Residential Structural Design
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
On-Demand Webinar
Residential Structural Design
Work through structural loads, foundation selection, and framing design for single-family homes, using the IRC provisions and wind, snow, ice, and flood guidelines that govern the work.
Presented By
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., BC. GE
This course walks through residential structural design from the ground up: evaluating structural loads and general structural integrity, then applying International Residential Code (IRC) provisions for dead, live, wind, snow, ice, and flood loads. From there it moves into foundation design (reading site soils, determining bearing capacity, and choosing between footings, piles, basements, and slabs) and frame design for floors, walls, and roofs, including connection design and resistance to wind, snow, flood, and seismic loads. A workshop on the structural design of a single-family home ties the material together.
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., BC. GE has over 30 years of engineering experience in geotechnical, foundation, and structural design as a Project Manager with The Gateway Engineers, Inc. in Pittsburgh, and brings that field background directly into how the material is taught.
What’s Covered
Understanding Structural Loads
- Types of structural loads
- General structural integrity
- Classifying buildings and structures
- Modifying and expanding existing structures
Residential Design Loads
- International Residential Code (IRC) structural provisions
- Other standards and guidelines
- Dead loads, live loads, and combined loads
- Wind loads, ice and snow loads, and flood loads
Residential Foundation Design
- Examining site soils and characteristics
- Determining bearing capacity
- Choosing a foundation type: footings, piles, basements, slabs
Frame Design
- Choosing framing materials
- Framing floors and framing walls
- Roof framing options
- Connection design
Designing for Wind, Snow, Flood and Seismic Loads
- Wind resistance design
- Managing snow and ice loads
- Handling flood and wave loads
- Seismic design options
Workshop: Structural Design of a Single-Family Home
About the Instructor
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., BC. GE
Project Manager, The Gateway Engineers, Inc. — Pittsburgh, PA
Mr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management for geotechnical, foundation, and structural engineering projects across transportation, industrial, municipal, and commercial civil engineering work. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers, and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.
Questions
Does this qualify for PE PDHs in the on-demand format?
The 6.5 PDH and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours listed for this course apply to the live presentation. The on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing board and may not qualify for the same credit. 6.5 HSW LUs (AIA) may be available for on-demand upon request. Check with your state licensing board before purchasing if credit is your primary reason for enrolling.
How do I know the instructor actually knows this material?
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., BC. GE has over 30 years of experience in geotechnical, foundation, and structural engineering as a Project Manager with The Gateway Engineers, Inc. in Pittsburgh. His full background is listed above, not tucked into a separate panel.
Is HalfMoon Education a legitimate provider?
HalfMoon Education, Inc. is a nonprofit continuing education corporation. It is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina, and is registered with AIA/CES under Sponsor No. J885.
What do I get access to after purchasing?
You get on-demand access to the full 6.5-hour course covering the agenda above, plus the workshop on structural design of a single-family home. A certificate of completion is issued after passing a short quiz at 80% or higher.
Credits
Engineers
6.5 PDHs
Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.5 LU|HSW
ICC - International Code Council
.65 CEUs (Building)
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300) and North Carolina (S-0130). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .65 CEUs in the specialty area of Building (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:
6.5 HSW LUs (AIA)
Speakers
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., D. GE
Project Manager with The Gateway Engineers, Inc., in PittsburghMr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management/personnel supervision for geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering projects in the transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial fields of civil engineering. Throughout his career he has placed an emphasis on quality control and staff training. Mr. Messmer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Messmer was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Residential Structural Design
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This 6.5-hour course provides guidance in residential structural design, with a focus on evaluating structural loads, selecting appropriate foundations, and designing framing systems. It covers critical aspects of the International Residential Code (IRC), along with guidelines for wind, snow, seismic, and flood resistance. The course also includes a workshop on the structural design of a single-family home, providing an experience in residential structural design.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to evaluate different types of structural loads, analyze structural integrity, and classify buildings for residential projects.
Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to interpret and apply International Residential Code (IRC) provisions, standards, and guidelines when designing for dead, live, wind, snow, ice, and flood loads.
Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to examine soil characteristics, assess bearing capacity, and select appropriate residential foundation types such as footings, piles, slabs, or basements.
Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to analyze structural frames for floors, walls, and roofs, incorporating strategies to resist wind, snow, flood, and seismic loads.
LUs: 6.5 LU Type: LU|HSWs.
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 10/08/2027
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.
6.5 Knowledge Points
Purchase this course using Knowledge Points by clicking the button below.
(Account login required. Knowledge Points can only be redeemed by the owner of the points. Cannot be combined with any other forms of payment)