The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Southern Pine, also known as Southern Yellow Pine, is widely available and is highly desirable for design not only because of its inherent high strength and durability but also for its treatability and beauty. The design values of Southern Pile are among the highest of all softwood species. Southern Pine's durability makes its use suitable for flooring, decks, boardwalks, and other high-traffic applications since it is highly resistant to wear.

Building codes require that pressure treated wood be used in many situations including wood contacting concrete in contact with soil or wood in direct contact with soil. Due to its unique cellular structure, Southern Pine can be treated with preservatives deeply and uniformly in the lumber. About 40% of all Southern Pine lumber produced is now pressure treated with preservatives to increase its longevity and design versatility.

In this course, the student will review the Southern Pine Council's publication "Southern Pine Use Guide" 2003 Edition. The referenced document is reproduced by permission of the Southern Pine Council.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions at the end of this course to earn PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · Standard Grades of Southern Pine and associated design values
  · Overview of design value adjustment factors
  · Standard sizes and seasoning requirements of Southern Pine
  · Pressure-treated lumber - types of preservatives used, recommended retention levels, and building code requirements
  · Allowable floor joist and rafter spans

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).