HISTORY AND POLICY: The WTCA Chapters, Committees, and Board of Directors are committed to advancing the marketing committee interests and objectives of our industry as follows.

SOLUTIONS:

• To realize all the benefits that BCMC and SBC Magazine provide to our industry we will help in the sales efforts by encouraging those companies supplying products to member companies to participate and support us in growing and advancing our industry’s interests; supporting our industry and their company’s proprietary business sales/marketing interests through advertising in SBC Magazine and exhibiting at BCMC; and joining and participating in our association. We will obtain staff assistance as needed to support our efforts. We will provide all contact information to WTCA so that it can maintain a complete and up-to-date database.
• To foster WTCA’s products and services to become more widely utilized within our industry to assist in the proper application of, to enhance safety and to genuinely warn and instruct on the use of the products we manufacture to help advance the interests of all component manufacturers. We believe that being strong advocates of our association work will help us realize the goals we all have of improving the market share and overall business opportunities for component construction.
• To help develop key literature and services that will benefit all members of WTCA, we will bring to the attention of the board, committee or staff key industry issues that would benefit from the collective input and assistance from WTCA.

Approved Marketing Committee 03/02/2002

Upon retirement from the industry, or upon ceasing to be in the employ of a member company, the member will be offered a complimentary member status and a complimentary invitation to the BCMC. In addition, all past presidents shall receive emeritus member status, which shall include non-voting status and lifetime board membership status.
Approved Executive Committee 10/14/2002

Upon retirement from the industry, or upon ceasing to be in the employ of a member company, members who have received the Hall of Fame, Dick Bowman Industry Enthusiast or the SBC Industry Leadership Award will be offered a complimentary member status and a complimentary invitation to each BCMC show.
Approved Executive Committee10/14/2000
Updated 2/23/2007

To monitor, advise and offer direction concerning important component manufacturer (CM) specific industry matters. The goal is to facilitate a forum to discuss critical CM issues and create draft policy or provide direction/recommendations for consideration by the appropriate committee or Board of Directors.

Approved CM Roundtable 8/17/05

Each association serves specific needs of the Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss industry. Truss Plate Institute (TPI) exists to meet the common needs of the Metal Plate Connector Manufacturers. WTCA exists to meet the common needs of the Structural Building Components Industry. The mission statements of each organization follow.

TPI Mission Statement
To maintain the wood truss industry on a sound engineering basis. To accomplish its purpose, the Truss Plate Institute establishes methods of design and construction for wood trusses in accordance with the American National Standards Institute's accredited consensus procedures for coordination and development of American National Standards.

WTCA Mission Statement
What We Are…
WTCA – Representing the Structural Building Components Industry.
WTCA is the information conduit for our membership to stay abreast of leading-edge marketplace issues. We disseminate this information through educational seminars, membership support, WTCA chapters and our industry publications.
Our Purpose…
We provide the services our membership needs to continue expanding the market share of all structural building components by promoting the common interests of those engaged in manufacturing trusses, wall panels and related structural components to ensure growth, continuity and increased professionalism, which will strengthen the structural building component manufacturing industry's influence.
What We Do…
• WTCA formulates policy that protects and advances the interests of its members by initiating and carrying out projects that address membership concerns and promote industry marketplace interests.
• WTCA acts as the voice of the structural building components industry to legislative, regulatory and standards-generating agencies.
• WTCA provides membership services, including addressing technical questions, serving members through the creation of various products and publications, and providing support to each WTCA committee.
• WTCA supports each of its chapters to enable our industry to put a human face on the structural building components industry.
• WTCA supports research, development and testing of structural building components - trusses, wall panels, and related structural components - to root the industry in sound engineering and improve the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our products, for the purpose of achieving greater product acceptance.
For Whom...
All structural building component businesses, material and equipment suppliers, and industry professionals.
Why...
WTCA desires to promote the consistent, safe, economic, and structurally sound design, construction and use of structural building components, thereby increasing their market penetration.
By successfully implementing its policies and serving the needs of its membership, WTCA will have the potential to make a significant difference on behalf of the entire structural building components industry.

To make the maximum use of industry resources and to minimize/prevent duplication of effort and redundancy between the associations, a litmus test has been developed. This test provides a “checklist” to determine which association should be actively involved in or take the lead for any association/industry initiative.
TPI’s focus, involvement and lead:
• Truss plate design and manufacturing.
• The design methods and methodology used to create and all references placed on the truss design documents.
• ANSI/TPI consensus standards development process.
• Publication of ANSI consensus standards for Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses.
• Building code regulations that influence truss design and software development.
• Third party quality inspection

WTCA’s focus, involvement and lead:
• Component manufacturing issues as they pertain to, engineering and technology, codes and standards, in-plant quality, safety, risk management, insurance and legislation.
• Marketing and promotion of Structural Building Components.
• Resolution of local/regional marketplace, code and legislative issues as they pertain to component manufacturing.
• Component manufacturer and component manufacturer customer oriented education and training programs.
• Any issues surrounding the use of components by component manufacturer customers.

Resolution to express our appreciation for the work that the ICC is doing to create a more uniform building code process throughout the U.S. We sincerely support the hard work that the ICC has done in this area and pledge our help in state and local code adoption efforts.

Approved Board of Directors 8/13/04

Upon the occurrence of a domestic natural disaster, WTCA will do the following:
• Create and send a mass email to WTCA membership on where and how they can make donations to provide assistance. These donations can be made individually or through the WTCA chapters.
• Create a web site page to provide information and web site links to where and how individuals can make donations to provide assistance. These donations can be made individually or through the WTCA chapters.

One goal of WTCA–National is to help local manufacturers be more successful in their businesses by acting collectively with their competitors on issues of common industry concern. A group of people working together to promote a common interest will create results more effectively than individuals working separately toward the same end, since there is no duplication of effort. Also, a unified group has more clout than individuals acting alone. Some examples of goals more easily achieved by a chapter than by individual companies are:

EDUCATION AND MARKETING: Since the association is viewed as an independent entity with no proprietary interest and no strong product sales bias, it is easier to:

Provide education on the features and benefits of truss construction to contractors, architects and engineers and, simultaneously, expand the market for the use of our products.
Educate local building officials in the features and benefits of trusses, and their proper use.
Educate fire officials about the truss industry, especially on the fire performance of trusses.
Prepare promotional material for all truss manufacturers to use. We can provide promotional materials with a consistent message to the marketplace at a reasonable cost to produce.
Work with local technical schools to provide educational materials.
Educate yourselves in a variety of topics.

LEGISLATION: We can limit the amount of national legislation that is adverse to the truss industry and/or small business interests by meeting with the staff of the local congressional offices of your Representatives and Senators, or with the Representatives and Senators themselves when they are in their home state. We can influence the way OSHA, the Department of Labor, EPA, etc. impact our industry.

The same applies to state government. Usually there are key state legislators with whom we can meet. Doing this our industry has a higher profile within state government, which allows us to learn more easily about adverse legislation and have a means to influence it. At the state level we can influence agencies like DOT, Department of Labor, etc.

It is also important to stay abreast of local ordinances and building code changes that are adverse to the truss industry. These changes are often the most difficult track, and can greatly restrict the use of our products. Once local ordinance and building code changes are implemented, they are very hard to remove. Chapters have the opportunity to meet with key groups in their states to build alliances instead of adversarial relationships through the development and maintenance of good lines of communication. The more we find out about adverse local actions the more we can work on resolving issues during the development phase rather than after implementation.

With a successful association, all members will be more prosperous than if the chapter were not formed.

WTCA will provide a quarterly rebate to chapters whose regular members meet a WTCA publications purchase volume of the following:

Volume Purchase/(Per Quarter) Rebate
$1,500/$150
$2,500/$250
$5,000/$300
$10,000/$500
$20,000/$1,000

As the legitimate goals of WTCA and its chapters can be achieved consistently with a properly formulated antitrust compliance program, each chapter should specifically adopt an approved antitrust compliance program. Such program should contain some or all of the following elements:

A chapter’s board of directors or other governing body should adopt a written statement confirming that it is the chapter’s policy to comply fully with federal and state antitrust laws. The statement must be clear, concise, and strongly worded. The statement should leave no doubt in the minds of the members of the chapter that antitrust compliance is a first priority. A statement similar to the antitrust statement used by WTCA nationally could be adopted by the chapters.

AGENDAS, MEETINGS AND MINUTES: A detailed agenda should be prepared for each meeting of the chapter, and if there are any potential anti-trust implications, it should be reviewed in advance by legal counsel. Counsel should furthermore be present at all meetings where anti-trust sensitive issues are discussed. Accurate minutes must also be kept for all chapter meetings. They should include statements to show the interest of the members in complying with the anti-trust laws. If anti-trust sensitive issues are discussed, the minutes should be approved by counsel before adoption.

