Tips & Tricks

December 29, 2025

What’s New for IBC 2024 in RISA: A Closer Look

With RISA’s latest release of RISA-3D v23.0.1, we’re continuing to expand support for IBC 2024, helping engineers stay aligned with the latest building code requirements as adoption accelerates across the U.S.—including federally funded projects. This release builds on v23.0.0 ASCE 7-22 enhancements and adds key material design updates that move RISA further into full IBC 2024 compliance. New Material Design Updates Supporting IBC 2024 The upcoming release introduces several important design code updates referenced by IBC 2024, including: Steel Seismic design per AISC 341-22 Prequalified connections per AISC 358-22 Continued support for AISC 360-22 (16th Edition) steel design Ongoing updates to the hot-rolled shape database, including compatibility with both 15th and 16th Edition steel manuals These updates support modern seismic detailing requirements and ensure consistency with current steel industry standards. Masonry Masonry design per TMS 402-22, aligning with the latest strength and serviceability provisions adopted by IBC 2024. Key updates include: Revisions to shear design equations, including clarified definitions of shear area as outlined in Table 4.4.5, improving consistency and transparency in shear capacity calculations. Updated strength reduction factors for flexure and combined flexure + axial. Unlike previous editions that used a fixed ϕ-factor of 0.9, TMS 402-22 introduces tension-controlled,…

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Soil Overburden on Mat Slab
November 1, 2018

Soil Overburden on Mat Slab

RISAFoundation can apply soil overburden to a mat slab to account for the weight of the soil above the foundation. Simply enter a Soil Overburden pressure value for your foundation design in the Slabs spreadsheet. The soil overburden load is utilized to help the mat slab resist overturning during...

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What’s New in the NBC 2015?
October 26, 2018

What’s New in the NBC 2015?

The 2015 NBC compliant codes have been implemented into RISA-3D v17.0, RISAFloor v13.0 and RISAFoundation V.11.0!

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ASCE 7-16 Is Now Available!
October 25, 2018

ASCE 7-16 Is Now Available!

The 2016 edition of ASCE Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-16) is now available in RISA-3D v17.0, RISAFloor v13.0, and RISAFoundation v11.0!

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Eurocode C1 Factor for Lateral Torsional Buckling
October 19, 2018

Eurocode C1 Factor for Lateral Torsional Buckling

Eurocode lateral torsional buckling capacity is calculated per equations in Annex F in the ENV 1993-1-1:1992. This calculation uses variables C1, C2 and C3. Since there is no generic formula in the Eurocode to calculate the moment gradient factor, C1, RISA will use the widely accepted López, Yong...

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Updates to Wood Wall Aspect Ratio Limits in RISA-3D
October 18, 2018

Updates to Wood Wall Aspect Ratio Limits in RISA-3D

With the initial implementation of wood wall design in RISA-3D, the wall aspect ratio was calculated as the full height of the wall divided by the width of the region.This was intended to accommodate balloon framed multi-story walls that were drawn as one continuous wall stack. With recent...

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Wood Wall Panels - Straps vs Hold-Downs
October 11, 2018

Wood Wall Panels - Straps vs Hold-Downs

With the recent release of RISA-3D v17 the program now offers the user the option to use Chord Straps between floors of a wood shear wall building in lieu of using hold downs. Chord Straps are a great option for transferring tension load between floors of a multi-floor building and can be installed...

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RISA Completes Office Renovation
October 8, 2018

RISA Completes Office Renovation

RISA recently completed renovations to their Foothill Ranch, CA office. The renovations include a new kitchen and coffee bar, new conference rooms and updated open office concept that allows various departments to easily work collaboratively together.

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Drawing Grid and Other Modeling Improvements
October 4, 2018

Drawing Grid and Other Modeling Improvements

RISAFloor v13 includes a variety of modeling features which allows users to quickly create and manipulate geometry. These features include construction lines, saved selections and copy elements from floor to floor. Overall, these features can be used to help engineers streamline their modeling...

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Partial Fixity End Releases in RISA-3D
October 4, 2018

Partial Fixity End Releases in RISA-3D

RISA-3D v17.0 now has the ability to model partial fixity member end releases. Partial fixity end releases can be utilized in RISA to model the behavior of a partially restrained or semi-rigid connection that cannot be idealized as fully fixed or pinned. Partially restrained connections are common...

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