Design and Construction of Permanent Wood Foundations

Date: May 14, 2025
Time: 10:00-11:00 am PST
Location: Online
Cost: Free

This webinar will provide guidance on the design and construction of permanent wood foundations (PWF) based on the Canadian standard CSA S406-16 – Specification of Permanent Wood Foundations for Housing and Small Buildings. Topics will include site selection, backfilling, PWF floor systems, air and vapour barriers, insulation techniques, crawl spaces, and design considerations for high wind and seismic zones. The presentation will give attendees a comprehensive overview of the structural and building science requirements for designing and constructing PWF systems.

Presenter: Adam Robertson, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Co-founder and Principal, Sustainatree Consulting

Adam completed his Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto and also holds a Master of Applied Science degree from the Department of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia.  He is the past Chair of the CSA Subcommittee on Permanent Wood Foundations and acted as a primary author and editor during the update and revisions to the Canadian Wood Council’s Permanent Wood Foundations publication.

He is the co-founder and principal of Sustainatree Consulting, a small firm specializing in sustainability and engineering design of wood building systems.  Prior to opening his own practice, Adam was previously employed by the Canadian Wood Council and has also worked as a consulting structural engineer and within the building development and construction management fields.