ANTITRUST GUIDELINES: An effective way of insuring that all members of a chapter follow the anti-trust compliance policy is to issue the following specific guidelines, in the form of do’s and don’ts to which they could refer as needed: 

• Do not discuss current or future prices (be very careful of discussions of past prices).
• Do not discuss what a fair profit level is.
• Do not discuss an increase or decrease in price. 
• Do not discuss standardizing or stabilizing prices.
• Do not discuss pricing procedures. 
• Do not discuss cash discounts. 
• Do not discuss credit terms. 
• Do not discuss controlling sales. 
• Do not discuss allocating markets. 
• Do not complain to a competitor that his prices constitute unfair trade practices.

Approved Executive Committee 06/08/1998

It is recommended that in administering a credit reporting program the WTCA chapters observe the following:

• The credit group should be utilized only for credit purposes.
• The program should be of a voluntary nature.
• The information must be accurate - this is extremely important.
• Creditors should generally not be identified in the reports.
• Utilize standard credit ratings and terms. Terms such as “given to attorney for collection” and “notice of bankruptcy received” are also acceptable.
• If an amount owed is disputed or denied by a customer or account debtor, this should be made known on the report.
• Credit information should relate only to past due accounts, and information that is no longer current should be discarded.
• Pass on to any inquiring member any explanatory statements which the account debtor may submit (such as a dispute as to acceptability of product sold).
• Do not use the credit group as a means of boycotting or blacklisting particular customers.
• Do not determine whether or not members should sell to delinquent debtors - the members must be left free to determine on the basis of their individual judgment whether to sell to delinquent debtors.
• Otherwise comply with the antitrust policies of WTCA and the recommended antitrust policies for the WTCA chapters.

Approved Executive Committee 06/08/1998

All third party inspections should be based upon our industry standard ANSI/TPI 1, which is then completely compatible with In-Plant WTCA QC.

Approved Board of Directors 8/14/04

Quality Control Policy on Training Third Party Inspection Agencies*:

WTCA adopts a training and certification program with the third party inspectors similar to the member programs:

• Inspection agencies must first be members of WTCA.
• Inspection agencies will not be required to purchase WTCA QC; they will be furnished with the manual and forms, without program diskettes.
• Each individual company must be trained and certified directly by a WTCA staff member at the inspection agency’s expense. This training will be more in-depth than the one for members, as these inspectors will not be able to practice as much as members do. Staff will develop this program. Multiple WTCA QC Inspection Agency Inspectors/Trainers can be certified at one time, to save expenses.
• After the first individual from an inspection agency is certified to use WTCA QC inspection procedures, the agency will be considered certified. This will allow the agency to use the WTCA QC logo, and market their involvement with the program. Each individual inspector who will work with a truss plant on WTCA QC inspections must be certified separately either by WTCA or the Inspection Agency Trainer.
• Inspectors/Trainers will be re-certified every three years at the inspection agency’s expense. 
• WTCA staff will review inspections received by all third party inspectors to ensure there are properly executed inspections. WTCA staff will work with inspectors who do not use the program correctly, to remediate their understanding of the procedures. Inspectors who continually do inspections incorrectly will be decertified at the sole discretion of WTCA staff. Such inspectors may be recertified only with WTCA staff, at the agency’s expense.
• Third party inspectors will inspect the truss plant using WTCA QC at least once quarterly using the WTCA QC procedures. The third party and in-plant inspectors will both inspect the exact same trusses separately, without conferring. The third party inspector will enter his data into his program and submit this information to WTCA. The plant will enter their data into their program and submit this information to WTCA. This information will be compared by WTCA and a report will be sent to the plant and the third party inspector.

*This policy pertains only to the training of third party inspection agencies. Additional information surrounding the inspection procedures, certifications, suspension, appeal, decertification and recertification can be found in the WTCA QC Manual (Chapter IV).
Approved QC Committee 02/14/1999, and Updated and Ratified by QC Committee on 10/07/2002.

INTRODUCTION: Chapter 3 of ANSI/TPI 1-2002, National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction, contains the new quality standard for the manufacture of metal plate connected wood trusses. ANSI/TPI 1-2002 is the latest edition in a long line of truss design standards from the Truss Plate Institute (TPI), starting with the first published design criteria in 1960, designated TPI-60, and followed thereafter with subsequent editions: TPI-62, TPI-65, TPI-66, TPI-68, TPI-70, TPI-74, TPI-78, TPI-85, and the current design standard, ANSI/TPI 1-1995. Chapter 3 of ANSI/TPI 1-2002 also succeeds a long history of standards that originated in 1970 as a stand-alone Quality Control Manual (QCM), with subsequent editions: QCM-73, QCM-74, QCM-77, QST-86, QST-88, and QST-89 (Appendix P, Addendum to TPI-85). It was finally incorporated into the current design standard as Chapter 4 in ANSI/TPI 1-1995.

Development and Significance of the New Quality Standard:

At the February 25, 2000 Quality Control Committee meeting in Boise ID, an analysis of expected to actual truss manufacturing quality control results was presented. That analysis created an initiative to modify and revise the appropriate quality control and joint design sections of the ANSI/TPI 1-1995 standard to produce a more efficient and effective process.

The development of improved truss quality control (QC) began at the May 5, 2000 Component Manufacturers Discussion Forum held in conjunction with the WTCA Open Quarterly Meeting in Herndon, VA. It was decided by the thirty-one component manufacturers at that meeting, based on the QC data at their disposal, that it was of the utmost importance for the industry to better understand truss quality and the resulting structural performance of the finished product. That group recommended, and the WTCA Board of Directors approved, allocating funds to proceed with testing full-scale trusses for the purpose of gathering information which could provide a benchmark to evaluate the existing industry quality standard.

On February 15 and 16, 2001, a working group incorporating representatives from WTCA, TPI and the team that did the full scale truss testing, met with the task of reviewing the preliminary test data and findings from truss tests completed in June 2000 and January 2001. The group then proposed revisions to the QC standard for subsequent consideration and input by the ANSI/TPI 1 project committee and the public.

The QC test data indicated that a change in the QC standard was in fact, advisable and the overall goal identified by WTCA was to arrive at an in-plant QC program for truss manufacturers that:

• Is quick to do in a typical truss plant.
• Is easy to understand and implement by plant personnel.
• Provides us with the assurance that, even when we are doing QC quickly, the result will be the expected, code-mandated structural performance of the trusses that are produced.
• Keeps costs in line, yet recognizes that each of the three parameters above might cause the application of truss plates at a joint to be more conservative than a more intensive QC program would require.
• Keeps the in-plant QC inspector as its frame of reference, so that understandability and ease of implementation are assured.

Developing a structural quality standard that could be met by truss manufacturers with increased consistency and ease was equally important to TPI, in carrying out its mission of maintaining the wood truss industry on a sound engineering basis. It is recognized that the greatest assurance that a manufactured truss will perform as was originally intended by its design requires a combination of:

1. designs that account for some quality inaccuracies inherent to the manufacturing process, and
2. quality control protocols that work to consistently produce trusses in accordance with the truss designs.

Thus, the intent of the changes made to the quality standard was to improve the quality control process for truss manufacturers in recognition that maintaining overall quality of wood trusses is in the interest of public safety and welfare. Additionally, to better link quality control with truss design, a related change was made to the design standard such that the truss manufacturer can affect how much tolerance is built into the design. This change is in recognition that the truss manufacturer should appropriately choose the level of built-in quality tolerance based on individual manufacturing practices, quality assurance needs, and demonstrated conformance with minimum quality standards.

CONCLUSION: WTCA and TPI recognize the challenge in producing a QC standard that properly weighs the competing demands of efficient production and necessary structural quality. Chapter 3 of ANSI/TPI 1-2002 reflects a concerted effort and cooperation by both organizations and the consensus body to provide a QC approach that meets these demands. This effort marks a significant step forward with the quality standard, and the industry will continue to support research, development and testing of wood trusses to place itself on a sound engineering basis and improve the quality and efficiency of our products, for the purpose of obtaining greater product acceptance.
Approved Quality Control 10/07/2002

BACKGROUND: The issue is whether the construction industry is best served, and whether component manufacturing industry is harmed, through the licensing of Component Design Software Products (“Software Products”) to a person or entity other than a Component Manufacturer for its own design, manufacturing and sale of structural components.

DISCUSSION: The component manufacturing industry has grown due to the fact that the products component manufacturers design and manufacture meet the needs and demands of the building construction industry. Product acceptance and the growth of the industry are attributable to the tremendous abilities of the industry participants to design and manufacture trusses and components creatively, efficiently and cost effectively.

