In the early stages of a project, the most consequential decisions are often made with the least certainty. Can the building be constructed in wood? What does the code permit? How far can the design go before it runs into constraint?

For architects and engineers working in wood construction, these questions are rarely straightforward. Code pathways are layered, requirements vary by jurisdiction, and emerging systems—like encapsulated mass timber—introduce both opportunity and complexity.

The challenge is not a lack of information. It is translating that information into clear, early-stage decisions.

A growing suite of web-based tools developed by the Canadian Wood Council offers a way forward. Used together, they form a practical workflow that moves from code feasibility to assembly design to advanced mass timber application, helping project teams move with greater clarity from concept through schematic design.

At their core, these tools are initial screening aids—intended to simplify complex requirements, reduce overdesign, and enable rapid iteration at the moments when it matters most.

An integrated workflow

Individually, each tool addresses a specific challenge. Together, they form a coherent process:

CodeCHEK establishes what is possible, FRR & STC defines how it can be built, and the Exposed Mass Timber Calculator explores how far the design can go. Across all three, the benefits are consistent: simplified access to complex code requirements, reduced risk of overdesign or misinterpretation, faster iteration during concept and schematic design, and greater confidence in early decision-making. As web-based tools requiring no installation, they also support use across teams and locations, enabling more fluid collaboration.

Why it matters

As the industry works to improve construction productivity and adopt more efficient building systems, the ability to move quickly and accurately from concept to compliance is critical.

These tools help operationalize that process. Not by replacing expertise, but by supporting it, providing clarity where uncertainty often slows progress. In doing so, they shift the role of code in the design process from a constraint to navigate, to a framework within which innovation can occur.

The Exposed Mass Timber Calculator provides a structured way to navigate this complexity.

The tool evaluates allowable amounts of exposed mass timber, minimum structural element sizes 

flame spread considerations, and encapsulation requirements needed for compliance. It also provides real-time feedback, identifying where designs exceed allowable limits or require adjustment.

Unlike earlier steps in the workflow, this is not a simplified interface. It reflects the intricacy of the system itself. Used effectively, it becomes a design sandbox—a space to test ideas, explore exposure strategies, and understand the trade-offs required to achieve a desired architectural expression.

Rather than requiring users to manually navigate multiple code articles, the tool consolidates this information into a single evaluation. It identifies whether combustible construction is permitted, 

where non-combustible construction is required, and where alternative solution pathways may be considered. It also highlights the maximum allowable building height and area under different construction types, helping teams understand not just what is allowed, but what is possible. By clarifying these parameters early, the tool helps reduce overly conservative assumptions—avoiding unnecessary material use, lost floor area, or premature shifts away from wood.

Step 2: Defining assemblies

How does this building come together?

Once a wood-based approach is confirmed, the next step is translating that decision into buildable assemblies.

The Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) and Sound Transmission Class (STC) tool supports this phase by helping designers identify wall, floor, and roof assemblies that meet code requirements for fire performance and acoustics.

Drawing on the Component Additive Method (CAM) from Appendix D of the National Building Code of Canada, the tool provides prescriptive fire resistance ratings for wood-frame assemblies, along with associated STC values where available. This allows project teams to verify compliance with fire resistance requirements, assess acoustic performance between suites, and compare multiple assembly configurations. 

The ability to test and compare options is key. Rather than defaulting to a single standard solution, designers can explore alternatives—adjusting insulation types, stud spacing, or configurations—to align with project constraints and material availability. This stage transforms feasibility into constructability, carrying forward the logic established in early code analysis.

Step 3: Exploring advanced systems

What happens when we move beyond conventional construction?

As projects push into larger, taller, or more expressive wood buildings, conventional approaches give way to newer systems—most notably encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC).

With its introduction into the National Building Code, EMTC represents a distinct construction type—neither combustible nor non-combustible. It opens new design possibilities but also introduces a more complex set of rules governing exposure, encapsulation, and fire performance.

Step 1: Establishing feasibility

Can this project be built in wood?

At the earliest stage of a project, the central question is often the simplest: Is wood even permitted here? This is where the workflow begins.

The CodeCHEK tool allows project teams to evaluate whether different forms of wood construction—light wood frame, heavy timber, or encapsulated mass timber—are permitted based on key project inputs. These include building height and area, occupancy classification, sprinkler presence, and jurisdictional code selection.