Steel

DOC Outlines Steel Tariff Product Exclusion Process

March 19, 2018

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its procedures for excluding products from the recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum product imports.

Secs. Ross & Mnuchin Give Perspectives on Steel Tariffs

March 12, 2018

On March 8, President Trump signed two proclamations to temporarily increase tariffs on imported steel by 25 percent and aluminum by 10 percent. The new tariffs will take effect March 23, but it’s currently unclear how long they will remain in place and which countries they will ultimately be imposed upon.

Video: Administration Explains Reasons Behind Steel Tariffs

March 5, 2018

President Trump is anticipated to slap new tariffs on aluminum and steel later this week, or early next week. Some are wondering, will these be applied to everyone?

A Memorable Revival

Rebuilding a historic church after a ruinous fire was a project not to be forgotten.

DOC Steel Investigation Suggests Future Supply Constraints

February 19, 2018

While steel consumers will likely continue to take a “wait and see” attitude, the findings the DOC emphasized in their report to the president indicate there may be future trade action to protect domestic producers.  President Trump has until April 11 to act on the DOC’s recommendations.

Uplift Values On Truss Design Drawings

Question: 

I am a building inspector and I have a question on information provided on truss design drawings. What does the uplift reaction number represent? Some manufacturers are very specific and state “to provide for mechanical connection of the truss to the top plate with a connector capable of withstanding a specific load.” Others simply list the uplift reaction with no further information. These are the ones that have caused a debate as to what the number actually represents.

Metal Connector Plates In Fires

Question: 

I am thinking of using wood trusses for the roofing/ceiling structural systems on some houses I shall build. I remember, though, an engineer/volunteer fireman commenting back in 1989 that the connector plates are prone to expand and pop off, early on in a fire, causing catastrophic structural failure. Was this the case, and if so, has this problem been corrected?

Wood Three Hour Fire Assembly

Question: 

Is it possible to construct an assembly for ceiling between first and second floors using 2x with few layers of gypsum to obtain a 3-hour fire rating?

Fire Rating For Sloped Roof Truss Assemblies

Question: 

A question has come up concerning sloped roof trusses and fire assembly ratings. Some are reluctant to rely on test results from flat (parallel chord) trusses applied to sloped roof trusses. Do you have any information regarding the suitability of the fire rated ceiling assemblies for sloped roof trusses? Does the “minimum depth” requirement of the parallel chord assembly apply to the minimum depth of a sloped roof truss (i.e., heel height?)

Information On Truss Fire Issues

Question: 

I am trying to develop a guideline for my firefighters regarding initial fire attack in buildings with light-weight trusses. My concern is truss failure, especially when exposed to fire. Is there any information on failure time related to flame impingement? Any information about truss failure – especially in a fire condition would be helpful.