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Article
2006 May
- 38 percent of survey respondents indicated they attend BCMC to exchange ideas with other manufacturers.
- Many manufacturers take ideas from BCMC home and determine how they can be implemented.
Article
2006 May
- Toe-nailing has long been recognized in building codes as an acceptable means of attaching wood members to wood bearing walls.
- WTCA has submitted a code change proposal to the IRC regarding the truss-to-wall connection requirements.
Article
2006 May
- SNCMA joined forced with the Struc-tural Engineers Association of Southern Nevada (SEASoN) by forming a truss committee within the engineers’ group.
- Using teamwork, the two groups successfully resolved issues surrounding drag loads and uplift.
- Most recently, SNCMA and WTCA staff provided content for SEASoN’s design responsibilities document based on language in WTCA/TPI 1 Chapter 2.
Article
2006 May
- This issue of SBC Magazine is devoted to design and engineering advancements.
- The cover story highlights a design challenge that Pioneer Truss couldn’t pass up. Though the structure was small, the effort it took to design and build the trusses with ultimate precision for it was not.
- In February, BMC West graciously welcomed members of the fire service to its facility in the Portland area. Atten-dees seemed most impressed with the truss design software and the overall level of professionalism displayed during the tour.
Article
2006 May
- Most youth are unaware of careers in the truss manufacturing industry.
- Raising awareness about your company locally can bolster market share and promote employment opportunities.
- Consider becoming involved in builder trade shows and career expos to showcase products and employment opportunities.
Article
2006 May
- BCSI 1-03 booklet will soon be revised. Individual B-Series summary sheets will then undergo updates based on booklet changes.
- The new version will be reformatted into an 8.5x11-inch spiral-bound three hole-punched booklet. q The most significant changes will occur in BCSI’s two bracing sections, B2 on temporary bracing and B3 on permanent bracing.
- A change in permanent bracing perspective was developed when WTCA worked with the National Council of Structural Engineers Association on a code change proposal for the IBC 2006.
Article
2006 May
- Studies conducted on manual component saws, once the standard of the industry, found that operators were spending more time doing the manual set-ups than they were cutting wood.
- Almost anything you can automate will likely be an improvement over the manual production method you are currently using. The average saw operator will do three to four hundred set-ups per shift with an automated saw.
- It doesn’t do any good to have a saw that sets up in seven seconds if it takes much longer than that to get the wood moving through the saw.
Article
2006 May
- This event is one example of WTCA’s work to provide solid technical education on the fire performance of trusses.
- The goal of the tour was to listen to the concerns of the fire service about structural building components in modern building construction.
- The fire service was very impressed with the level of sophistication programmed into the truss design software, asking questions about how it could be integrated into the pre-fire planning process.
Article
2006 May
- John Meeks began his post-military car-eer in the commercial concrete industry.
- Meeks met Gang-Nail’s Cal Jureit in Florida, and joined Automated Building Components, Inc. as the Engineering Manager in charge of building franchise chains.
- He became involved in truss design engineering at ABC, and also took an interest in bracing and installation while inspecting a truss collapse.
- Throughout his career and still today, Meeks has made his mark on the wood truss industry as a respected forensic engineer.
Article
2006 May
- Imagine taking a horizontal slice of a hard-boiled egg and looking at it from the top. Now imagine designing roof trusses to fit on top of that shape and completing the job within budget.
- Pioneer came up with the idea of drawing the trusses first in CAD to represent the roof in true 3D.
- Paul Lenauer credited technology with making this project possible, while the project’s architect credits structural building components with helping make his vision a reality.
Article
2006 June/July
- This issue of SBC Magazine features articles about legal and legislative topics.
- The Sixth Annual WTCA Legislative Conference took place in Washington, DC on May 10-12.
- Some of this issue’s other features include: how to prepare yourself and your company for a buy-out, why you should think twice about selling product through a truss broker and a victory surrounding a building labeling issue.
Article
2006 June/July
- NAHB expects residential fixed investment (RFI) to contract over the next two years.
