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- 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
- Clearspan Components in Meridian, MS is one of the oldest wall panel manufacturers in the country, servicing the multi-family housing industry.
- The company embraces a culture of grassroots efficiency in its wall panel and roof and floor truss shops.
- A custom-built internal database organizes the company’s processes from sales to design to production to delivery to invoicing.
- The “finished goods identification and control system” addresses the issue of skilled labor on the jobsite.
Permanent bracing and continuous lateral restraint is sometimes required within trussed systems to provide long-term stability and/or lateral force resistance. Individual structural components are designed to withstand loading conditions within a particular plane, so there are instances where the building designer may specify the use of permanent building stability bracing.
- 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.
- CMs deal with customers with a wide range of skill sets, including those who have drawn their house plans on a McDonald’s paper napkin. I wish I were making this up!
- While CMs are not responsible for ensuring that customers brace jobs correctly, they can provide BCSI documents to help customers build a better building and stay safe.
- The BCSI book and B-Series Summary Sheets are a CM's saving grace, especially if the customer plans to install the trusses on their own or not hire an engineer of record.
In this issue, we take a look at the Framing the American Dream (FAD) project and the value it has for component manufacturers (CMs). This FAD overview lays the foundation for future articles in which we’ll go into greater depth on specific benchmarking data. A comment from Jack Dermer, president of American Truss, sums it up: “Now that the latest study is completed, the next step is for component manufacturers to look at their own markets and find different ways to talk about the study so it’s applicable to their own unique situations.”
One of the best ways to ensure your remote designers feel like an integral part of the team is to make an effort to get everyone physically in the same place from time to time. Dan Morris, truss design manager at Apex in Jacksonville, Florida, notes that while they have regular interactions over the phone or through online meetings, they’ve also learned that “you need to have face-to-face time” to keep the team unified.
As hiring remote truss designers becomes increasingly common for the component manufacturing industry, ensuring those same designers don’t feel like they’re alone on an island (even if they actually are) needs to be an important factor in your plan. Finding strategies to help all of your employees feel valued and included isn’t a new concept, but shifting the approach for your remote team members can go a long way to establish a solid foundation in your design department.
If you knew Bob Halteman, founder of Wood Truss Systems, or ever interacted with him, you knew he wasn’t a salesman. Sure, his job (and the purpose of his company) was to sell fabrication equipment to the structural components industry, but he wasn’t in sales. He was in solutions.
Have you ever wished SBC Magazine had a brief summary of the great stuff inside each issue? Your wish has been granted! This year we are giving Jess Lohse (Rocky Mountain Truss) an advanced copy of the magazine each month and asking him to write down his thoughts about what he reads. Thanks, Jess, for giving us your CM perspective!
In an industry that requires competition and innovation, one man separated himself from all the others for over forty years: Dwight Hikel. Many in the industry know his story but some may not. Shelter Systems Limited started out as a small, 14,000-square-foot plant in 1976 and has grown into a cutting edge, 120,000-square-foot truss manufacturing facility. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident.
- From NAHB’s perspective, the ALSC/SPIB Southern Pine design value effective date of June 1, 2013, is optional until local building departments enforce those values.
- Scott Ward shares a first-hand experience of the devaluing of engineering where the new lumber design values apply only to the “truss people.”
- Engineered components result in a safer, more reliable, better quality, and more affordable structure; now we need to demonstrate definitive proof, and SBCRI was built for a time just like this.
Rick Parrino will tell you that one of the most important business decisions a component manufacturer (CM) can make is to foster new and beneficial relationships with building and fire officials, builders, elected officials, and all other trades. Doing so gives CMs a new lens through which to view the manufacturing and installation of the trusses, wall panels, and engineered products they sell.
Having just attended the ProSales 100 Conference in San Antonio this year, one thing is very evident: Builders are looking for off-site construction solutions (wall panels, floor panels, roof trusses, etc.) that will limit the number of tire tracks onsite and help address the skilled labor shortage. The national builders also understand the importance of reviewing their workflow and portfolio of plans to eliminate wasted steps and streamline designs.
