SBCA's Sample Customer Contract Language Defining CM Scope of Work
The following provides SBCA's proposed best practice contract language for CMs to use as a standardize approach with respect to defining their scope of work. The grey highlighted text ties most directly to the commentary provided after the proposed sample language.
Proposed Sample Contract Language
All trusses and components (“Trusses”) will be designed and manufactured in accordance with ANSI/TPI 1, the National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction (“TPI-1”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are as defined in TPI-1
The Truss Design Drawings (TDDs) to be provided by the Truss Manufacturer represent acceptance of design and engineering responsibility for the design of the single Truss depicted only. The design assumptions, loading conditions, suitability and use of the Trusses depicted shall be verified by both the Contractor and Building Designer.
The lumber design values utilized in the truss designs correspond to the grade stamp noted on the TDDs which grade stamp is to be identified by the Truss Manufacturer prior to cross cutting for manufacturing purposes.
The published lumber design values (a) are calculated and administered by the lumber rules writing agencies using a property range or bending correlation, and are not tension proof tested, (b) are approved by the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) as published design data that are representative of the strength and stiffness of specific grades and species/species groups of lumber, and (c) are further known by ALSC and the lumber rules writing agencies as individual visually or mechanically graded lumber pieces which do not have precise design values.
The Truss Manufacturer cannot therefore verify or warrant that published lumber design values will exist within the lumber utilized in the Truss when manufactured and delivered.
Contractor shall review and approve, prior to manufacturing the Truss Submittal Package, which includes (a) the TDDs and in particular the design parameters set forth therein and (b) the Truss Placement Diagrams (TPDs), if required to be supplied by the Construction Documents or by this contract.
Contractor furthermore shall submit or cause to submit the Truss Submittal Package to the Building Designer for review and approval or for a notation that specific corrections are noted for re-submittal.
Upon transmittal of the Truss Submittal Package as a delivery package and delivery of the Trusses to Contractor, Contractor shall read all notes and instructions in the TDDs and TPDs and review the practices and guidelines of BCSI and/or its summary sheets as published by the Truss Plate Institute and the Structural Building Component Association. The field use of the Trusses, including handling, storage, installation, bracing and inspection shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.
Truss Design. This TDD utilizes Metal Connector Plate (“MCP”) manufacturer and lumber industry published design values (mechanically or visually graded as indicated), which have been incorporated into the referenced MCP manufacturer’s design software program.
The lumber design values utilized in the truss design correspond to the grade stamp noted on the TDD which grade stamp is to be identified by the Truss Manufacturer prior to cross cutting for manufacturing purposes.
The published lumber design values (a) are calculated and administered by the lumber rules writing agencies using a property range or bending correlation, and are not tension proof tested, (b) are approved by the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) as published design data that are representative of the strength and stiffness of specific grades and species/species groups of lumber, and (c) are further known by ALSC and the lumber rules writing agencies as individual visually or mechanically graded lumber pieces which do not have precise design values.
Neither the Truss Manufacturer nor the Truss Design Engineer can therefore verify or warrant that published lumber design values will exist within the lumber utilized in the Truss when manufactured and delivered
Commentary on Implementation by any CM:
Each individual CM will implement this standard language, as modified per their legal counsel, into their contracts process as they deem appropriate. The TPI member role will be to help facilitate the language in all their standard TDD and TPD formats.
Commentary: ANSI TPI 1 states the following:
2.3.4 Requirements of the Contractor.
2.3.4.1 Information Provided to the Truss Manufacturer.
The Contractor shall provide to the Truss Manufacturer a copy of all Construction Documents pertinent to the Building Structural System and the design of the Trusses (i.e., framing plans, specifications, details, structural notes), and the name of the Building Designer if not noted on the Construction Documents.
Amended Construction Documents upon approval through the plan review/permitting process shall be immediately communicated to the Truss Manufacturer.
2.3.2.1 Construction Documents.
The Construction Documents shall be prepared by the Building Designer and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed, and show in detail that such documents conform to the Legal Requirements, including the Building Code
2.3.4.2 Information Provided to the Building Designer.
The Contractor, after reviewing and/or approving the Truss Submittal Package, shall forward the Truss Submittal Package to the Building Designer for review.
2.3.4.3 Truss Submittal Package Review.
The Contractor shall not proceed with the Truss installation until the Truss Submittal Package has been reviewed by the Building Designer.
2.3.6.3 Alternate Truss Designs.
If an alternative or partial set of Truss design(s) is proposed by either the Truss Manufacturer or the Truss Designer, such alternative set of design(s) shall be sent to and reviewed by the Building Designer for the Building prior to manufacturing. Where the Legal Requirements mandate a Registered Design Professional for buildings, these alternative set of design(s) do not require the seal of the Truss Designer until accepted by the Building Designer, whereupon these alternative Truss Design Drawings shall be sealed by the Truss Designer.
Commentary: Lumber design values from ALSC, April 2006 stating in pertinent part:
American Lumber Standard Committee, Incorporated
April 5, 2006
Mr. Kirk Grundahl
Wood Truss Council of America
6300 Enterprise Lane
Madison, WI 53719-1140
Dear Kirk,
Thank you for your letter of March 21, 2006. I will attempt to answer each question in the order listed in your letter…..
Q.l d. The questions we have include: What does this cutting process do to the grade of lumber used in the truss? This is a critical question for our industry given that we have been assuming that the lumber design properties hold per the original grade stamp as pieces are cut in the variety of ways that we cut the lumber.
A: When lumber is cross cut the grade is seldom affected. There are some exceptions such as, re-grading for shake or splits in very short pieces cut from long pieces. Appearance characteristics may also be affected. I am not sure what you mean by "linear cutting", but if the lumber is cut, it retains the grade if that cutting is a cross cut or an angle-cut, but not if it is a ripped longitudinally…..
Q. 3a. It has been our position as an industry that we do not have to worry about the lumber grade of the incoming lumber that we purchase. If it is properly grade stamped by an ALSC approved agency, then we can rely on the design properties of that stick of lumber and design and manufacture a truss accordingly. Is this the appropriate position for our industry to take?
A. Yes-but the truss manufacturer has the responsibility to use the product as intended and defined in the grading rules, and in conformance with the specifications of the truss design……
Commentary: Lumber design value definition from DOC PS 20-15 American Softwood Lumber Standard
American Softwood Lumber Standard
Effective April, 2015
2.6 Design values-- Published design data that are representative of the strength and stiffness of specific grades and species/species groups of lumber.