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Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- The Extreme build helped Northeast Panel & Truss dispel misconceptions about wall panels and led their builder customer to embrace the product.
- The experience convinced Amedore Homes that wall panels are quality products that are also efficient and economical.
- The project couldn’t have been completed in the given timeframe without the use of wall panels, roof truss and floor trusses.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- Cold-formed steel is gaining respect and popularity in the industry thanks to challenging design projects and diverse construction applications.
- M-Truss worked on a luxury condominium project in Las Vegas that called for steel radius trusses and radius wall panels.
- Companies like M-Truss have been successful by demonstrating the bottom line savings of cold-formed steel in the ease of installation and reduced labor costs.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- There is no single statute of limitations for the many categories of records component manufacturers hang on to.
- The federal requirements vary tremendously, do not apply to all types of records, and may even contradict themselves from agency to agency.
- It is possible to strike a balance between saving too much and keeping too little.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- Euler’s buckling formula dates back to 1757; we still use it today to determine bracing.
- With the creation of an analysis program that more accurately predicts the behavior of a truss system, bracing designs can be examined.
- Given that relatively few material properties were measured, the SAWFT predictions are surprisingly close to the instability loads obtained from the tests.
- This work shows promise as a first step toward development of robust structural analysis algorithms for developing new design procedures for wood structural system s
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- Brand your company as "The Solution" for all of your customers’ needs.
- If you offer wall panels, engineered wood products, steel trusses, and turnkey labor, or engineering design services in addition to wood trusses, be sure to market them.
- Work with the design and specifier community to help streamline the front end of the construction process and value-engineer structures.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- The IRC 2006 references BCSI 1-03 in two locations—R502.11.2 and R802.10.3.
- In 2006, BCSI 1-03 was revised and retitled Building Component Safety Information; Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses.
- Although BCSI 1-03 is referenced in IRC 2006, you should use the most recent version of the booklet—BCSI.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- OSHA’s Top Ten list is a great place to start for reviewing safety issues at your facility.
- Three of the 2006 Top Ten (one, three and nine) fall under OSHA’s Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (Part 1926) and don’t apply to component manufacturing.
- The remaining seven violations relate to standards that are important to comply with as a component manufacturer.
Article
2007 August
- The focus of this issue is Material Handling and Equipment.
- The annual Supplier Listing begins on page 84.
- Consider in-plant safety with articles on pages 7 and 72.
Article
2007 August
- There are 12 educational sessions for attendees to choose from.
- Session themes include design, steel, wall panels, self-improvement, personnel and accident investigation.
- Early-bird registration deadline is August 25, so register now!
Article
2007 August
- Ten core modules of In-Plant Basic Training will be released in October.
- The course targets employees that are new to the industry, and will be available in English and Spanish.
Article
2007 August
- A few seconds saved per truss can lead to substantial savings by the end of the year.
- It may only take an hour to fix the ma-chine, but you have lost 14,400 seconds of time for a crew of four assemblers.
- Weekly machine evaluations and scheduling breakdowns make it easy to keep track of your long-term maintenance plan and are an excellent way to keep production moving right along.
Article
2007 August
- The wood residue produced by the industry has monetary value.
- Dry wood residue can produce one million BTUs for about one-third the cost of one million BTUs of fossil fuel.
- When misconceptions about wood energy are overcome, the result is decreased fuel costs and additional revenue sources for manufacturers.
Article
2007 August
- Most truss shops use one of four factors that work "on average" to estimate labor.
- Labor estimates based on averages do not take into account complex jobs.
- In the truss industry, the Houlihan Method is one example of lean manufacturing.
- Employing proper time standards provides a solution to estimating labor.
Article
2007 August
- The challenge of automating material handling compared to other industries is the variation from component to component.
- Getting lumber to the saw is generally the most labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone part of material handling.
- A straight line approach from the saw to the build tables with the conveyor running parallel to the press table is ideal.
Article
2007 August
- The topic of whether truss placement diagrams (TPDs) should be sealed continues to be misunderstood.
- The TPD should not to be viewed as an engineering document; it is provided to help the installer locate the trusses within the structure.
- A TPD is generally not prepared within the typical duties of an engineer and is therefore not typically prepared under the engineer’s direct supervision.
- Truss Designers are counseled to only undertake Building Designer responsibilities under a special set of circumstances.
Article
2007 August
- Proper training and management of truck drivers is a way to reduce risk, streamline operations, and enhance your reputation.
- TRUCK is a new fleet management and safety program designed to train drivers about their responsibilities on the road and at the jobsite.
Article
2007 August
- Wood truss operations produce sawdust, which is a form of particulate matter often categorized with sawmills and furniture manufacturers.
- By quantifying the sawdust you actually produce, you can prove baghouse system requirements unnecessary.
- One method to determine quantity is to calculate a source’s potential to emit (PTE) with an emissions factor.
Article
2007 August
- If you are aware of current code language, you can take advantage the opportunities presented to your company.
- Code language must be understandable to all parties in the marketplace in order for uniform enforcement.
- Monitoring code issues on a local level is critical to strengthen our industry’s collective influence on building codes.
Article
2007 August
- Southern Components, Inc. donated the first known set of cold-formed steel components for an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project.
- An insulated foam product was used in the home’s steel wall panels.
- SCI worked with a new builder customer on this project, and hopes to do more business with them the future.
Article
2007 August
- OSHA defines a powered industrial track (PIT) as any mobile, power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials that can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator.
- OSHA requires you to implement a PIT vehicle training program and verify that each operator has been properly trained and evaluated.
Article
2007 August
- Remember safety when you consider material handling in your operation.
- Creating a safety committee is a great way to inspire a culture of safety and discuss areas of the plant to examine.
Article
2007 August
- When a truss member is damaged, the anticipated flow of loads through the truss is disrupted, and that load must be resisted by another member(s).
Article
2007 August
- OSHA machine guarding standards are meant to prevent the 18,000 injuries U.S. workers suffer while operating machinery.
- Six machine guarding requirements are defined by OSHA.
- Scott Arquilla’s story demonstrates that OSHA may make an exception if it is determined that a certain guard presents a hazard.
Article
2007 June/July
- The Annual SBC Legislative Conference was a success, and is covered on page 26.
- Turn to page 52 to hear why the first Joint Legislative Conference was a huge accomplishment for WTCA and FBMA.
- Avoid falling victim to potential risks of selling turnkey by reading about the contract blunder of Perfecto Truss on page 60.
Article
2007 June/July
- Consider using BCMC as the place to make corporate strategic adjustments.
- A new Chapter Competition encourages chapter member attendance, camaraderie and the potential to hold a chapter meeting.
- Friday small-group roundtables are a new feature at BCMC 2007.