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Parting Shots

Controlling Sound

  • The requirements for fire generally take precedence over those for sound.
  • What is good for fire performance may not be good for sound performance. The reverse is also true.
  • Determining sound ratings is a building designer or specialty engineering re-sponsibility, so be sure not to take on any design work responsibility that falls beyond your scope of work.

Farewell to an Association on the Brink of Evolution

  • Kendall Hoyd’s term as WTCA President is nearly complete.
  • A time of transition and growth is upon WTCA.
  • Activities such as research and testing, legislative work, participation in building code development, or training program development will increase the efficiency of WTCA members as the industry growths.

Get Your Motor Runnin', Head Out on the Highway

  • Motor vehicle traffic crashes were the eighth leading cause of death among all ages in 2002.
  • You can play a key role in reducing accidents by making sure that you and your vehicle are in suitable driving condi-tion—before getting behind the wheel.
  • Beware of drowsy driving: 37 percent of drivers surveyed by the National High-way Traffic Safety Administration admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at some point in their driving career.

Repairs?

  • Homeowners and building officials alike often wonder if damaged trusses should be replaced or repaired.
  • If a truss is damaged or altered it does not need to be replaced but it must be repaired.
  • It is important to repair a damaged truss because truss members can quickly become overloaded if a truss is damaged or altered.

Use Narrative Teaching Techniques to Promote Safety

  • Bevel cutting can be a very dangerous operation in the truss plant especially since 90 percent of One Minute Poll respondents say they use a table saw.
  • There are about six different methods of installing valley trusses that are used in the field.

Wanted: One Long-terrm Negotiated Settlement

  • The Canadian-U.S. softwood lumber dispute causes business uncertainty and lumber cost volatility.
  • Congress needs to hear from our industry every chance we get that we are in favor of an enduring negotiated trade agreement.

Parting Shots

Bevel Cuts on Valley Sets

  • After a long struggle to keep in compliance with covenants in their credit agreement and a failed recapitalization attempt, Trussway’s only option was to restructure the company financially.
  • Their financial restructuring was completely via a five-month pre-packaged Chapter 11 filing process.
  • Trussway’s financial storm dating back to 1998 has finally blown over, and the company is enjoying financial health, prosperity and growth in its core multi-family segment.

Component Research & Testing

  • A major WTCA initiative to conduct re-search and testing of structural component performance has been launched.
  • The data derived from this work will help influence new building code enactment and may provide new marketing opportunities for component manufacturers.
  • Stay tuned for more updates on this initiative in future issues of SBC Magazine.

Parting Shots

It's Getting' Hot in Here

  • Hot weather combined with working in a truss plant means you should drink as much water as possible.
  • Heat exhaustion is a common ailment and is easily treated. If ignored, it could be a precursor to heat stroke. 
  • Heat stroke is very serious and can lead to death.

Dead Loads & Horizontal Projection

  • Dead loads are projected horizontally for truss design.
  • Truss technicians must be clear on whether they need to adjust the input design dead load values for slope or if the software will do it for them.
  • Slope adjustments become more critical with steeper pitches.

Proper Lifting Techniques Prevent Back Pain

  • Attention to posture, conditioning, avoiding obesity, alcohol, drugs, smoking, and minimizing stress will take help you in maintaining a healthy back!
  • Truss plants have many awkward loads to lift and carry, so lifting care is very important.

Strategic Reactions to Competitive Forces

  • Consider this framework for evaluating our industry’s position in the competitive landscape of the construction industry.
  • There are basic forces that govern industry competition: the threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and custo-mers, and the threat of substitue products.
  • Our industry brings value by providing a service/product bundle that lowers costs and raises quality.

Parting Shots

Readers Respond

Chuck-Out Design Errors

  • ANSI/TPI 1-2002 has several new provisions that you will need to get used to as you change over from the 1995 version. 
  • Some floor truss designs created with 1995 provisions may develop "chunk-out" errors when they are re-analyzed with ANSI/TPI 1-2002.
  • Doubling the particular web or chord in that section will solve the problem.