In achieving the goal of providing builders and contractors with safe and economical products, each component manufacturer utilizes a unique combination of component design, raw material selection, manufacturing equipment, specifically trained labor and specifically defined manufacturing procedures. WTCA component manufacturer members have a unique set of experiences, are uniquely trained in the context of these experiences, and possess the requisite technical expertise to undertake their scope of work professionally in the context of their unique manufacturing environment. Utilizing Software Products without a sufficient understanding of the unique skills and characteristics of each manufacturer could negatively impact actual performance or the perception of performance of components in the marketplace in very significant ways. The impact could also include reduced safety for truss plant workers, component installers and consumers.

Truss and component manufacturers are furthermore required to stand behind the products they manufacture and warrant that the products conform to the design and otherwise comply with industry standards and building code requirements. Not only is this a legal requirement, but also a matter of meeting customer expectations. The warranty provided by the component manufacturer includes that the product has been adequately designed as well as properly manufactured. Component manufacturers may also be called upon to indemnify and hold harmless customers and others from any property damage or bodily injury caused by the products they manufacture. If the design parameters for components are determined by and the components are designed by someone other than the component manufacturer, the component manufacturer will most likely be left with the following issues:

No legal or effective way to insure that the design work is ultimately done correctly in the context of producing the manufactured product that must conform to the design and application requirements of the construction project, and

The certainty that those persons doing the design are adequately capitalized and insured in case there are problems resulting from their designs.

There is also a great deal of intellectual property tied up in the design and manufacturing of components. If the value of such intellectual property is allowed to diminish, which is almost certain if persons or entities other than component manufacturers are designing trusses and components, the likelihood of further investment in enhancing current technology and developing new technology with respect to the design of trusses and components will diminish as well. Ultimately, the reduction in value of intellectual property could lead to the reduction in value of component manufacturing commerce overall.

POLICY: The construction industry is not best served, and the component manufacturing industry will be harmed, if Software Products are leased to, sold to, licensed to or used by any person or entity that does not design, manufacture and sell components. The Software Products should therefore only be used by licensed component manufacturers for their own design, manufacturing and sale of structural components. Excluded from this policy would be any sale and design companies who sell and design components only for a particular component manufacturer under contract or any design companies who design components only for a particular component manufacturer under contract. In such cases the licenses to use the Software Products should contain appropriate restrictions.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 07/27/2002; Updated and Ratified by the Board of Directors 10/03/2002

The truss designer’s (truss engineer) signature certifies that the individual truss design drawings are based on the positioning shown and has seen the positioning shown, and that the dimensions and loads shown on the referenced drawings match that positioning. The truss designer’s seal on the attached truss design drawings certifies acceptance of professional engineering responsibility solely for the individual truss design drawings shown. No building design or inspection is implied by the seals on the truss design drawings or truss placement plan. The truss designer is responsible for the correct application of the specified loading provided to him by the building designer and for the truss to truss connections. The building designer shall ascertain that the loads utilized on the truss design drawings meet or exceed the loading imposed by the building code. The truss designer is not responsible for:

• The transfer of lateral load from the roof to the shear walls.
• Connection of trusses to the bearing support.
• The design of the bearing supports.
• Temporary and permanent building bracing required in the roof and/or floor system.
• Transfer of vertical loads down to the foundation.
• The design of the foundation and soil.
• Analysis of the roof and/or floor diaphragms of the building.
• Connection of roof and/or floor diaphragm to the truss.
• Specifying loading used in the design of the trusses.

Approved Engineering and Technology Committee 03/02/2002

Endorsement of the U.S. National Standards Strategy (taken from a resolution drafted by the National Association of Manufacturers)

• Whereas voluntary consensus standards for products, processes and services are at the foundation of the U.S. economy and society; and,
• Whereas the exclusion of technology supporting U.S. needs from international standards can be a significant detriment to U.S. competitiveness; and,
• Whereas standards and the methods used to assess conformity to standards are vital to industry and commerce and are basic to the nation’s economic performance; and,
• Whereas the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as coordinator of the U.S. National Standards System has brought together public and private sector interests who have worked cooperatively under the auspices of ANSI to develop a U.S. national standards strategy; and,
• Whereas these public and private participants broadly agree that the strength of standardization in the U.S. is a sectoral focus supported by a dynamic infrastructure; and,
• Whereas these public and private participants broadly support the twelve goals of the U.S. national standards strategic initiatives;
• Build on the trend in government to use voluntary consensus standards through existing public/private relationships.
• Address the ongoing need for standards in support of health, safety and the environment.
• Improve the responsiveness of the standards system to the views and needs of consumer interests.
• Broaden the U.S. standards "umbrella" to include all those organizations that are contributing to the standards system.
• Work to improve processes internationally to more closely reflect our principles and vision.
• Work to harmonize the use of standards worldwide as a tool for meeting regulatory requirements. Standards developers should work with other standards bodies to identify existing standards in need of harmonization and pursue those changes.
• Provide an outreach program to show those outside the U.S. the value of U.S. technology, standards and processes.
• Improve the standards process within the U.S. to address customer needs for efficiency.
• Improve the standards process within the U.S. to address customer needs for coherence.
• Improve communications between various public and private elements of the U.S. Standards System.
• Make the value of standards development both apparent and real by educating public and private sector decision-makers about the value of standards and how to take advantage of the process.
• Establish a stable funding mechanism for the standardization infrastructure; and,
• Whereas, this strategy serves to strengthen U.S. competitiveness abroad and to build upon existing public/private partnerships to further government use of voluntary consensus standards; and,
• Whereas endorsement of the National Standards Strategy does not imply approval or agreement with any standard or method of conformity assessment, therefore:

The WTCA Board of Directors resolves to endorse the U.S. National Standards Strategy, agrees to advocate its principles and vision, and encourages its members to work to implement its strategic initiatives.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 03/02/2002

A Placement Plan may be prepared by the Component Supplier to be used as a guide for the location of the manufactured-component products within a structure.

The location of the manufactured-component products may be critical with respect to the design of the Building Structural System and, therefore, it is within the scope of responsibility of the Professional Building Designer to review the Placement Plan(s).

The Professional Building Designer must review and approve the Placement Plan(s) and apply the appropriate “shop drawing approval” stamp.

The “approved” Placement Plan(s) must be forwarded to the code enforcement official.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 01/16/1999

The WTCA Board recommends to the TPI Board that it establish a Truss Design Drawing (TDD) task group whose goal is to create a consistent approach for the display of engineering information on all TDDs, so that it is easier for every user to find the information they need on all industry TDDs. It would be beneficial to our industry to develop this consistent approach inside of the next 6 months and implement this new approach by the end of 2006.

Approved Board of Directors 10/15/05

I. Scope

This policy applies to the investment of short-term operating funds by the WTCA Investment Committee (WTCAIC), a subcommittee of the Executive Committee of the WTCA Board of Directors.

II. General Objectives
The primary objectives, in priority order, of operating funds investment activities shall be safety, liquidity, and yield:

1. Safety: Investments shall be undertaken in a manner that seeks to ensure the preservation of capital in the overall portfolio. The objective will be to mitigate credit risk and interest rate risk.

a. Credit Risk The WTCAIC will direct operating funds to be invested to minimize credit risk, the risk of loss due to the failure of the security issuer or backer, by:

-Limiting investments to the safest types of securities.
-Pre-qualifying the financial institutions, broker/dealers, intermediaries, and advisers with which the WTCAIC will do business.
-Diversifying the investment portfolio so that potential losses on individual securities will be minimized.

b. Interest Rate Risk The WTCAIC will minimize the risk that the market value of securities in the portfolio will fluctuate greatly due to changes in general interest rates by investing operating funds primarily in shorter-term securities, money market mutual funds, or similar investment pools.

2. Liquidity The investment portfolio shall remain sufficiently liquid to meet all operating requirements that may be reasonably anticipated. This is accomplished by:

a. Structuring the portfolio so that securities mature concurrently with cash needs to meet anticipated demands, as shown in the WTCA 12 month cash forecast as will be provided by the staff of the WTCA from time to time.

b. Since all possible cash demands cannot be anticipated, the portfolio should consist largely of securities with active secondary or resale markets. A portion of the portfolio also may be placed in money market mutual funds or local government investment pools that offer same-day liquidity for very short-term requirements

c. The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, employ a line of credit facility, not to exceed $500,000 if the net cost of funds and yield of acceptable investments can be optimized to produce additional funds for the WTCA.

3. Yield The investment portfolio shall be designed with the objective of maximizing yield on investments subject to the safety and liquidity constraints listed above.

