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Truss Plant Tour TTWs: The Power of the Plant Tour Field Trip (Part 2 of 3)

  • Going to see and learn something first hand from an expert is an effective way to learn about a topic. 
  • Plant tour attendees at an Illinois manufacturer’s TTW event were awed by the custom engineering and code compliance involved in component design and manufacturing. 
  • A plant tour in New Hampshire led to an invitation for one manufacturer to present further component education for a local fire department. 
  • WTCA staff can assist manufacturers setting up a plant tour in many ways: compiling targeted handouts, providing signage

Handle with Care: HazCom & Material Safety Data Sheets

  • A written HazCom plan is the first step to creating a safeguard against chemical hazards. 
  • Each hazardous material in the plant must have a current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) accessible to all employees.
  • Educating employees and contractors about dangerous substances will prevent chemical related injuries and illnesses.

Installation of Insulation in Wood & Steel Truss Fire Endurance Assemblies

  • To add insulation into a tested assembly, an equivalent or greater plenum space should be maintained and the insulation held up and away from the gypsum surface. 
  • Increasing the depth of an assembly does not adversely affect its fire endurance rating.

Parting Shots

What to Look for in a Safety Leader

  • An effective leader empowers people to do things because they want to do it. 
  • It’s difficult to maintain a solid safety awareness culture if management doesn’t believe safety should be a priority. 
  • Most leaders exhibit five characteristics: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism.

You Cannot Turn Back Time

  • While walking though the shop, take digital pictures of safety hazards to show at the next safety meeting. 
  • Component manufacturers will save time and money with WTCA’s Operation Safety program. 
  • Chambers Truss created an educational program for builders about proper installation and bracing techniques.

Brace the Lateral Restraint

  • A common mistake is thinking that the truss design drawing provides all of the bracing requirements for the truss. 
  • In the 2006 Edition of BCSI continuous lateral brace has been replaced in by the term “continuous lateral restraint.” 
  • Bracing the lateral restraint is critical for ensuring truss stability; failure to do so can result in serviceability problems or structural collapse.

Parting Shots

Wall Panels Fill Customers' Needs - Justs Not in South Florida

  • Wall panel technology has come a long way since the 1960s. 
  • It is important for all component manufacturers to have basic knowledge of wall panels. 
  • WTCA offers various resources to help educate the industry about wall panels.

Housekeeping: Your Simple Key to Safety

  • The basis for a good safety program is keeping work areas neat and organized.
  • A clean production area can significantly reduce the cost of accidents by preventing them. 
  • Create a daily housekeeping checklist to confirm that attention is given to specific areas of your operation—both the plant and the office.

Wall Bracing Methods in the IRC

  • Using different wall bracing methods on the same structure is often acceptable. 
  • The IRC recognizes eleven total methods for providing wall bracing. 
  • The continuous wood structural panel sheathing section of the code has caused confusion in terms of whether other bracing methods can be used with it.

Parting Shots

Looking Forward to Better Days Ahead

  • Quality is something that no one should sacrifice, no matter what.
  • Part of manufacturing is discovering the nuances that make a world of difference.
  • Make it a goal to get your systems tuned up, in place and ready for the New Year.

Solar Panel Weights

  • Solar panels—devices that convert solar energy into electricity or heat—are often installed in trussed and conventionally framed roofs.
  • To determine if a truss can withstand the load of a solar panel, add the value of the panel to the maximum top chord dead load capacity.
  • If a panel can be applied to a conventionally framed roof with the same design load capacity as a truss system, the application should also work in the trussed roof.

Winter Walking: Preventing Slips and Falls

  • The third largest cause of workplace injuries, slip and fall injuries can be expensive to employers.
  • Tend to outdoor and indoor housekeeping during the winter weather months to minimize slip and fall hazards.

The Evolution of Component Bracing & Safety on the Jobsite

  • WTCA President Bob Becht emphasizes bracing and long-span truss installation education.
  • There was a time when short member temporary lateral restraint was not installed safely.
  • BCSI and the B-Series documents have helped to provide direction and a consistent message on bracing and installation issues.
  • Given the current state of housing, we need tools like BCSI to raise the level of professionalism in construction.

Bracing & Inspections on the Jobsite

  • There are many guidelines and recommendations in place to ensure trusses are installed and braced properly.
  • Truss Design Drawings show the truss calculation and engineer stamp, but usually show limited bracing.
  • It is our hope that BCSI recommendations are followed in the field, but we cannot enforce them.

Parting Shots