Jobsite Documents

Determining Truss Manufacturer From Stamps On Lumber

Question: 

I'm trying to find out who the truss manufacturer was that built the trusses in my home. I was told that there is usually a stamp on the side of the bottom chord. All I found was “2400F 2.0E.” What am I looking for? The other chords only have material stamps. Can you tell me what kind of information I should be looking for to find out who the manufacturer was?

Installing Valley Sets

Question: 

What are the requirements for installing “valley set” overlay roof trusses? I am interested in nailing and support conditions. Some engineers ask for the bottom chord of the valley truss to be ripped to match the roof pitch of the underlying trusses. Is this necessary?

Necessity Of Tags

Question: 

Are trusses required to have tags on all bearings that are not at the heel location? What about tags on webs requiring lateral reinforcement?

Uplift Values On Truss Design Drawings

Question: 

I am a building inspector and I have a question on information provided on truss design drawings. What does the uplift reaction number represent? Some manufacturers are very specific and state “to provide for mechanical connection of the truss to the top plate with a connector capable of withstanding a specific load.” Others simply list the uplift reaction with no further information. These are the ones that have caused a debate as to what the number actually represents.

Submittal Packages and Jobsite Packages: What Should Be Included?

In order to promote the safe installation of building components including trusses, manufacturers send out a Jobsite Package to the construction site with the truss delivery. These Jobsite Packages include the Truss Submittal Package. The Truss Submittal Package includes the information that if required will be submitted to the Contractor/Building Designer, who if required will submit it to the local building official.

What the Code Says: Truss Placement Diagrams

Truss placement diagrams (TPDs) may be one of the more misunderstood documents in our industry. 

Trusses with a Twist

Woodhaven designed and built the roof and floor trusses for the Spruce Street Shul. Woodhaven also supplied the lumber and hardware for the project.

Truss Industry Standard of Care Issues: Part 2

The purpose of this article series is to identify truss-related structural issues sometimes missed due to the day-in and day-out demands of truss design/production and the fragmented building design review and approval process. This series will explore issues in the building market that are not normally focused upon, and provide recommended best-practice guidance.

From a McDonald’s Napkin to BCSI: Educating Customers on Proper Installation & Bracing

  • 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.

Installation Instructions

  • Sending a Jobsite Package with each truss delivery is a good way to share safe installation and bracing recommendations with framers.
  • In the near future, SBCA is committed using SBCRI testing to optimize BCSI guidelines.
  • We hope to change bracing design by combining temporary and permanent bracing into one step.
  • Information about installation tolerances can be found in the B1 Summary Sheet.