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Parting Shots

Learning Faith, Perseverance from Noah

  • Our faith has been tested, but perseverance will get us through hard times. 
  • SBCA is and will continue to be a strong, viable organization. 
  • I encourage members to continue reaching out to professionals outside the manufacturing process: architects, engineers and building inspectors.

Snow Load Provisions of the International Residential Code

  • The prescriptive method for designing snow load is more conservative than the engineered method. 
  • The IRC prescriptive method allows the ground snow load to be reduced to 0.7Pg as long as the conditions of this section are met for all truss types. 
  • The IBC engineered method allows certain reductions to the ground snow load per ASCE 7.

Extension Cord Safety

  • Damage to cords can cause an electrical shock or fire. 
  • Frayed extensions and three-prong cords that are missing their ground prong are examples of cords that are dangerous. 
  • Adding an extension cord check to weekly safety walkthroughs is an easy way to make sure all cords are in safe working condition.

Calculating Truss Upllift

  • Truss or rafter uplift connections should be designed for wind load using ASCE 7 MWFRS method, while the member design of the individual truss should use C&C loads to generate member forces. 
  • Visit http://www.sbcindustry.com/kb/technotes.php for SBCA’s Tech Note on this issue. 
  • The SBCA Load Guide also contains information about uplift connections for structural building components.

Stimulus Money? No Thanks.

  • One company was protected following a roof collapse in the Phoenix area because they proved they sent an SBCA Jobsite Package to the jobsite. 
  • If we use these jobsite packages to consistently send our message, I believe we can lower the frequency of jobsite-related claims.
  • Certification in the In-Plant WTCA QC program helped our company show our compliance with the quality control requirements of a city building code.

Parting Shots

Understanding Heat Stress

  • The body can gather heat through physical activity or environmental factors. 
  • Learning to recognize the onset of heat stress; a worker experiencing a heat-related illness usually responds quickly to treatment. 
  • The best way to control heat stress is through prevention.

IRC Energy Code Requirements & Truss Heel Heights

  • Information about ceiling space energy requirements from the International Energy Conservation Code is replicated in both the IRC and IBC. 
  • IRC Section N1102.2.2 applies to ceilings without attic spaces while Section N1102.1 applies to those with attic spaces. 
  • It is assumed that attic spaces do not require raised heels in order to meet given R-values. Instead, the insulation must be deep enough to achieve it wherever the construction technique allows it.

Safety - You Gotta See It to Believe It

  • The sense of sight is powerful. Capitalize on it by freshening up your safety signage! 
  • SBCA sells a variety of safety posters in English and Spanish. 
  • Catchy slogans can reinforce important safety messages.

Keep Humor & a Golden Defense in Your Back Pocket

  • The SBCA Legislative Conference in May gave participants firsthand experience with the changes in Washington, DC. 
  • The Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 (EFCA) is a hot issue that needs your attention. Learn more about it in an online bonus feature at www.sbcmag.info. 
  • SBCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel reminds us that using JOBSITE PACKAGES provides you with a “golden defense” in the courtroom.

The Business Teacher I Never Had

  • This issue focuses on Design & Engineering. 
  • Our companies would be better positioned for success if we charged for our truss designs, details and placement diagrams at the time they are complete. 
  • BCMC 2009 will take place September 30-October 2 in Phoenix. See you there!

Cold-Formed Steel Restraint & Bracing

  • SBCA’s Cold-Formed Steel BCSI booklet recommends using material that is a minimum of 33 mil for permanent restraint/bracing applications. 
  • Framers should verify that they are getting structural grade hat channel (150F125-33) to be in conformance with the industry governing documents. 
  • If the preference is to use non-structural hat channel, the truss design engineer should evaluate the structural capabilities of the material.

The Big Picture: Recovering Design Costs When They Are Incurred

  • Component manufacturers are not often compensated for the costs they incur for their design services. 
  • A recent One Minute Poll suggests that although an overwhelming majority of CMs believe they should be compensated for these costs, most are not. 
  • A way to address it is to provide contract language that details separate charges for the completion of design services and the delivery of products to the jobsite.

Finding Time for Fitness

  • There are plenty of free and inexpensive ways to provide positive, reputable information to your employees. 
  • Use a website like Google to search for interesting tips and articles using phrases like “benefits of exercise,” “fitness tricks” and “health tips.” 
  • Contact a local fitness center and ask if they have any corporate programs.

Parting Shots

You Gotta Have Faith!

  • Finding faster, safer ways to install our products and discovering new applications is a benefit of component testing. 
  • SBCRI in Madison, WI affords us the opportunity to work with TPI and others to push the boundaries of component knowledge. 
  • Everyone is welcome to visit SBCRI and see what our industry has developed!

Sealed Truss Placement Diagrams Revisited

  • Truss placement diagrams (TPD) are intended to assist in positioning trusses and related components supplied by the component manufacturer. 
  • On residential projects, the truss design engineer is responsible for the single truss design depicted on each truss design drawing. 
  • Since the TPD is not typically prepared under the truss designer engineer’s supervision, it is not considered an engineered document. 
  • It is not legal in most states for a truss design engineer to seal a non-registered person’s work for which he has