III. Standards of Care

1. Prudence The standard of prudence to be used by the WTCIC shall be the "prudent person" standard and shall be applied in the context of managing an overall portfolio. The WTCIC, acting in accordance with written procedures and this investment policy and exercising due diligence, shall be relieved of personal liability for an individual security's credit risk or market price changes, provided deviations from expectations are reported in a timely fashion and the liquidity and the sale of securities are carried out in accordance with the terms of this policy.

Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the probable safety of their capital as well as the probable income to be derived.

2. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest WTCA Board members involved in the investment process shall refrain from personal business activity that could conflict with the proper execution and management of the investment program, or that could impair their ability to make impartial decisions. WTCA Board members shall disclose any material interests in financial institutions with which they conduct business. They shall further disclose any personal financial/investment positions that could be related to the performance of the investment portfolio. WTCA Board members shall refrain from undertaking personal investment transactions with the same individual with whom business is conducted on behalf of the WTCAIC.

IV. Safekeeping and Custody

1. Financial Dealers and Institutions The WTCAIC will invest funds only with reputable and established dealers, brokers and advisors. Brokers, dealers and advisors will be chosen and retained with stringent regard for their reliability and reputation.

All financial institutions and broker/dealers who desire to conduct business with the WTCAIC will certify in writing that they have read and understand this investment policy, as well as provide proof of National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) registration and any other state or national registration as may be required.

2. Internal Controls The WTCAIC will establish and annually review an internal control structure designed to ensure that the assets of the WTCA are protected from loss, theft or misuse. The internal control structure shall be designed to provide reasonable assurance that these objectives are met. An independent external auditor will be engaged annually to review the internal control structure to assure its adequacy.

V. Suitable and Authorized Investments

1. Investment Types The following investments will be permitted by this policy and are those defined by state and local law where applicable:

o U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, and U.S. government instrumentality obligations, which have a liquid market with a readily determinable market value;
o Certificates of deposit and other evidences of deposit at financial institutions, bankers' acceptances, and commercial paper, rated in the highest tier (e.g., A-1, P-1, F-1, or D-1 or higher) by a nationally recognized rating agency;
o Investment-grade obligations of state, provincial and local governments and public authorities;
o Repurchase agreements whose underlying purchased securities consist of the foregoing; and
o Money market mutual funds regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and whose portfolios consist only of U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

VI. Diversification The investments shall be diversified by:

o limiting investments to avoid over-concentration in securities from a specific issuer or business sector (excluding U.S. Treasury securities),
o limiting investment in securities that have higher credit risks,
o investing in securities with varying maturities of one year or less, and
o no single security should exceed 10% of the portfolio.

VII. Reporting

1. Methods The WTCAIC shall provide an investment report quarterly to the Executive Committee of the WTCA Board of Directors. Such report shall list the securities held in the investment portfolio with maturity date, recent period and year-to-date gains and losses, realized and unrealized gains and the weighted average yield to maturity on the portfolio as a whole.

2. Performance Standards The investment portfolio will be managed in accordance with the parameters specified within this policy. The goal of the portfolio is to obtain a market average rate of return during a market/economic environment of stable interest rates. A series of appropriate benchmarks shall be established against which portfolio performance shall be compared on a regular basis.

VIII. Policy Considerations

1. Exemption Any investment currently held that does not meet the guidelines of this policy shall be exempted from the requirements of this policy. At maturity or liquidation, such monies shall be reinvested only as provided by this policy.

2. Amendments This policy shall be reviewed by the WTCA Executive Committee on an annual basis. Any changes must be approved by the WTCA Treasurer, the WTCA Executive Committee and the WTCA Board of Directors.

Approved Board of Directors 10/9/04

I. Scope

This policy applies to the investment of long-term (non-operating and reserve) funds for the WTCA Investment Committee (WTCAIC), a subcommittee of the Executive Committee of the WTCA Board of Directors. The WTCAIC will attempt to maximize the proportion of available cash that is invested in higher-yielding reserve fund investments without subjecting the operations of the association to undue risk of a cash shortfall.

II. General Objectives
The primary objectives, in priority order, of operating funds investment activities shall be safety, maintenance of purchasing power, and liquidity.

1. Safety: Investments shall be undertaken in a manner that seeks to ensure the preservation of the purchasing power of the overall portfolio. The objective will be to ensure a zero or positive real rate of return (in excess of the rate of inflation), without taking undue credit or interest rate risk. The maintenance of purchasing power will not be pursued at the expense of compromising investment quality.

a. Credit Risk The WTCAIC will direct reserve funds to be invested to minimize credit risk, the risk of loss due to the failure of the security issuer or backer, by: 

-Limiting investments to the investment grade securities. 
-Pre-qualifying the financial institutions, broker/dealers, intermediaries, and advisers with which the WTCAIC will do business.
-Diversifying the investment portfolio so that potential losses on individual securities will be minimized.

b. Interest Rate Risk The WTCAIC will attempt to minimize the risk that the value of the portfolio will fluctuate greatly in response to general interest rate changes by structuring investments in staggered maturities of varying lengths, and by taking extra precautions to ensure that the need for operating cash will not force the sale of securities prior to maturity.

2. Maintenance of purchasing power Maintenance of purchasing power is the secondary objective of the Reserve Funds Investment Policy. For purposes of this policy, maintenance of purchasing power shall mean that the committee shall choose investments and maturities with the goal of at least equaling the rate of inflation, without violating any of the foregoing requirements for safety.

3. Liquidity The WTCAIC shall direct its Reserve Funds to be invested in securities that have active secondary markets, meaning that should a security or investment need to be sold prior to maturity; it would not have to be heavily discounted.

III. Standards of Care

1. Prudence The standard of prudence to be used by the WTCAIC shall be the "prudent person" standard and shall be applied in the context of managing an overall portfolio. The WTCAIC, acting in accordance with written procedures and this investment policy and exercising due diligence, shall be relieved of personal liability for an individual security's credit risk or market price changes, provided deviations from expectations are reported in a timely fashion and the liquidity and the sale of securities are carried out in accordance with the terms of this policy.

Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the probable safety of their capital as well as the probable income to be derived.

2. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest WTCA Board members involved in the investment process shall refrain from personal business activity that could conflict with the proper execution and management of the investment program, or that could impair their ability to make impartial decisions. WTCA Board members shall disclose any material interests in financial institutions with which they conduct business. They shall further disclose any personal financial/investment positions that could be related to the performance of the investment portfolio. WTCA Board members shall refrain from undertaking personal investment transactions with the same individual with whom business is conducted on behalf of the WTCAIC.

IV. Safekeeping and Custody

1. Financial Dealers and Institutions The WTCAIC will invest funds only with reputable and established dealers, brokers and advisors. Brokers, dealers and advisors will be chosen and retained with stringent regard for their reliability and reputation.

All financial institutions and broker/dealers who desire to conduct business with the WTCAIC will certify in writing that they have read and understand this investment policy, as well as provide proof of National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) registration and any other state or national registration as may be required.

2. Internal Controls The WTCAIC will establish and annually review an internal control structure designed to ensure that the assets of the WTCA are protected from loss, theft or misuse. The internal control structure shall be designed to provide reasonable assurance that these objectives are met. An independent external auditor will be engaged annually to review the internal control structure to assure its adequacy.

V. Suitable and Authorized Investments

1. Investment Types The following investments will be permitted by this policy and are those defined by state and local law where applicable:

o Public issue debt instruments rated S&P BBB (or equivalent) or higher;
o Investment-grade domestic obligations of state, provincial and local governments and public authorities so long as no more than 25% of the total is invested in each of the lower two investment grade categories, for 50% total (example: S&P BBB and S&P A or equivalent are the bottom 2 categories);
o Repurchase agreements whose underlying purchased securities consist of the foregoing;
o The investment portfolio shall be laddered with no single maturity longer than 10 years; and
o The duration of the overall portfolio should be a weighted average of approximately 5 years.
o If an owned investment is downgraded below BBB or equivalent, it should be liquidated and replaced with an investment that ensures the portfolio meets the criteria listed above.

VI. Diversification The investments shall be diversified by:

o limiting investments to avoid over-concentration in securities from a specific issuer or business sector (excluding U.S. Treasury securities), and
o No single security should exceed 10% of the portfolio.

VII. Reporting

1. Methods The WTCAIC shall provide an investment report quarterly to the Executive Committee of the WTCA Board of Directors. Such report shall list the securities held in the investment portfolio with maturity date, recent period and year-to-date gains and losses, realized and unrealized gains and the weighted average yield to maturity on the portfolio as a whole.

2. Performance Standards The investment portfolio will be managed in accordance with the parameters specified within this policy. The portfolio should obtain a market average rate of return during a market/economic environment of stable interest rates. A series of appropriate benchmarks shall be established against which portfolio performance shall be compared on a regular basis.