Consider for a moment the basics of manufacturing a truss. Based on SBCA’s 2012 Financial Performance Survey, lumber accounts for roughly 40 percent of the total cost. Plates account for about eight percent of the total cost. Design and production labor account for 30 percent, and delivery, sales and overhead account for the remaining 22 percent (these are rough industry averages). All other things being equal, if you could decrease your lumber costs by a few percentage points while raising your plate costs a small amount, would you take the trade-off?
- The exception to IRC Section R602.3.2 allows for the use of a single top plate in a wood stud wall if the design meets specific requirements.
- By cutting the volume of lumber in the top plate in half, a single top plate allows more space for insulation and can reduce thermal bridging through the lumber, which increases the thermal efficiency of the wall system.
- When trusses are centered over the studs with a tolerance of not more than 1", the stud spacing can be increased to 24" o.c., which removes more lumber, improves energy efficiency and still provides a continuous load path.
- To determine if the use of a single top plate is beneficial, a number of factors must be weighed.
- When the IRC provides a solution that cannot be supported by testing of real buildings in a code-compliant application of braced walls, more accurate and technically correct engineered solutions will never be able to compete.
- There is some resistance in the market to establishing standard factors for product equivalency or system performance because it may result in non-wood products graining an advantage over traditional OSB market share.
- A top testing priority for SBCA is “Framing the American Dream III,” which seeks to test a typical stick framed roof and compare its performance to an identical engineered truss roof.
Last summer, Superstorm Sandy caused an estimated $65 billion worth of damage in the U.S., a total surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina in American history. Sandy was the largest hurricane on record to hit the Atlantic Coast, at over 1,100 miles in diameter. So while it hit the New Jersey shores the hardest, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its disastrous effects were felt as far inland as Wisconsin and Michigan.
While the chaos and destruction wrought by this powerful natural force is sobering, it’s hard not to simultaneously focus on the positive stories that came out of such events. One such story is that of Cussewago Truss LLC in Cambridge Springs, PA. It’s a tale of the marvels of wood, the value of engineering and the fruits of a well-executed plan.
- Homeowners and building officials alike often wonder if damaged trusses should be replaced or repaired.
- If a truss is damaged or altered it does not need to be replaced but it must be repaired.
- It is important to repair a damaged truss because truss members can quickly become overloaded if a truss is damaged or altered.
- WTCA has a great deal of information that can help make the inspection of trusses easier to understand and perform.
- Truss designers and truss manufacturers only provide individual truss inspection information.
- The roof or floor truss system inspection information must come from the owner, builder/framer or building designer.
SBCA offers a number of resources to help draft a truss collapse response plan.
- To address the challenge of finding skilled truss technicians, Chambers Truss has partnered with a local high school.
- Each semester, Coach Cash's drafting classes learn basic truss design and build a 3D home model.
- Since it began, the program has yielded many truss technicians for south Florida component manufacturers.
Long span trusses are 60' or greater in length. A long span truss can pose a greater risk to installers because the dimensions and weight of the truss itself can create instability, buckling and collapse of the truss if it is not handled, installed and braced properly. Long span trusses can be installed safely and efficiently but they require more detailed safety and handling measures than short span trusses.
- 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.
Floor trusses are the solution to many floor framing challenges presented in today's complex and sophisticated building designs. In addition to the space allowed for mechanical and plumbing runs, floor trusses can reduce framing time, material waste and callbacks.
See the resources below for more information on how to specify, install and brace floor trusses.
- Back in the ‘80s, truss technicians had to input the lengths, bearing locations and any concentrated loads on a truss other than a standard truss.
- Today’s truss design software helps streamline truss technicians’ work, but fundamental design, engineering and building code concepts are still important.
- Design technology gives us the capability to take designs to the next level and spec in a wide range of products from wall panels to steel trusses.
- The time has come to embrace all structural building component materials.
- BCSI-B2 provides temporary bracing guidance for trusses spaced up to 24 inches on-center.
- BCSI-B10 offers temporary bracing guidance for wide on-center trusses such as those used in post frame buildings.
- Truss Designers note on Truss Design Drawings that truss top chords must be laterally braced by the roof sheathing to prevent the top chord from buckling.
- When purlins are specified, check with the Truss Designer to determine the maximum unbraced length of the top chord between purlins to avoid top chord buckling.