Specification for Timber Frame Construction

3.0 Connections
3.1 General
Chapter 3 applies to the engineering design of connections using wood-on-wood bearing and
wood fasteners, including pegs and wedges, for load transfer. The provisions of the
ANSI/AF&PA NDS © shall apply for the design of connections using metallic fasteners and
metal connector plates.
3.1.1 Terminology
3.1.1.1 “Edge distance” is the distance l v from the edge of a member or the inside face of a
housing to the center of the nearest fastener, measured perpendicular to grain. When a
member is loaded perpendicular to grain, the loaded edge shall be defined as the edge in
the direction toward which the fastener is acting. The unloaded edge shall be defined as
the edge opposite to the loaded edge.
3.1.1.2 “End distance” is the distance l e measured parallel to grain from the square-cut end of a
member to the center of the nearest fastener. For a member with a tapered-cut end, “end
distance” is the minimum distance measured parallel to grain from the face of the cut end
of a member to a diametrical line oriented perpendicular to grain through the center of the
nearest fastener (see Figure 3A).
TFEC 1-2010 Standard Page 13 June 2010