VIII. Policy Considerations

1. Exemption Any investment currently held that does not meet the guidelines of this policy shall be exempted from the requirements of this policy. At maturity or liquidation, such monies shall be reinvested only as provided by this policy.

2. Amendments This policy shall be reviewed by the WTCA Executive Committee on an annual basis. Any changes must be approved by the WTCA Treasurer, the WTCA Executive Committee and the WTCA Board of Directors.

Approved Board of Directors 10/9/04
Updated Board of Directors 10/15/05

The funds in the Account are used for General and Administrative expenses of the Council and for the general marketing and promotion of the wood truss industry and the associated activities and events. Accordingly, the funding obligations are short to intermediate in nature. The Account's assets shall be invested in accordance with sound investment practices that emphasize prudent investment fundamentals. The investment objective for the Account's assets is to provide for the preservation of capital over most market cycles, substantial current income, and sufficient liquidity to meet the needs of the Council. Accordingly, the Account shall be guided by the following underlying principles:

• A high degree of liquidity;
• Investments in high quality fixed income securities;
• Earning total returns primarily comprised of current income and with capital appreciation a secondary objective.

Approved Executive Committee 02/28/1998

WTCA’s Position on the Countervailing and Antidumping Duties
WTCA supports all actions that will result in systemic changes to the manner in which the Canadian market functions so that timber and lumber are priced in an open and competitive way (without governmentally imposed production requirements), and all U.S. companies, including U.S. wood structural component manufacturers, are able to compete in their marketplaces on a completely fair and equitable basis.

To enable U.S. component manufacturers to compete fairly with Canadian component manufacturers, a permanent resolution to this dispute must be entered into by the U.S. and Canadian governments as soon as possible. Without a resolution, the unintended consequences and competitive advantages for Canadian component manufacturers that have occurred will continue.

Many thousands of U.S. wood based manufacturing jobs, including many in your state, depend on your reasoned approach to this issue - we must get beyond the rhetoric and achieve a solution that reflects the best approach for all U.S. workers and their families.

Talking Points
The 18.8 percent countervailing and 8.4 percent antidumping (combined 27.2 percent) tariffs on lumber, which is 45 percent of the cost of a truss, has created significant and unintended economic consequences for the U.S. structural component manufacturing industry.

The tariff has caused an artificial and adverse shift in the U.S. component manufacturer’s cost structure, making Canadian structural building components more cost competitive. Canadian trusses are allegedly sold at prices that can be as much as 30 percent less than that of domestic component manufacturers.

There is a new business incentive for those that desire to bypass the tariff. (Please see appendix C.) All they need to do is manufacture value-added wood products that are exempt from the tariff – like wood trusses and wall panels. This is exemplified by the increase seen in Canadian shipments of roof trusses in the table.⁴

Almost all Canadian exports of roof trusses go to the U.S. These exports almost tripled between 1997 and 1999 from C$37.3 million to C$105.5 million, and in 1999 were equivalent to nearly 36 percent of Canadian shipments.⁵

The ratio of total U.S. imports to U.S. consumption increased from 3.4 percent in 1997 to 5.5 percent in 2002. The United States accounts for over 90 percent of Canadian exports of wood structural building components⁶. U.S. and Canadian industry representatives allege that two-tiered pricing exists in the North American market for softwood lumber, that the Canadian price advantage was larger during the U.S./Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) than in 2002, that two-tiered pricing remains in place since the imposition of U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties, and that border State truss manufacturers experience the largest competitive disadvantage because of any two-tiered price system⁷.

U.S. trade restrictions on imports of softwood lumber from Canada provide an incentive for Canadian lumber producers to use some of their lumber in the manufacture of value-added lumber products not subject to the trade restrictions⁸.

In May 2002, the Canadian Minister of Natural Resources announced that the Federal Government would spend C$75 million on three initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of the wood products industry⁹.

In the spring of 2002, the British Columbia Ministry of Forests announced that the Province would spend C$20 million to assist the wood products industry in British Columbia to expand export markets and develop new products.¹⁰

Between 1995, the first full year before the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) was implemented, and 1999, U.S. imports increased by 516 percent, from $138 million to $851 million. Because HTS heading 4418 was not subject to SLA quotas, the increase may be due in part to Canadian lumber manufacturers shifting production to remanufactured products that could be exported to the United States outside of the SLA quota restrictions. After peaking in 1999, total imports decreased by 15 percent to $723 million in 2001, but rebounded to $806 million in 2002.

Canada is the dominant supplier of these products to the U.S. market. The Canadian share of U.S. imports (by value) averaged 81 percent during 1997 to 2001. From 1995 to 1999, imports from Canada of products classified in HTS subheading 4418.90.40 increased from $101 million (73 percent of total U.S. imports) to $731 million (86 percent of total U.S. imports).¹²

From 1997 to 1999, the estimated value of U.S. imports of wood structural building components increased by 170 percent, from $169 million to $456 million. From 1999 to 2001, the value of these imports dropped by 17 percent, from $456 million to $380 million. Imports in 2002 rebounded to $394 million.¹³

What is the impact on U.S. Jobs? The ITC study suggests that there are approximately 5.6 jobs per each million dollars of sales made.14 Industry data taken from WTCA’s financial performance survey and a general WTCA membership survey suggest that the jobs per million dollars sales should be 13.1 and 10.7 respectively for our industry. Given this and using the ITC study data, we very conservatively can say the following:

• For the period from 1997 to 2002, in the builder’s joinery category above, the import sales from Canada would account for 19,810 jobs that could have been work done by U.S. workers.
• For the period from 1997 to 2002, in the wood structural building component category below, the import sales from Canada would account for 11,460 jobs that could have been work done by U.S. workers. 

^{4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} U.S. International Trade Commission Publication 3596 entitled “Conditions of Competition in the U.S. Market for Wood Structural Building Components” from ITC Investigation No. 332-445 April 2003. U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436, www.usitc.gov.

^{11, 12, 13} U.S. International Trade Commission Publication 3596 entitled “Conditions of Competition in the U.S. Market for Wood Structural Building Components” from ITC Investigation No. 332-445 April 2003. U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436, www.usitc.gov.

¹⁴ This was derived by taking the total sales dollars from 1997 to 2001 for trusses of approximately $32,800,000,000 and total truss employment in the truss industry per the census number for the same period of 182,283.

Based on industry financial performance statistics, combined with the ITC study; the structural building component industry’s steel purchases are approximately as follows:

Truss Plate Purchases $400,000,000
Related Connector Purchases $200,000,000

For truss plates, this translates into approximately 325,000 tons and for connectors an additional 130,000 tons of steel.¹⁵

The steel industry has been in a constant state of change since the Bush administration imposed tariffs on imported steel in 2001. After the tariffs were lifted in December 2003, steel consumers expected prices to drop; instead, prices have escalated 30 to 60 percent in most cases and as much as 200 percent for some specialty products. On top of the escalating cost of steel, many steel suppliers are imposing an additional surcharge on each ton of steel purchased. Although some have stated that they will cut these raw material surcharges for all May shipments, almost all have raised their base prices to offset the surcharge cuts, negating the perceived relief.

As prices continue to rise and surcharges are implemented, steel consumers have begun to stockpile supplies and explore other ways to offset rising expenses, realizing that they can no longer absorb these rapid cost increases. This has and will continue to cause uncertainty and business disruption for distributors, buyers and contractors down the supply chain.

In the last two years, our industry’s truss plate suppliers have seen a 52 percent increase in their steel costs. Clearly, over time, any and all steel cost increases will need to be passed on to truss plate supplier customers like component manufacturers, who will then need to pass this cost increase on to builders and eventually the home buyer. This will have a direct negative effect on housing affordability.

This cost increase, while harmful to construction affordability, is not our primary concern. The more significant issue is having enough supply of steel to continue to manufacture trusses. Should our industry be faced with supply restrictions/allocation, it has the possibility of having a very direct impact on the home building industry’s ability to supply housing. Why? Because roof trusses generally command a high percentage of roof framing market share nationwide as follows:

	Trusses	Rafters & Other
New England	31%	69%
Mid-Atlantic	63%	37%
East North Central	84%	16%
West North Central	77%	23%
South Atlantic	62%	38%
East South Central	33%	67%
West South Central	17%	83%
Mountain	90%	10%
Pacific	79%	21%
United States	63%	37%

If we make the following assumptions:

The truss plate industry cannot acquire all the necessary steel to supply the demand for truss plates.

•   The supply is allocated so that only 95 percent of the steel needed is available.
•   The supply is allocated so that only 90 percent of the steel needed is available.

