Technical Best Practices

Best practices for design and installation including educational materials for component manufacturers (CM) to use in sharing the latest research, step-by-step installation instructions and design tools to the market. If there are topics you would like to see added to these Best Practices, contact SBCA staff today.

Topic	Best Practices	Categories
Sound Transmission in Wood Floor and Roof Trusses Controlling sound transmission in buildings through wall, floor and ceiling assemblies is important for the comfort level and enjoyment of building occupants as they live, work and play in these buildings. This report aims to explore the methods one can use to reduce sound transmission in assemblies constructed with wood trusses.		Floor Trusses, Roof Trusses, Products
Special Floor Loading Considerations in Typical Residential Construction This report will explore some special floor loading issues that are not specifically mentioned in the building codes and require special attention to ensure that the floor system is properly designed with no serviceability issues. The following are the major issues that will be discussed: stone/ceramic tiles, large concentrated loads and floor vibrations.	Design Tools	Bracing & Restraint, Loads, Construction, Design
Sprinkler Loads on Trusses Building Designers need to account for the dead and live loads of fire sprinkler systems, in addition to the other load requirements imposed under the model building codes. Truss Designers are responsible for incorporating the additional load from the fire sprinkler systems into the truss design. The information in this Research Report is applicable to both floor and roof systems. Only vertical loads from fire sprinkler systems are discussed; lateral loads, where required, should be evaluated separately by a Registered Design Professional.	Design Tools	Fire Codes, Loads, Design
Sprinkler Systems and Wood Trusses The goal of this Research Report is to assist in designing safe buildings economically, especially when sprinkler systems are required or desired in the design.		Fire Resistance, Fire Codes, Loads, Design, Performance
Submittal Packages and Jobsite Packages: What Should Be Included? In order to promote the safe installation of building components including trusses, manufacturers send out a Jobsite Package to the construction site with the truss delivery. These Jobsite Packages include the Truss Submittal Package. The Truss Submittal Package includes the information that if required will be submitted to the Contractor/Building Designer, who if required will submit it to the local building official.	Design Tools	Building Component Safety Information (BCSI), Construction, Jobsite Documents, Jobsite Packages, Jobsite Safety
Truss Heel Heights and the Energy Code This report discusses ways of increasing the energy efficiency requirements of the building envelope within the context of the requirements of the 2009, 2012 and 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and IECC for ceiling insulation and truss heel heights.		Energy Efficiency, Roof Trusses, Energy Codes, Residential Codes (IRC), Design, Performance, Products
Truss Repair The repair and modification of metal plate connected wood trusses can be a very complicated subject, because each situation must be analyzed individually. This Research Report will give an overview of the fundamental principles behind truss repair that inform the truss designer’s approach in all truss scenarios.	Installation Guide	Design Documents, Engineering, Field Repairs & Alterations, Construction, Design
Truss Uplift Design ASCE/SEI 7-10, Minimum Design Loads of Buildings and Other Structures, lists two methods for calculating wind pressures: Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS) and Components & Cladding (C&C). This report will provide information to assist the building designer in deciding upon the appropriate analysis method for uplift due to wind loading.	Design Tools	Roof Trusses, Engineering, Loads, Design, Products
Use of “L” Type Partition Intersections in Fire-Rated Assemblies This research report evaluates the use of L-shaped partition intersections as an equivalent alternative to the Ushaped intersections typically shown in fire-resistive assembly evaluation reports.		Fire Resistance, Performance