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Article
2005 November
- Capital Structures of Fort Smith, AR was selected to provide materials, component design, fabrication and framing labor for an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project in June.
- Ninety-two degrees, 97 percent humidity, and no breeze caused Team Capital framers to endure brutal conditions for much of the day.
- The framers set a framing record of eleven hours and 30 minutes.
- The crew encountered one set-back: the foundation slab was off almost two inches in some areas, making the wall panels difficult to get level.
Article
2005 November
- Annual production of machine stress rated (MSR) and machine evaluated lumber (MEL) has exceeded two billion board feet for the second year in a row.
- Stress rating equipment is capable of keeping up with production in excess of 3,200 lineal feet per minute.
- The grades with the largest production volume are 1650Fb 1.5E and 2100Fb 1.8E.
Article
2005 November
- Use this short quiz to help you determine how well you use your plant’s production data to manage your operation.
- A quality control program that aids in measuring this data can help you make decisions based on more tangible information.
- Using the data from In-Plant WTCA QC inspections can give you the ability to analyze data based on the specific plant performance issue you would like to consider.
Article
2005 November
- WTCA’s new Truss Technology Workshop (TTW) web site, ttw.woodtruss.com, offers a one-stop shop for continuing education (CEU) credits.
- The site is designed to serve as a year-round resource for those in professions who work with roof trusses, floor trusses, wall panels and related components.
- Users who purchase a year-long subscription also receive unlimited access to the site’s online resource library.
- The site offers component manufacturer members all the materials necessary to present their own live TTWs for free.
Article
2005 November
- WTCA helped NAHB-RC develop the Certified Trade Contractor Program, the first such program to develop quality assurance standards for the framing industry.
- WTCA’s goal in contributing to the Certified Trade Contractor program was to be able to ensure that reliable construction begins at a home’s foundation.
Article
2005 November
- The approach that has been taken by the truss industry to comply with the building code requirements for the last fifty years still applies today.
- Special inspections may be required for a given constriction project.
- The International Accreditation Service (IAS) has developed an accreditation program for agencies providing the special inspections that are required for specific construction projects under Chapter 17 of IBC.
- The third party inspection agencies in our industry have IAS accreditation.
Article
2005 December
- Structures designed to the IBC often use the broadly written code requirements that provide greater engineering design flexibility.
- Structures may also be designed using a combination of both prescriptive and engineered methods as indicated in IBC Section 2308.1.
- Structures may be designed within the prescriptive requirements of Section 2308. Limitations can be found in the sidebar on page 25.
Article
2005 December
- This issue of SBC Magazine covers manufacturing issues and houses the BCMC 2005 Recap, complete with exhibitor photos, a summary of the educational sessions and other highlights.
- This issue’s cover story features Bama Truss & Components, a wood and steel component manufacturer in Shelby, AL that services the multi-family and commercial building industry.
- Other feature articles highlight combined U.S. and Canadian lumber species groups, proper crane hoisting and rigging guidelines, and a new Truss Technician Training recertification process.
Article
2005 December
- A new Truss Technology in Building document developed by WTCA due to members’ requests demonstrates proper truss hoisting techniques on the jobsite.
- Although the document gives recommendations for the handling of trusses, it is important to note that the general operation of any mobile crane must comply with OSHA standards.
- The TTB’s section on Load Positions, Movement & Rigging presents techniques that are likely to reduce crane damage to trusses.
Article
2005 December
- Bama Truss & Components manufactures both wood and steel trusses for the commercial and multi-family building construction industry.
- When they first introduced their steel line in 2002, they made drastic changes in their design and manufacturing departments to separate the functions of the wood and steel divisions.
- The company has experienced more benefits than drawbacks as a result of ex-panding their operations to include steel trusses.
Article
2005 December
- The Western Lumber Grading Rules permit combinations of like-named U.S. and Canadian species groups, which allows mills that have access to logs from the U.S. and Canada to mix them during production.
- The most common combinations are Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir and Spruce-Pine-Fir.
- The applicable design values for a given U.S. and Canadian species group combination that component manufacturers should use in their software are the lower of the two individual country values for each design value category (see Table 2 on page 76).
Article
2005 December
- A new Truss Technology in Building document developed by WTCA due to members’ requests demonstrates proper truss hoisting techniques on the jobsite.
- Although the document gives recommendations for the handling of trusses, it is important to note that the general operation of any mobile crane must comply with OSHA standards.
- The TTB’s section on Load Positions, Movement & Rigging presents techniques that are likely to reduce crane damage to trusses.
Article
2005 December
- Every step in the TTT recertification process is online.
- It’s good to offer options—anything that gives technicians real-world experience helps them in their profession and gives them greater exposure to the truss industry.
- Technicians up for recertification will be emailed starting this month. Technicians whose certification has already expired will also be notified by email.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- BCMC 2005 was another record breaking show.
- Doug Folker of Robbins Engineering is the 2006 BCMC Committee chair.
- The 2006 show will head to Fort Worth, TX on October 4 - 6.
- The show’s theme will be Bigger and Better in Texas.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- In today’s market, wall design is generally performed using code prescribed tables and provisions.
- When a building of conventional construction contains structural elements exceeding the prescriptive code, these elements shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- Paul D. Lenauer
- Norman L. Garlock
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- This issue of SBC Magazine focuses on wall panel manufacturing.
- Two component manufacturers are featured in this issue: Blenker Building Sys-tems and Clearspan Components.
- Additional feature articles spotlight whole house design concepts as they relate to the building components industry.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- The first phase of a new study conducted by U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory and North Carolina State University revealed that wall panel manufacturers employ a higher degree of manufacturing technology than do modular home manufacturers.
- Phase 2 of the study will include time studies of wall panel manufacturing facilities.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- The October OQM included the introduction of new representatives to the board and the 2006 committee chairs. Board members who had fulfilled their terms were also recognized.
- Passed motions included a policy with regard to WTCA staff attendance at Code/ Fire Service meetings and updated language in the Non-operating Funds Invest-ment Policy.
- The next OQM is schedule for March 1-3 in San Antonio, TX.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- As component manufacturers’ scope of work changes to meet varying customer demands, should the association’s name also evolve to reflect that change?
- Some component manufacturers believe that in order to represent the varying interests of the membership, the name of the association should change accordingly.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- Blenker’s business is built on ingenuity, quality and customer service.
- A unique internal cross-training approach fosters self-respect and teamwork.
- Offering a one-stop shop means providing a complete service for their builder customers.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- The founders of our industry are probably asking, “Where’s my truss industry?”
- We must continue to sell value in order to keep this industry strong.
- One of the only possible negatives to selling more engineering and integrated services is if component manufacturers begin to dilute the value of components by not “up-selling” the value provided.
Article
2006 Jan/Feb
- Optimum value engineering (OVE) has applications in the component design phase and on the jobsite.
- Using OVE techniques in the field can re-duce framing expenses by as much as $1,000 per 2,400 square foot home, ac-cording to a study done by the Partnership for Advanced Technologies in Housing.
- Component manufacturers can use design software to optimize component design.