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Publisher's Message: Tending the "Grassroots"

  • This issue of SBC Magazine focuses on grassroots activities within the industry and also houses the annual membership listing.
  • The cover story features Boozer Lumber, a South Carolina component manufacturer with a new perspective on sustainability.
  • Another feature honors the life of Robert Mort, Sr.
  • The concept of "shear-out" is explained in this issue’s technical feature article.

Working For Your Workers: Homegrown Truss Technicians

  • Hiring and training locally, also referred to as the "homegrown" method, has the greatest potential for meeting the industry’s need for technicians.
  • Many potential technicians can be found in the local technical college, and some may start in the shop and work their way up.
  • Component manufacturers have been successful with employing homegrown technicians; one reason is they come up through the ranks, and the pay is competitive with the typical salaries for these jobs in the industry.

WTCA Update: TTT Level II Online Updated

  • V.2 includes updated references to the IBC & IRC 2003 codes and ASCE7-02.
  • A new delivery method simplifies navigation and course material downloads.
  • A new feature provides all content in text format for hearing impaired users.

WTCA Update: Open Quarterly Meeting Highlights (March 1-3, 2006)

  • The WTCA Board voted unanimously to pass a resolution changing the name of the association to "WTCA – Represent-ing the Structural Building Components Industry."
  • A management committee resolution was passed to change the Wage & Benefit and Financial Performance survey policy.
  • Two new technical staff members have been hired, and the number of professional engineers on staff has increased to four.
  • The design of the research and testing facility is nearing completion.

Automation Straight Talk: Expectations - What You See Isn't Near What You Get

  • A user-friendly automated saw requires a willing learner to handle its operator-dependent functions.
  • Most automated saws today have some form of production reporting, including a comprehensive picture of everything that is going on at the machine.

Boozer "Dances Past the Elephants"

  • Boozer Lumber has taken a humanistic approach to employee training to accommodate the needs of a changing work force.
  • The training strategy is vastly different from the traditional cerebral and academic-focused leadership training.
  • One significant element of Boozer’s training involves employees’ career-long journey to self-awareness.
  • The company’s culture change has positively impacted its bottom line and has allowed Boozer to differentiate itself from the competition.

The Essence of the Industry Lies at It's Grassroots

  • The Western Component Manufacturers Association has taken an active role in educating local and state building officials in Oregon.
  • Through its educational efforts, WCMA has begun to forge relationships with the building inspector community.
  • In the last six months, WCMA has been invited to participate in several meetings with the inspectors, who have been very receptive to the manufacturers’ information.

Leave A Legacy: Remembering the Life of Robert E. Mort, Sr.

Nowhere But Up: WTCA Past Presidents & the State of the Industry

  • The future of the industry is cemented in the simple truth that by using trusses, manufacturers can design more complex roof lines than with stick framing.
  • The industry is entrepreneurial.
  • Past presidents noted the far-reaching effects that consolidation could have on the industry and its leadership.
  • Development and involvement of leadership from the larger companies in the industry is essential.

Shear-out at High Tension Connections: "Chunk-out Re-examined

  • A new design check, initially termed “chunk-out,” appeared in the truss design process with the adoption of TPI 1-2002.
  • The appropriate technical term for chunk-out is actually “shear-out.”
  • Understanding shear-out requires defining the stress distribution around the plate and comparing the magnitude of stresses to the wood shear strength under the plate.
  • Future finite element stress analysis and testing has been planned in order to define the nominal stresses associated with the shear-out condition.

Adventures in Advocacy: Growing More than Just Corn in Iowa

Builder Banter

BCMC 2006: Attendee Networking Offers Hidden Value

  • 38 percent of survey respondents indicated they attend BCMC to exchange ideas with other manufacturers.
  • Many manufacturers take ideas from BCMC home and determine how they can be implemented.

Code Connection: Roof Truss-to-Wall Connection Requirements in the 2003 IRC

  • Toe-nailing has long been recognized in building codes as an acceptable means of attaching wood members to wood bearing walls.
  • WTCA has submitted a code change proposal to the IRC regarding the truss-to-wall connection requirements.

Human Faces: SNCMA & SEASoN Work Together to Resolve Truss Design, Specification Issues

  • SNCMA joined forced with the Struc-tural Engineers Association of Southern Nevada (SEASoN) by forming a truss committee within the engineers’ group.
  • Using teamwork, the two groups successfully resolved issues surrounding drag loads and uplift.
  • Most recently, SNCMA and WTCA staff provided content for SEASoN’s design responsibilities document based on language in WTCA/TPI 1 Chapter 2.

Publisher's Message: Design & Engineering: The Pulse of the Industry

  • This issue of SBC Magazine is devoted to design and engineering advancements.
  • The cover story highlights a design challenge that Pioneer Truss couldn’t pass up. Though the structure was small, the effort it took to design and build the trusses with ultimate precision for it was not.
  • In February, BMC West graciously welcomed members of the fire service to its facility in the Portland area. Atten-dees seemed most impressed with the truss design software and the overall level of professionalism displayed during the tour.

Readers Respond

Retirement: R. Larry Foley

  • R. Larry Foley