The impact on truss industry jobs will be:

• For the 95 percent case, a minimum reduction in 2,250 jobs needed. ¹⁶
• For the 90 percent case, a minimum reduction of 4,500 jobs needed. ¹⁷
• The actual reduction in jobs may be higher, given that we expect that the reduction in steel availability will not be uniform in the market and each individual business will be affected differently.

If the truss industry cannot produce roof trusses, 63 percent of the residential roofs in the U.S. will be affected in some way.

The outcomes of this could be:

• A shift to conventional framing of the roof to meet demand; however, with the framing labor shortage that exists, not all of the demand for roof framing can be picked up by shifting away from trusses.
• Fewer residences will be built.
• Assuming that there are 1,500,000 residential housing starts, a shortage of steel would directly impact approximately 945,000 residential starts.
• With 95 percent allocation, there would be 47,250 less housing starts, which would affect 2.5 jobs that are tied to each housing start for a total jobs impact of 118,125.
• With 90 percent allocation, there would be 94,500 less housing starts, which would affect 2.5 jobs that are tied to each housing start for a total jobs impact of 236,250.

Talking Points
Trusses are engineered structural components that are assembled from wood members and metal connector plates, which are manufactured from light gauge, galvanized steel.

Truss manufacturers in the U.S. purchase more than 650,000 tons of steel annually.

An increase in the price of light gauge galvanized steel creates an artificial shift in our industry’s cost structure that will need to be passed on, ultimately to the home buyer, adversely affecting affordable housing.

The sharp increase in steel scrap exports has caused U.S. steel scrap prices to surge to unprecedented levels, and has led to serious and growing concerns about scrap availability.  This may lead to allocation of steel, which will have a direct impact on housing construction and up to 240,750 jobs that housing supports.

Given that the construction industry has been the engine of the economy the last few years, it is essential that this issue be addressed positively and proactively to protect construction industry jobs.

¹⁵ This was derived based on $8 billion of trusses being produced. Truss plates account for 4.8 percent of gross sales on average and the assumption was that the price for a pound of plates averaged $.60. The structural connections calculation was based on $9 billion in sales of both trusses and wall panels and engineered wood products. Based on our survey, 2.7 percent of the sales dollars are attributable to structural connections and we assumed the price per pound was $.75.
¹⁶ 5 percent of 45,000 jobs per the ITC study.
¹⁷ 10 percent of 45,000 jobs per the ITC study.

The continued rise in health care costs has intensified the problem of access to quality and affordable health care. Unless these costs are controlled, the structural building components industry, which produces $10 billion in annual sales, will no longer be able to provide its employees with adequate health benefits, and may have to drop health benefits entirely.

More than 80 percent of our members are small businesses that average less than $5 million in sales and 50 or less employees. Our members have experienced significant health insurance increases, averaging 20 percent. These are costs that could have been used to expand our businesses, create jobs, and develop new products.

Five or fewer insurers control at least three-quarters of the small group market in most states.¹⁸  This lack of competition is contributing to double-digit rate increases for many small businesses and a resulting rise in the number of small business employees who are uninsured.

In 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau showed that the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 5.7 percent to a total of 43.6 million. Again, the greatest increase in the percentage of the uninsured was among the employed.

In President Bush’s January 2004 State of the Union address, he stated: “To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs. Small businesses should be able to band together and negotiate for lower insurance rates, so they can cover more workers with health insurance - I urge you to pass Association Health Plans.”

Talking Points

Bi-partisan S. 545 would ensure that Association Health Plans (AHPs) are a viable option for America’s small business sector and their employees. (Partnering legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives - H.R. 660 - was passed June 2003.)

Federal AHPs would eliminate the need to seek out insurance brokers to find high-priced coverage with minimal benefits that vary from state to state. This plan would allow for consistency with federal mandates.

Small business would benefit from reduced premiums through AHPs. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that small businesses obtaining insurance through AHPs should experience premium reductions of 13 percent on average and up to 25 percent. The range of benefit is just over $1,000 to more than $1,900 for the average family health plan offered by small business.

AHPs would allow affordable health care for a greater number of employees by permitting our 1,800 locations to group together to purchase insurance.

As many as 8.5 million previously uninsured workers would receive coverage if this legislation was enacted.¹⁹

Small businesses would be able to take advantage of the same regulatory status, purchasing clout, economics scale and administrative efficiencies that many large corporations currently utilize.

AHPs protect the structural building components industry’s ability to control health care costs, stay in business, and stay competitive.

AHPs would ensure that our employees have the best medical coverage to keep them safe.

^{18, 19} Congressional Budget Office, 2002

Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to: (1) permanently ban taxes on Internet access and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce; and (2) repeal the ban exception for a tax on the sale or use of Internet services that was generally imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998.

Talking Points
WTCA’s membership communicates with its suppliers on a daily basis using the Internet.

The majority of the engineering collaboration that takes place between suppliers and customers is Internet-based.

WTCA and its membership communicate regularly using the Internet as a primary vehicle for communication.

WTCA provides many membership services, such as online training, publications ordering, etc., that use the Internet as the communication vehicle.

²¹ S. 52 - To permanently extend the moratorium enacted by the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and for other purposes. Or ‘Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act.’ Introduced January 7, 2003 by Mr. Wyden.

There is pressure from groups like the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports to have members of Congress consider advocating that the Department of Commerce deduct countervailing duties from export price (EP) and constructed export price (CEP) in calculations of dumping margins pursuant to sections 772(c)(2)(A) and 772(d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

The wood truss industry opposes this proposal for the following reasons:

• The proposal to deduct countervailing duties from the U.S. price in a dumping margin calculation would cause a far greater portion of product sales to the U.S. to be considered to have been “dumped,” and products already viewed as “dumped” will see a substantial increase in their dumping rate.
• The intent of a countervailing duty is to offset any subsidy provided by a foreign country - essentially to equalize any advantage that has been created. To calculate a new duty based on this proposal will result in a double penalty for the imported products that we need to manufacture our structural building components (which are a combination of wood and steel) for the markets that we serve.
• It is not equitable to artificially alter current U.S. trade policy and rules to protect a comparatively small number of U.S. softwood industry and steel industry producers.
• This proposal is fundamentally flawed trade policy and is punitive in nature toward our trading partners.

The deadline for the U.S. to bring the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of October 28, 2000, also known as the “Byrd Amendment,” into conformity with WTO rules expired on December 27, 2003.

The wood truss industry opposes retention of the Byrd Amendment for the following reasons:

• It allows the companies being protected by the imposed tariffs - U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports members - to benefit a second time with pass-through Byrd revenue for individual Coalition member companies. Given that the duties are now approaching $2 billion, this would be a significant subsidy of the cost of their operations that benefits each company well beyond the protection that was intended to be provided by the CVD and AD tariffs.
• The intent of the Byrd Amendment appears to be to punish our trading partners.
• This also allows U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports members to derive a significant economic benefit that their U.S. competitors who are not members of the Coalition do not enjoy. This creates an unnatural competitive advantage for Coalition members over their U.S. competitors. Common sense says that this is patently unfair.
• The Byrd Amendment has been found an illegal response to dumping and subsidisation and is therefore fundamentally flawed trade policy.

On June 7, 2001, President Bush signed into law the Economic Growth and Tax Reform Reconciliation Act of 2001, a package of tax reductions and policy changes that include temporary reductions in all three federal estate transfer taxes (FETTs). Because of procedural rules in the Senate, all the tax relief is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2011, at which time all three federal estate or wealth transfer taxes will return to the 2001 levels in place prior to the tax cut.

Analysts in the Center for Data Analysis (CDA) at The Heritage Foundation estimated the effects of an immediate and permanent repeal of all three federal estate transfer taxes. These effects include changes in tax revenue, gross domestic product (GDP), interest rates, employment levels, personal income, and inflation. The findings of the CDA analysis show that eliminating the taxes entirely would yield strong economic and fiscal benefits for the country. Immediate and permanent repeal of the FETTs would improve the nation’s economic performance over the next 10 years, create thousands of jobs, and raise disposable income without increasing cumulative federal deficits or publicly held debt, by the end of the 10 years. Moreover, under the current tax code, repealing the FETTs would not, over the following 10 years, reduce federal revenues, but would increase them and provide further opportunity for additional tax relief.

Specifically, compared with what would occur under the current law, an immediate and permanent repeal of the three FETTs would have the following beneficial effects. For example, in fiscal year (FY) 2012 alone, a repeal would:

• Add $14.7 billion (adjusted for inflation) to the GDP.
• Add 118,000 jobs to the U.S. economy.
• Reduce nationwide unemployment by 27,000 persons.
• Raise U.S. personal disposable income by an inflation-adjusted $11 billion.
• Increase non-residential net capital stock by $25.1 billion and lower the user cost of capital by 0.3 percent.
• Leave relative price levels and key interest rates unaffected, in spite of the stimulating effect a repeal would have on economic activity.
• Reduce the nation’s publicly held debt by $5.7 billion.

