Frequently Asked Questions

You will need to first register on Alpine Academy using your customer number, and use the information you provided during the registration to log in. Once you have successfully logged into Alpine Academy, you will have full access to all our videos, articles and downloads. (Please note some companies have one login set up for the entire design staff – check with your administrator.)

You can find your customer number in iModel. In the drop-down menu, select Settings > User Preferences > Configuration and it will be listed as your User ID. Enter just the numbers (no letters) when registering for site access.

To schedule a training class, you may email our training department at training@alpineacademyitw.com.

Yes, we offer instructor led online training via the GoToMeeting site. With the GoToMeeting software, we can speak directly to one another, and view each other’s screens in a live feed. Because there is no travel required on either party’s part, online sessions can be scheduled with shorter lead times.

Yes, in certain circumstances we will come to your site to conduct training. To determine if you meet the criteria for an onsite visit, please talk with your sales representative.

We occasionally offer training in our Grand Prairie, TX, Fort Lauderdale, FL and Maryland Heights, MO locations. Training at these locations is scheduled by request only and lead times to schedule classes may vary depending on the current training schedule.

If you are new to our software, you should complete the “Getting Started” tutorials we offer with Alpine Academy. These tutorials will show you the basics of our system and provide you a step up in the training process, so we may use our time together more effectively. If you are new to the industry, you might consider a Truss Basics course, such as the one that is offered through the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA). (Alpine cannot guarantee any information provided by other companies.)

You will receive an email from your trainer a day or two prior to your first lesson with a link to the online session. A link will be provided to test your connection prior to the meeting. After joining the meeting, you can connect to audio/microphone through your computer (if available), USB headset or by calling into the phone number provided. Most component plants have background noise – you will find it incredibly useful to purchase a USB headset prior to your class (with both the earphones and microphone attached.) You can usually find this type of headphone at any electronics or discount store for around $30.

Depending on the nature of the class, multiple people can be trained online at the same time. Customers typically display the training session on a projected screen and use speakers for multiple viewers. Alternately, others have chosen to have each attendee log into the GoToMeeting site from their own computers. GoToMeeting will be able to display the instructors screen or one of the participants.

Contact our Help Desk at 866-237-2878. They can help you trouble shoot your situation. You may also choose to contact your software consultant directly.

Alpine Academy offers many opportunities for continuing education. Our trainers work with all levels of designers, from beginners to expert level. In these cases, you may find it useful to bring some of your own designs to work with in the training class. If you have a request or questions, let us know prior to your class and we will tailor the content to your specific needs.

The “Help” drop down menu in the IntelliVIEW Software is a comprehensive tool, with most topics covered in depth. It is very useful, quick tool when you have questions. Contact our Help Desk at 866-237-2878. The Help Desk technicians are well versed in all of our software’s capabilities and will help find an answer to your questions. If you have tried both of the above resources and still have questions, please feel free to contact your trainer directly or by email training@alpineacademyitw.com. You can normally expect a response within 24 hours.

Alpine supports SQL Server and Windows Server versions for three years after Microsoft ends mainstream support for that version. For example, Microsoft mainstream support for SQL 2014 ended in 7/2019, so Alpine support for SQL 2014 will end in 7/2022. Read our full policy statement on the Alpine ITW website under Resources < Literature < Software < Manuals.

End of 2021- IntelliVIEW 22.01 will not be supported on SQL 2012

7/2022- IntelliVIEW 22.02 will not be supported on SQL 2014

7/2024- IntelliVIEW 24.02 will not be supported on SQL 2016

12/2021- IntelliVIEW 22.01 will not be supported on Windows Server 2012

1/2025- IntelliVIEW 25.01 will not be supported on Windows Server 2016

Alpine supports Windows OS as long as Microsoft supports them. For example, Windows 7 is no longer supported, while Windows 10 will be supported until Microsoft ends support.

MWFRS is defined as an assemblage of structural elements that will support and stabilize the building from wind pressures on different surfaces. Think of it as a roof system that will resist wind pressures. Whereas C&C refers to single element of the building that receives wind pressures, and these elements or components can be part of the MWFRS. The Alpine Engineering Department takes the position that trusses are part of an assemblage of structural elements and as a single element of the of the building appurtenances. That is why we apply both MWFRS and C&C wind pressures to truss designs with our engineering software IntelliVIEW Suite.

Exposure refers to the terrain around the building structure, ASCE refers to it as the ground surface roughness. This ground surface roughness considers the topography, vegetation, and other buildings that are around the building structure. There are three (3) different types of exposures as describe in ASCE 7, there is Exposure B, C, and D. Exposure B is typically in suburban or urban areas with mostly single-family dwellings. Exposure C is more open grasslands with scattered obstruction, and Exposure D is on the shoreline with wind flowing over large bodies of water. Just think with more obstructions in the way wind gusts will be interrupted, and with open areas wind gusts build in strength. So, structures in an Exposure D area will tend to have higher wind pressures than structures in an Exposure B area. Let me remind you that these exposure designations should be provided in the construction documents if they are not contact the Building Designer.

In the event of a building failure the Risk Categories refers to the risk of human life. Risk Category I has a low risk to human life, such as a barn. Risk Category III could impose a high risk to human life, like a hospital, Risk Category IV is an essential facility and would pose a substantial hazard to the community, such as a hazardous waste or chemical facility. I went out of order because Risk Category II are all structures that are not Risk Category I, III, or IV. More times than not these are residential structures. Depending on which Risk Category the structure falls in will determine which basic wind speed map you would use to find the correct wind speed to calculate wind pressures, uplift reactions, and uplift connections. The higher the Risk Category the higher wind speed map. These categories should be clearly stated in the construction documents if not contact the Building Designer.

When designing roof trusses on a structure wind can approach from many different directions…windward, leeward, normal to the ridge, parallel to ridge, etc. But one factor that is important to know is where the truss is located in the structure. The location can determine the amount of wind pressures that is needed to be applied to the truss design. MWFRS has different zones, for example when the wind direction is normal to the ridge the trusses on the edge of the structure will have a higher wind pressure as apposed to trusses that are in the middle of the structure. The “a” distance refers to the width of pressure coefficient zone. It’s the zone of high wind pressure when calculating C&C wind pressures. When the user designs trusses in iModel (layout) these zones and distances are considered so the user can take advantage of less wind pressures and therefore smaller uplift reactions, uplift connections, and optimize the truss designs.