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DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND INSTALLATION OF ENGINEERED PANELIZED WALLS: TWO CASE STUDIES

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Last week, the HUD USER listserv message highlighted a
new Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing
(PATH) publication entitled Model Guidelines for the
Design, Fabrication, and Installation of Engineered
Panelized Walls. This week, we highlight a related PATH
publication: Design, Fabrication, and Installation of
Engineered Panelized Walls: Two Case Studies.

For those with an interest in reducing construction time
without compromising build quality, this new publication
provides an unbiased evaluation of some of the most
promising technologies currently used in the design,
fabrication, and installation of panelized wall systems,
including engineered wood frame walls and an innovative
steel frame wall system. Procedures for streamlining
regulatory approval and, ultimately, the delivery of
products and services associated with panelized wall
construction are also documented. Where appropriate,
recommendations for improved technology and procedures
are provided.

The two case studies were designed with the following objectives:
o Demonstrate panelized wall construction methods and
build awareness among members of the residential
building industry;
o Identify the barriers to a wider acceptance of
panelized wall construction;
o Examine the panelized wall industry's current
engineering practices; and
o Based on results achieved in pursuit of the first
three objectives, provide feedback to help develop
standardized guidelines for panelized wall
construction.

The projects depicted in the two case studies present
real-life examples of how panelized wall construction can
improve housing quality, safety, and affordability. Both
of the homes featured in these case studies were located
in areas subject to natural hazards. The first, a custom
home, was built in a region known for hurricane-force
winds, while the other, a production-built home, was
located in an area that has experienced severe
earthquakes. This innovative approach to building design
and construction demonstrated a greater promise of
affordability and safety, particularly for homes built in
the most hazardous areas of the United States.

By relocating the wall framing operations from the
construction site to the controlled factory environment,
panelized wall construction can offer a range of
benefits, provided that appropriate procedures are
implemented. Factory operations can be optimized and
automated to mass produce wall panels that are engineered
to meet rigorous structural and functional
specifications. The factory environment is conducive to
more efficient utilization of material and human
resources, and increasingly, new advances in research and
engineering are yielding innovative wall systems that
meet performance-based building code provisions in an
efficient and economical manner.

You can view and download a PDF version of Design,
Fabrication, and Installation of Engineered Panelized
Walls: Two Case Studies on line at
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/destech/panelized_walls.html
or if you'd prefer, purchase the print version
through HUD USER for just $5 by calling 1-800-245-2691.

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