Talking Points
Many WTCA members are small, family-owned businesses. In many instances, the estate tax acts as a severe, unfair financial barrier that effectively prevents a business from being handed down to the next generation. Approximately 70 percent of small businesses do not survive the second generation and 87 percent do not survive the third.

A skilled and productive workforce is a critical factor in maintaining competitiveness in manufacturing. Manufacturers, including component manufacturers, are experiencing serious workforce shortages and the pool of qualified job candidates is decreasing. The affected production areas range from entry level workers, operators, machinists and craft workers to technicians and engineers. The Immigration Reform Act of 2004 is the only initiative introduced to date that includes all three components necessary for comprehensive nonagricultural immigration reform; major reform of the H-2B program, creation of a new year-round guest worker program (H-2C), and earned adjustment for currently undocumented workers. ³¹

Talking Points
In order to help develop a sustainable workforce for the industry we serve, WTCA will continue to work to expand and strengthen education and training opportunities for America’s workers and increase access to worker benefits that will help WTCA’s members attract and retain skilled labor in a competitive job market.

Experts project that, recession or not, by 2020 the U.S. will face a dramatic shortage of employees with the kind of skills necessary for modern manufacturing. Currently the manufacturing sector identifies the top deficiency for a worker is their lack of basic employability skills, such as attendance, timeliness, work ethic, as well as inadequate reading and writing skills.

WTCA believes that employers in the structural building components industry should be able to legally hire foreign workers to ease the nationwide labor shortage.

The proposed bill would provide funding to the Department of Homeland Security for the purposes of increasing border security, criminal and background checks on visa applicants, and identification of undocumented workers and foreign individuals living in the United States.

The bill would strengthen national security by tracking foreign workers, increase funding for security, identify undocumented immigrants, require criminal and national security background checks, penalize those who break immigration laws, and implement “counterfeit-resistant” work authorization cards.

The bill would implement a ‘Willing Worker Program’ to bring foreign workers to the U.S. for jobs that would otherwise go unfilled. Employers seeking to hire a foreign worker must first demonstrate that no qualified U.S. worker exists and that they will provide the same wage levels and working conditions as U.S. workers. Workers will be admitted for a limited period of time and will be allowed to change employers. Visa renewals would be available on a conditional basis. Qualified workers and their families would be provided an opportunity to adjust their immigration status.

Finally the bill proposes that undocumented workers and families currently living in the United States would be provided an opportunity to “become invested stakeholders in the country” if they can demonstrate they have met the following requirements:

• Passed national security and criminal background checks.
• Resided in the U.S. for at least five years preceding the date of introduction.
• Worked a minimum of four years in the U.S., (one of which must occur post-enactment).
• Paid all federal taxes.
• Demonstrated a knowledge of English language and American civics requirements.
• Paid a $1,000 fine, in addition to required application fees.

³¹ S. 2010 - A bill to strengthen national security and United States borders, reunify families, provide willing workers, and establish earned adjustment under the immigration laws of the United States or ‘Immigration Reform Act of 2004.’ Introduced January 21, 2004 by Mr. Hagel.

In all climates in the United States, it is common for the lumber we use in wood trusses and structural building components to develop surface molds and mildew during transit or storage prior to use. Often this process accelerates and manifests itself during the warm summer months.

Unfortunately, the issues of mold contamination have gained extensive media coverage and the emotion of this situation has resulted in legal actions being taken that are unsupported by facts and sound scientific research.

There are an estimated 20,000 mold-related lawsuits filed in the past two years in the U.S. A 2003 report from a Chicago law firm found that mold-related lawsuits increased 300 percent since 1999. It is unfortunate that the general public and the trial bar have jumped on the bandwagon of this “potential health risk” and are ready to cash in on it.
Molds can grow on cloth, carpet, leather, wood, wallboard, household dust or anything that is made of organic material.

Talking Points
Humans are exposed constantly to molds in the environment. Mold spores are in the air we breathe, the soil in our gardens, and in and around virtually every part of our home.

Exposure to mold can be through skin contact, inhalation and ingestion. Framing lumber and structural building components in a newly finished house are typically encased by panels or siding on the outside and drywall on the inside - thus there is virtually no chance for occupants in a home to be exposed to any mold on the wood through skin contact or ingestion. Inhalation exposure may be possible but is extremely rare. GlobalTox (www.globaltox.com), a privately owned international corporation providing services in industrial hygiene, human and environmental toxicology and risk assessment, has sampled many buildings with chronic water leaks and large amounts of enclosed mold (usually more than 10 percent of internal wall area contain mold or wood rot). In their experience, mold concentrations found indoors are similar to or less than the levels found outdoors. Given this fact, it is reasonable to infer that any small amounts of mold not remedied at the time of construction and enclosed in walls, floors, or ceilings will not have a large impact on the indoor air quality.

Adverse health effects from inhalation of mold spores in water-damaged buildings are not supported by available peer-reviewed reports in medical literature.

There is no health-based standard for exposure to mold. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC): “There are very few case reports that toxic molds (those containing certain mycotoxins) inside homes cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxic mold and these conditions has not been proven.” The majority of common molds are not a concern to healthy individuals. The CDC further reported: “At present there is no test that proves an association between Stachybotrys chartarum (or Stachybotrys atra, two different scientific names for the same mold) and particular health symptoms.”

Moisture content above 19 percent for approximately one week is required for significant surface mold growth to occur on lumber and/or wood structural building components. Lumber surface mold growth occurs on most species of wood when the moisture content by weight is between 20 and 28 percent. Surface mold growth is a superficial phenomenon that does not affect the strength or long-term durability of the wood.

Mold and mildew do not cause wood to rot or otherwise impact the strength of wood framing. Mold and mildew are symptoms of high moisture, which for prolonged periods can be damaging to any home and will cause wood to decay. The most practical approach to limit mold growth is early detection and prompts resolution of the reason for excessive moisture.

California has passed “The Toxic Mold Protection Act,” which requires the state’s health department to adopt mold exposure limits, mold identification standards and remediation practices. Creation of public policy for these standards and practices should be based on sound scientific research, not based on public perceptions and trial bar decisions.

Unfortunately, legal action in “mold-related” cases is exploding. Insurance Information Institute estimates that legal claims involving mold have tripled nationwide in the last three years, with $3 billion paid out in homeowner’s policies last year for mold-related cases, up from $1.4 billion in 2001. In 1999, such claims were virtually nonexistent.³²

When attorneys go after builders for construction defects, they often canvass a whole neighborhood to gather homeowners for a lawsuit. When builders are threatened with large lawsuits, there is a possibility that manufacturers of structural building components will be brought in as third party claimants.

These suits translate into large expenses that can dramatically increase a business’s insurance premiums and ultimately, if they are defendants in numerous lawsuits, make it difficult or impossible to obtain required insurance coverage.

This form of litigation systematically creates astronomical fees for attorneys and enormous insurance costs that are passed on to builders and then incorporated into home prices. Consequently, there is very little benefit to society if all affordable housing is important. This can also bankrupt any business, resulting in additional societal costs.

³² Insurance Information Institute, www.iii.org.
³³ H.R. 1268 - United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act of 2003 or the ‘Melina Bill.’ Introduced March 13, 2003 by Mr. Conyers.

WTCA supports removing regulatory barriers that affect housing affordability, as home building currently is a highly regulated activity. Perhaps in no other industry must the producer obtain a permit or undergo inspection for each individual unit of the entire production. For example, home builder's must comply with site-development standards, while applying for building permits and undergoing building code inspections. This heavy regulation undoubtedly has a negative effect on the affordability of housing.

Talking Points
Given that the average price of a new home today is $252,000, it should be clear that for millions of American families, the ability to obtain adequate and affordable housing is beyond their reach.

A key contributor to the cost of this housing is excessive and unnecessary government regulation at all levels of government - federal, state and local. These regulations can add between 20 percent and 35 percent to the cost of a home, which translates into $50,400 to $88,200 on an average priced new house in America and locks millions out of today’s housing market.

In a 1994 survey, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that development costs and fees added an average of $21,000 to the cost of a $200,000 home in highly regulated markets. Combine this with regulation and the front-end load on housing is incredible and must be passed on to all potential buyers.

The Chicago-based American Planning Association puts the national average for cumulative impact fees at $14,441 per dwelling unit. Fees top $100,000 in some parts of California. Since they’re added to a mortgage with interest, the net impact is even higher. NAHB’s economics department has determined that, nationwide, every $1,000 increase in housing costs causes about 400,000 would-be buyers to be priced out of the market.