- Perhaps it is time to diversify: less focus on new residential construction and more focus on remodeling, industrial markets, and non-residential construction.
- To do this, consider getting closer to the end user.
Article
2006 June/July
- Attending BCMC allows attendees to see the latest technology that could be incorporated into their equipment replacement programs.
- Manufacturers indicated that BCMC was the best place for an exclusive look at how they can gain the benefit of having all exhibitors in one place as a resource when creating a maintenance program or weekly, monthly or quarterly checks.
Article
2006 June/July
- Technicians whose TTT certification has lapsed have less than six months to recertify under a special grace period.
- Starting January 1, 2007, the new recertification system will send a reminder email to the student and training manager 45 days prior to the expiration date on the technician’s original certificate.
- Technicians can choose from a number of industry-related activities to create their own customized recertification program.
Article
2006 June/July
Article
2006 June/July
- Deferred submittals are permitted by the model IRC code.
- The building official, at his or her discretion, may or may not require the submission of TDDs at the time the permit for the structure is requested.
Article
2006 June/July
- Relationships with high schools are great because they can bring in new blood into a company.
- Bruce Bain of Richco Structures gives presentations at the local technical college that he graduated from.
- Keith Azlin has been working with WTCA-Arizona to set up an internship program between the two ITT Technical Institutes and component manufacturers.
Article
2006 June/July
- Think ahead so you are prepared before you get a phone call or visitor interested in purchasing your business.
- Thinking about your role after the business is sold is one of the first decisions you should consider.
- Because the buyer will want to understand the operations and financial aspects of your business, be prepared for a lengthy timeline and some disruption.
- Consider a confidentiality agreement in order to keep the control of the process in your court.
Article
2006 June/July
- Builders, contractors and lumberyards who buy components are not best served when the component design and manufacturing is undertaken by more than one company.
- "Truss brokers" sell components to build-ers, contractors, and/or lumberyards but maintain no manufacturing facility. They either carry out component design and placement or hire it out to third parties.
- Component manufacturers’ liability risk grows exponentially if they manufacture to designs created by others.
Article
2006 June/July
- His prophecy was that the kind of automation we were involved in would make a world of difference in a truss plant when it came to employee morale and overall employee performance.
- When you install a new piece of equipment like an automated saw, your plant will perk up in ways you likely hadn’t anticipated.
Article
2006 June/July
- Risk management consultant Nancy Frush embraces a concept called holism.
- Nancy encourages component manufacturers to be proactive by holding health workshops to encourage healthy living habits.
- Nancy teaches that management figures should be leaders who set examples, admit when they are wrong, and are honest and caring about the employees.
- Barriers in the workplace are created by placing too much focus on titles.
Article
2006 August
- Our industry supports immigration reform that emphasizes security while also recognizing manufacturers’ workforce needs.
- Immigrant populations play a vital role in helping meet our workforce demand.
- There is a lot we can do on the local legislative front. Get involved on the state and local district level by making contacts with your lawmakers.
Article
2006 August
- This issue of SBC Magazine features articles about legal and legislative topics.
- The Sixth Annual WTCA Legislative Conference took place in Washington, DC on May 10-12.
- Some of this issue’s other features include: how to prepare yourself and your company for a buy-out, why you should think twice about selling product through a truss broker and a victory surrounding a building labeling issue.
Article
2006 August
- Without the diagonal brace, the only thing the lateral member(s) ensures is that the webs to which they are attached will be-have as a unit and buckle together in the same direction if and/or when the buckling load is reached.
- The single diagonal brace and web reinforcement options satisfy the need for bracing individual trusses and truss members, but not the stability bracing of the entire building system.
- BCSI-B3 Web Member Permanent Bra-cing/Web Reinforcement provides indus-try recommendations and methods for restraining web members against buckling.
Article
2006 August
- NAHB expects residential fixed investment (RFI) to contract over the next two years.
- Perhaps it is time to diversify: less focus on new residential construction and more focus on remodeling, industrial markets, and non-residential construction.
- To do this, consider getting closer to the end user.