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Stay Safe in the Summer Heat

High temperatures and humidity combined with heavy physical labor can lead to serious illness and even death. Without proper hydration and rest in the shade, your body temperature can rise to unsafe levels and cause heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Prevent heat illness by keeping four simple things in mind: Water. Rest. Shade. Watch. 

Does Everyone Know How You Make a Truss?

Do all the builders, contractors, framers, fire officials, building inspectors and lawmakers in your market understand what makes your products so great? Do they know why using components is the best way to frame? If you’re answering “no” (which is very likely), it’s time for a tour.

Know What you Know (& Admit What You Don’t)

Ready access to expertise is the biggest value you get out of being a member of SBCA. You’re just a click, call or meeting away from a lot of knowledge on the majority of topics your business addresses on a daily basis.

Designing for Corrosive Environments

Corrosion resistance is critical to ensuring connector plates hold up in adverse environments. 

Focused on a Greater Purpose

Remembering Abner Yoder, the founder of Stark Truss

Inside the Box Building

Innovative thinking and careful construction allowed Truss Craft to give a condemned structure new life.

How the BC Beetle Kill May Affect You

The BC beetle kill means changes are on the horizon for lumber harvesting, processing and pricing. 

Faces of the Industry: Jared Dix

Meet SBCA Emerging Leader Jared Dix of Apex Truss in Warsaw, Virginia.

Parting Shots

In 2007, SBC Magazine highlighted the projects of M-Truss & Components in Las Vegas, Nevada, including the steel framed house above. A decade later, companies like Cascade Mfg Co in Cascade, Iowa continue to find design professionals with great interest in steel components.

2017 SBCA Policy Positions

These are the 2017 Congressional Policy Positions of the Structural Building Components Association.

Fire-Retardant Treated Lumber Use: Ceiling Assemblies in Type III Buildings

This report focuses on building code requirements for using fire retardant treated wood (FRTW) in floor/ceiling and roof/ceiling assemblies in Type III building construction. 

Bottom Chord Live Load Concurrency and Truss Design - Educational Program

This presentation seeks to explain how to correctly apply live loads to the bottom chord of trusses for uninhabitable attics in accordance with IRC Table R301.5 and IBC Table 1607.1 and ASCE 7-10 Table 4-1.

Gypsum Board

A variety of issues can lead to separation of drywall joints in walls and ceilings. Both environmental factors as well as installation and design factors can contribute to situations where gypsum may develop cracks. The issue has become more widespread as homeowners insist on larger rooms and open floor plans that have large clear span areas. By understanding how and why partition separation or ridging and cracking occur, and by following best practices, designers and builders can reduce the risk of unsightly and costly issues with gypsum board and drywall. 

Policy Positions

With a mission to protect and advance the interests of our members, SBCA is the voice of the structural building components industry to legislative, regulatory and standards-generating agencies. The Association formulates policies concerning the day-to-day operations of component manufacturers. 

Guard Your Back (and your extremities)

In June, Managing Editor Sean Shields met with career civil servants in the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) offices. The group was led by the director of the General Industry and Agricultural Enforcement Department, Art Buchanan, who has now served under five administrations. He had a very important message for the component manufacturing (CM) industry: OSHA is looking very closely at machine safeguards and employees’ personal protective equipment (PPE). Why? Buchanan shared three main reasons behind OSHA’s current level of scrutiny.

Big Returns from Investing in SBCA Events

2017 SBCA President Jack Dermer continues to broaden his perspective on how to tackle issues in his business through continued engagement with SBCA members.