natural durability;
- Learn how to designing with heart in hardwood;
- Learn the importance of not specifying “sleepers”.
Topic 6: Timber Joints
Timber joints have been known for 7000 years but in the last century they have changed and improved dramatically. This presentation will look particularly at weather exposed joints.
Learning Outcomes. The participant will:
- Learn the difference between new and old joints;
- Learn why joints have to be durable;
- Examine whether to use galvanized or stainless fasteners;
- Examine different ways to engage with the ground;
- Learn the correct use of nail plates and grips;
- Lean good detailing in handrail connections;
- Examine the use of shear rings and plates.
Topic 7: Architectural Timber Battens
While timber battens can look very good on contemporary buildings they can be a maintenance nightmare. This presentation explains how to design to avoid this possibility.
Learning Outcomes: The participant will…
- Learn why would we use Architectural Timber Battens;
- Understand the critical factors for internal battens;
- Understand the critical factors for external battens;
- Understand the importance of a weather shedding profile;
- Understand the need for caution with recycled timber battens;
- Learn correct fastener selection and support design.
Topic 8. Timber 101. (Optimally Topics 8 & 9 to be presented together)
The basics of external timber are discussed. The presentation will allow you to…
- Know the resources you need
- Understand the difference between pine, cypress and hardwood
- Understand the importance of selecting the right species
- Understand the importance of selecting the right part of the tree.
- Understand the importance of preservation
- Understand why natural feature must be limited
- Understand why small points of detail are important
Topic 9. Boardwalk Design (Optimally Topics 8 & 9 to be presented together)
For a boardwalk to succeed many small points of detail must be attended to at the design stage. This presentation will allow you to…
- Understand best practice for termination and piers
- Understand best practice with bearers and Joists
- Understand how timber requirements differ to house framing
- Control your gap
- Understand best practice with fasteners
- Detail your handrail for durability, and
- Understand the danger/importance of coatings
Topic 10. Timber handrail Design
Learning Outcomes: The participant will understand…
- Types of handrail and balustrades
- Compliance issues driving the selection of handrails balustrades
- Timber quality and grades of timber
- Timber - standard sizes and how to use these in your design/detailing
- Timber preservation and how to maximise the life of timber structures through quality detailing (issues of poor detailing on both quality outcome and the lifespan of the structure/timber)
- Methods of connection of structures to timber and things to be aware of
- Quality and design outcomes
Topic 11. Timber Bollards
The basics of timber bollards are explored. Learning Outcomes: The participant will…
- Know the different between park, urban and esplanade bollards and their risks
- Understand successful and unsuccessful applications from case histories
- Understand the disadvantages of plastic bollards
- Understand the importance of good detailing
- Understand the shortcoming of IPWEA drawing GS-042 (issue F)
- Understand the appropriate timber specification
- Understand what maintenance is needed
Topic 12. Domestic Timber Decks
This presentation teaches how to design domestic decks to avoid common problems.
Learning Outcomes: The participant will…
- Know the resources needed
- Know the factors affecting deck specification
- Know the factors affecting joist specification
- Understand problems with alternate joist material
- Know best practice in deck construction
- Understand Finishing
- Know the requirements with decks close to the ground
Costs - Individual Courses
I charge for travelling and the presentation. For example a single presentation in Brisbane would be 3 - 4 hours at $80.00 per hour for travelling and $140 per hour for presenting. Parking at cost is charged if free onsite parking is not available. Travelling further afield can be quoted as it may involve airfares and accommodation. Full day seminars can be quoted and costs will vary depending on whether I have to hire a venue and cater.
Special Offer: For a limited time Wilson Timbers/Outdoor Structures Australia are offering to subsidise the CPD Sessions’ cost. Must be able to be done in a day’s travel (from Brisbane) and will include a sales presentation by Wilsons/OSA.
Contact me (Ted) on 0414 770 261
Full Day Training Courses
Topic 1. Footbridge Fundamentals
This presentation will allow you to write a specification that avoids the common shortcuts made with kit bridges and explains how to use a combined specification and checklist for assessing submissions. The course looks at the checklist line by line and explains with many images why the item must be addressed before letting a tender. The course looks at a number of case histories of good and bad purchasing.
This presentation addresses:
- Basic performance requirements
- Vehicle loads
- Inundation
- Handrail Information
- Use of Timber
- Special notes about trusses
- Foundations
Footbridge Purchasing & Inspection Course Overview › 520 KB PDF
Topic 2. Coastal Decks
This course will allow you to write a specification that avoids the common shortcuts and errors made with coastal decks and explains how to use a checklist for assessing submissions. The course looks at the checklist line by line and explains with many images why the item must be addressed before letting a tender. The course looks at a number of case histories of good and bad purchasing and also looks at the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives to traditional hardwoods.
This presentation addresses:
- Foundation Piers, Posts and Abutments
- Timber and Fasteners for Subframe
- Decking and Hardware
- Handrail
- Fire
Coastal Timber Decks Course Overview › 400 KB PDF
Coastal Timber Decks Course Programme › 75 KB PDF
Full day seminars are quoted and costs will vary depending on whether I have to hire a venue and cater etc.