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Article
2006 Sept/Oct
- Charlie Hoover has observed the hurricane damage of many storms: Hazel, Hugo, Andrew, Charley, Katrina and Wilma.
- In his experience, Hoover notes it is rare to observe a member failure. Instead, failures are typically caused by undersized connections or the absence of connections.
- The U.S. has transitioned from three major regional codes to the single International Building Code (IBC), reducing the number of different codified wind design methodologies.
Article
2008 June/July
- The National Weather Service estimates that there are 25 million lightning flashes each year.
- Burns, nerve damage and cardiac arrest can happen when lightning strikes someone.
- Invest in surge protectors to protect computers and other electronics for power surges.
Article
2008 Jan/feb
- A CGL policy typically provides limited protection for certain activities as long as losses result in bodily injury and/or property damage.
- The type and limits of insurance will depend on the extent of component design activities in which your company engages.
- Check your CGL policy for a professional services endorsement; if it exists take action to delete it.
Article
2005 Sept/Oct
- Online Risk and Liability Management Best Practices for the Structural Compon-ent Manufacturing Industry, or ORisk, is currently in development and scheduled to be release within the next month.
- Phase 1 of ORisk contains the foundation content necessary to understand more advanced risk management.
- Any employee who works closely with risk management, claims handling, in-surance, safety and customer contracts should consider viewing Phase 1.
Article
2008 June/July
- Being aware of the big, bad seven is a step toward establishing a fairly-worded contract instead of a one-sided contract.
- “Pay-if-paid” or conditional payment provisions mean if the Builder is not paid by a project owner, the CM is not entitled to be paid.
- You are likely to see many lengthy insurance requirement provisions in most Builder contract forms.
Article
2005 Jan/Feb
- WTCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel has presented many of the risk management and liability avoidance programs, which will soon be available online in an up-dated and modified format.
- At BCMC 2004, one question in the Manufacturers’ Roundtable was the im-portance of handling truss collapses proactively and the need to establish guidelines on how to properly conduct truss collapse investigations.
Article
2010 June/July
- Use a checklist to make sure you don’t skip an important step in your risk management procedures.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel—use the SCORE program, BCMC and ORisk as tools to develop best practices around.
- Effectively use attorneys, and be very careful when agreeing to allow an insurance company to defend you.
Article
2009 June/July
- Builders and condominium developers have seen an increase in construction defect lawsuit filings asserted by homeowners whose homes are valued far below their mortgage balances.
- The increased numbers of construction defect lawsuits will inevitably involve lower tier suppliers, including component manufacturers.
- Being able to document that a Jobsite Package was received by the customer and the truss erector is a risk management measure that can protect component manufacturers from products and completed operations risks.
Article
2005 June/July
- The benefit of belonging to an association is that it is the one place where a group of competitors can work to positively protect and advance the industry in which they are involved.
- The detriment of belonging to an association occurs when anti-free-market activities begin to take place.
- Knowing where competitors can collaborate and where not to tread is extremely important.
Article
2006 Sept/Oct
- Pre-start checklists can be likened to regular maintenance on your car at a "quick lube place"—fast and necessary.
- Having all of the safety hazards in order while managing your maintenance scheduling means that pre-start checklists will actually save you time in the long-run, and they may even save one of your employees from a possible injury, too!
Article
2010 December
- Gravity loads causes trusses to deflect.
- Dead loads are permanent loads.
- Camber is an upward curvature built into a truss to compensate for dead load deflection.
Article
2010 December
- Toyota is known for using lean manufacturing in its operations, and many manufacturers (like Shelter Systems) in our industry use them as well.
- Since acquiring lumber just in time isn’t possible, Shelter Systems adjusted its lean principles and decided to stockpile lumber to manage price volatility.
- The uncertainty created by lumber price volatility is a huge risk for all component manufacturers.
- Through SBCA, manufacturers could pool their purchasing power and get lumber producers to listen to concerns about this volatility and other issue
Article
2010 November
- Joe Hikel from Shelter Systems Limited (Westminster, MD) is this year’s SBCA President.
- Hikel worked up through the ranks in the family business, doing everything from component assembly to truss design to sales.
- SBCA plays a very important role in Shelter’s pursuit of running a state-of-the-art operation.
Article
2010 November
- BCSI recommends that lumber used for restraining and bracing trusses be stress-graded.
- Stress-graded lumber is graded for mechanical properties like strength and stiffness.
- Stress-graded lumber can be found in visual grades, MSR and MEL grades.
- AF&PA’s Supplement to the National Design Specification® (NDS®) includes the design values for all commercially available lumber in the U.S.
Article
2010 Sept/Oct
- Thank you for your SBCA membership!
- Our industry is unique in that we are willing to help people who need it more than we do.
- BCMC Build 2010 will take place September 27-28 in Charlotte.
Article
2010 Sept/Oct
- Section 2304.11 of the International Building Code® (IBC®) identifies the conditions where protection from decay and termites is required.
- Building codes establish minimum requirements; the building designer may specify more stringent requirements.
- Presenting a range of options and their costs to the building designer and your customer will make you a more valuable supplier.
Article
2010 August
- BCSI recommends using the Alternate Installation Method for lifting and setting truss assemblies.
- The top chord, bottom chord and webs should be braced prior to lifting the trusses.
- Always consult a Professional Engineer when setting an assembly with long-span trusses.
Article
2010 August
- One of the most beneficial solutions is the use of the live deck in front of the saw.
- Saw setup times have improved dramatically.
- Even though there are many material handling solutions out there, it’s common for one solution to actually become the next problem.
Article
2010 June/July
- I had the opportunity to meet with two lawmakers vying for the same Senate seat during the 2010 SBCA Legislative Conference.
- Though they come from different sides of the aisle, they agree that more legislation is needed to curb foreclosures and free up credit for builders.
- Rep. Pryor’s office helped get tickets for a neat U.S. Marine Corps parade while we were in town. It never hurts to ask!
Article
2010 June/July
- Multiple-ply truss girders can be assembled in manufacturing facilities or at the jobsite.
- Specific ply-to-ply connections of multi-ply trusses are specified on truss design drawings.
- TPI 1-2007 defines multi-ply girder assembly requirements in section 7.5.5.1.
- Proprietary screw manufacturers will have recommendations on how to fasten plies together.