What's the proper way to specify treated wood?

[JoshPlumSE]

I have been using the following in my structural notes for treated GluLam beams:

GluLam beams exposed to weather shall be in accordance with AWPA standard U1 to the requirements of use category A (UC4A).

However, I got an objection from a plan check engineer saying that I needed to add / revise the note to say that the GluLam beam needs to be pressure treated per CBC 2304.12.2.4.

Am I wrong here? Isn't the AWPA standard the more appropriate and specific requirement that should be listed in my notes?

 

[phamENG]

By CBC you mean California Building Code, right? UpCodes indicates that section states:

2304.12.2.4 Laminated timbers

The portions of glued-laminated timbers that form the structural supports of a building or other structure and are exposed to weather and not fully protected from moisture by a roof, eave or similar covering shall be pressure treated with preservative or be manufactured from naturally durable or preservative-treated wood.

So yeah - you're correct. The building code just says to treat it. AWPA U1 tells the contractor how to treat it (or, as you've specified it, what methods are capable of meeting your performance requirement).

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Yes, I did mean the California Building Code. I'm guessing his/her objection was that I should have cited that section of the CBC first. Something along the lines of:

Per the requirements of CBC 2304.12.2.4, GluLam beams exposed to weather shall be treated in accordance with AWPA standard U1 to the requirements of use category A (UC4A).

Perhaps because they didn't understand my reference enough to realize that this satisfied some "checkbox" they have on their list related to that section of the CBC.

Note: I don't do much drawing submittals, so it causes me some consternation / 2nd guessing when I get these types of comments back on sections of my general notes that I really thought I had correct.

 

[phamENG]

Checkbox is right. If they read/understood what the code provision requires and took 2 minutes to look up that document, they'd know you were correct.