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Article
2007 November
- The focus of this issue is jobsite handling, installing and bracing.
- Learn about a new educational tool on framing practices on page 30.
- The builder featured on page 42 embraced BCSI out of necessity.
- Polybagged with this issue is the annual Supplier Showcase and the supplier listing.
Article
2007 November
- Staff travel to chapters may be reduced. Instead, the use of Internet technology could be cost-effective alternative to live meetings.
- Staff will monitor recent changes in immigration policy and provide updates through SBC Industry News and Legislative Alerts.
- Component manufacturers were encouraged to keep up on the fire performance of wood trusses, information from Carbeck, and team up with staff on truss plant tours.
Article
2007 November
- You have a powerful tool at your disposal that can go a long way towards cementing a strong relationship with your lawmaker: your production facility.
- You have nothing to lose—start building these relationships today!
Article
2007 November
- Steven Spradlin of Capital Structures helped develop a Truss Technology Workshop entitled “Today’s Wood Framing Systems—Problems and Solutions.”
- He presented the TTW to a group of building inspectors from the Code Officials of Arkansas in June.
- Spradlin believes building inspectors would catch more framing problems if they had a plan of structural information for all residential inspections.
Article
2007 November
- A subcommittee was formed to look at how to better target TTWs for architects and engineers, building officials and contractors.
- If the broader construction industry is more educated about components, the products will be more widely accepted and used.
- The new plan offers TTWs to industry professionals at no cost. Quizzes for CEU credits can be purchased for $25 each.
- Other changes offer component manufacturers more options for viewing and administering TTWs.
Article
2007 November
- With BCSI, WTCA provides a high caliber safety and technical resource.
- The BCSI series has raised the bar on safety for the producers and the end-users of all manufactured products.
- One “small” accident resulted in a serious spinal injury and claims over $150,000.
- The unfortunate incident caused this builder to tighten its reigns on jobsite safety practices.
Article
2007 November
- This new bracing detail eliminates significant wood waste.
- Bracing is comprised of two parts—continuous lateral restraint (CLR) and a series of diagonal bracing members (“spaced at 20' intervals”).
- For every 16' piece of CLR installed, 4' of lumber is lost.
Article
2007 December
- This issue covers topics relating to quality assurance and manufacturing. Find a Recap of BCMC 2007 on page 64 and an exhibitor directory on page 71.
- Turn to pages 24 and 30 for updates on In-Plant WTCA QC and TPI’s 3rd Party Inspection service.
Article
2007 December
- The final WTCA Board Meeting of 2007 was held on October 5.
- Winners of the 8th Annual Membership Drive were honored at the meeting and outgoing Board Members recognized for their service.
- A social hour and the Top Chord Club Dinner followed the meeting.
Article
2007 December
- A 3rd party can assist with your QC program and be a valuable partner.
- Set-up location and representative sampling are two inspection criteria detailed in ANSI/TPI 1 that can be easily misunderstood.
- Being able to adjust inspection frequency as the production levels fluctuate is an efficient use of personnel’s time.
- By consistently logging QC data, one plant was able to lower their default settings to 5° because crews were plating at a lower plate rotational level.
Article
2007 December
- A new online resource for quality control inspectors makes learning the inspection process convenient and more efficient.
- Quality control teams get more out of in-person training sessions when they’ve pre-viewed the training modules.
- Online Inspector Training is included in the cost of In-Plant WTCA QC certification.
Article
2007 December
- Wood, like other structural materials, exhibits an inherent variability in strength properties from piece to piece.
- The design value is obtained by reducing the fifth percentile test result by a property reduction factor.
- The grading of lumber is not an exact science; a reasonable amount of discrepancy is to be expected between individual pieces graded by different graders.
- Cross-cutting stress-graded lumber into pieces shorter than the original piece is a common practice wherever lumber is used in construction.
Article
2007 December
- With the advent of component saws, bow and crook suddenly became an issue.
- There’s only so much the saw manufacturers can do to compensate for crooked lumber.
- We’ve all likely witnessed the snail’s pace of a complicated truss setup on a manually jigged pressing table.
Article
2007 December
- One Idaho manufacturer struggled with analyzing job costs with its existing system.
- Building Components of Idaho now determines the true costs of different jobs; this data ties directly to the general ledger.
- An incentive plan helped the company with accurate labor tracking and contributes to employee reviews.
Article
2007 December
- Being involved with the WTCA Board benefits individual companies just as much as the collective industry.
- Board members say participation helps them keep up with the latest trends and news in the industry.
- Several companies have collaborated with one another to meet orders in an efficient way that makes customers happy.
- In times of need, Board members say the first people they call for help are friends they’ve met at meetings.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- This issue focuses on wall panel manufacturing. Turn to pages 20, 32 and 36 for wall panel-related articles.
- Two industry moguls leave the industry in 2008; check out their stories starting on page 44.
- Find out what’s going on inside SBCRI on page 42.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- WTCA is developing a quality control program for wall panels.
- WTCA Wall Panel QC is being modeled after the quality control panel for roof trusses, In-Plant WTCA QC.
- A group of beta testers is providing feedback as the program is developed.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- Planning ahead for big equipment needs can reduce interest rates.
- Check out Master Lease/Finance Agreements which allow for multiple equipment purchases over a period of time at a lower interest rate.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- A professional business plan is the first step to the long-term success of a wall panel plant.
- The business plan should be a fluid document that is modified often.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- Wall panel manufacturers, equipment and education had a big presence at BCMC 2007.
- Demonstrating the cost savings and increased efficiency of using panels is how one manufacturer sells builders on the product.
- By viewing every aspect of his operation through the eyes of his customers, one manufacturer has discovered the key of wall panel success.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- Several testing stations were built inside of SBCRI since it opened in June 2007.
- Measuring the flow of loads through individual components and within a building system has been defined as the approach to most SBCRI industry testing.
- Preliminary industry testing projects have been conducted on roof trusses and wall panels.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- WTCA’s newest chapter is made up of Canadian manufacturers and their suppliers.
- While legislation and building code interpretations differ, trusses and wall panels are designed and manufactured similarly in both the U.S. and Canada.
- Many Canada Chapter members see the benefits of leveraging the programs and work already created by WTCA.
- The chapter’s first project is creating English/French versions of the BCSI documents, which currently exist in an English/Spanish format.
Article
2008 March
- Find out what qualities to look for in a good safety leader in Safety Scene.
- Understand your jobsite liability and what to do to minimize it from Kent Pagel on page 28.
- The story of how one manufacturer saved themselves nearly $40,000 in fines and citations by inviting OSHA into its facility.
Article
2008 March
- At association tradeshows, attendees tend to be more attentive and dedicated.
- BCMC is a channel to providing better customer service through connections made at the show.
- Regardless of the state of the housing market, exhibitors will find value in coming to BCMC.