WTCA supports NAHB’s programs to reduce housing regulation and to attain greater housing affordability for Americans. NAHB is currently urging Congress to address these issues by passing legislation that would require all federal agencies to examine the impact of their regulations on the cost of housing through a “Housing Impact Analysis.” A housing impact analysis would help eliminate many of the regulatory barriers currently preventing individuals of all income levels from becoming homeowners.

In the past year, the cost of building materials have increased, directly affecting housing affordability. (Please see appendix E). New homes that sold for $375,000 last year now are at least $410,000. The material increases include:

• Oriented Strand Board (OSB): 127.7 percent
• Soft Plywood: 53.5 percent
• Copper and Brass Mill Shapes: 12.2 percent
• Asphalt Roofing: 11.6 percent
• Strip Shingles: 8.5 percent
• Lumber: 8.4 percent
• Concrete Brick and Block: 3.2 percent
• Gypsum Products: 3.1 percent
  

One recent trend that is feeding on itself is construction defect litigation, which has significantly contributed to the current general liability insurance crisis experienced by builders, subcontractors, and those suppliers providing materials for residential construction, including manufacturers of structural building components.

Talking Points
WTCA and its membership consider the current trend of construction defect litigation to be a very serious problem. It is spreading across the country and affecting an increasing number of truss and wall panel manufacturers, as well as the customers (i.e., builders) of such manufacturers.

The cost of defending construction defect suits is outrageous. Contributing to the cost are complex legal concepts, broad discovery that is permitted, needed experts and guaranteed insurance coverage disputes. Once a lawsuit is filed, the insurance industry reports that 40 percent to 60 percent of all monies expended on the defense of the case pay the lawyers and experts. When named in a construction defect lawsuit, being in the right usually means very little.

Construction defect lawsuits translate into large expenses, which can dramatically increase a business’s insurance premiums and ultimately, if named plaintiffs in numerous lawsuits, make it difficult or impossible to obtain required insurance coverage.

WTCA supports offsetting the product and general liability insurance crisis by instituting tort reform, a uniform federal product liability code or by other legislative means.

The overall injury and illness rate in the workplace has declined for seven straight years and is currently at its lowest level since the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began reporting this information in the 1970s. BLS data is showing that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have declined by 17 percent over the past three years.

On April 5, 2002, OSHA announced its comprehensive four-pronged ergonomic plan. This plan has been designed to reduce ergonomic injuries though a combination of industry-targeted guidelines, also known as “best practices,” tough enforcement measures, and workplace outreach and advanced research.

Talking Points
WTCA agrees that creating company/industry targeted standard, also known as “best practices,” is the most effective way for industries to address their own unique workplace situations.

WTCA is currently developing “best practices” for the structural building component industry through the creation of an industry-specific Operations Safety Certification program. This program will include information about fitting specific industry jobs to specific workers.

WTCA and its members are not opposed to all ergonomic protections. Protecting employees is an important matter. In addition, the productivity of any business is hindered when employees are injured. Proven measures to reduce or eliminate the number of injuries and illnesses would be beneficial and welcomed.

The science of ergonomics is not very well-defined. Because the science of ergonomics is unclear and conflicting, WTCA agrees the best ergonomic approach will be one based on more scientific research, more emphasis on best practices and more clarity with regard to what is work-related and what is not. WTCA is pleased that OSHA will establish a panel to examine/oversee ergonomic research.

WTCA is opposed to any mandated standard and generally supports the Bush Administration’s voluntary standards, which were unveiled on April 5, 2002.

If the OSHA rule had not been overturned in March of 2001, the average business would have lost $781 per worker this year.

This bill, introduced by Senator Grassley (R-IA), would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to comply with the World Trade Organization rulings on the FSC/ETI benefit in a manner that preserves jobs and production activities in the U.S., to reform and simplify the international taxation rules of the U.S.

Talking Points
It will phase in a nine percent deduction for qualified domestic production activities.

With respect to domestic manufacturing and business provisions, it would:

• Permit the expensing of qualified broadband expenditures. 
• Increase the section 179 expensing account.
• Provide for a three-year carry back of net operating losses occurring in 2003.

As the manufacturing sector begins to progress, it is imperative that lawmakers are attentive to a conclusion with FSC/ETI.

This bill is about U.S. leadership and the importance of living up to international trade agreements. It is imperative that the Senate act immediately.

This bill helps all U.S. manufacturers be more competitive.

²² S. 1637 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to comply with the World Trade Organization rulings on the FSC/ETI benefit in a manner that preserves jobs and production activities in the United States, to reform and simplify the international taxation rules of the United States, and for other purposes or ‘Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act.’ Introduced September 18, 2003 by Mr. Grassley.

WTCA supports making a positive effort to promote universal building sprinklering for all types of construction and structural elements, provided that:

• A cost analysis of the sprinkler proposal is completed, and it shows that the sprinkler system as designed, with appropriate construction technique and cost trade-offs as defined by fire origin statistics, does not increase the first-cost and/or the life-cycle cost of the construction.
• That the sprinkler regulations do not put a specific type of structural element at a competitive advantage or disadvantage. Ideally:
  - The sprinkler regulation would be structural element independent as it pertains to sprinkler spacing and attachment, sprinkler head placement and depths below protected and unprotected structural elements, concealed space requirements, etc.
  - The National and Local Association of Home Builders embrace the proposed sprinkler regulations.
  - WTCA is involved in writing the bill and in the legislative process ensuring that the law is applied uniformly to all building types.

Talking Points
WTCA supports sprinkler use in buildings:

• Because the use of sprinkler systems has a proven record of fire containment and extinguishment when properly installed and maintained.
• Provided that a cost analysis of the sprinkler proposal is completed and it shows that the sprinkler system as designed, with appropriate construction technique and cost tradeoffs as defined by fire origin statistics, does not increase the first-cost and/or the life-cycle cost of the construction.
• Provided that any sprinkler regulations developed do not put a specific type of structural element at a competitive advantage or disadvantage. Ideally, the sprinkler regulation would be independent of structural elements (e.g. trusses, I-joists, rafters, concrete, steel, etc.).
• Provided that WTCA, in cooperation with the national and local home builders’ associations, is involved in writing the bill and in the legislative process ensuring that the law is applied uniformly to all building types.

Environmental activists who believe that the forest products industry has not been managing their forestlands in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner are driving the demand for lumber certification. Forest land owners become part of a third party certification process that monitors their forestry practices based on using a specific standard of performance and then assures that the land owner conforms to this standard on an ongoing basis by labeling the product as coming from a certified forest. Unfortunately, mandating that companies go through a cumbersome certification process takes time and uses financial resources and adds a level of cost that ultimately gets passed down to the customer, without adding value to the product.

Talking Points
Forests are a renewable resource that provides valuable products that touch each of our lives every day.

Sustainable management of the forest resource is a very positive and environmentally sound approach to forest management.

The need for or endorsement of forest certification is of questionable value. The proof of the lumber industry’s good stewardship to date is in the health of today’s forests, clean water, abundant wildlife and the renewable, energy-efficient products derived from those forests. As forest management practices continue to evolve and improve, it remains unclear what tangible value forest certification provides to the forest owner, the lumber buyer and processor, and the public overall.

Forests that have economic value will be well-managed forests. The greater the economic value of the forest, the more care forests will receive, and the more people will be inclined to invest in the business of growing and managing current and newly developed forests.

Forests that have little value will not be managed and may be converted to other activities that have greater value. Tropical deforestation is a classic case of forests being converted to other economic uses - the primary conversion being to use wood as a fuel for heating and cooking.

If certification costs make the prices for the end-use of forests too high, the logical next step is that end-users will find more economical substitute products and will cause good forest management to have increasingly less value.

Industry must not permit forest certification to become yet another tax on society clothed in the emotion of preventing deforestation and clear-cutting.

For those companies that desire to be certified, having voluntary certification programs available to them should be sufficient. The market can then choose whether or not it will reward those companies that choose to participate in such voluntary certification programs.

HISTORY: Trusses are engineered structural components that are assembled from wood members and metal connector plates, which are manufactured from light gauge, galvanized steel.
Truss manufacturers in the U.S. purchase more than 500 million pounds of steel annually.
An increase in prices of light gauge steel creates as artificial adverse shift in our industry's cost structure as suppliers to the wood truss industry pass on the costs of the tariffs and quotas to its customers.

The imposed 30 percent tariffs have increased the cost of U.S. structural building components as follows:

• Suppliers to our industry had steel costs increase over 27 percent from March 2002 through December 2002 of which less than 6 percent was recovered because suppliers honored pre-existing customer pricing contracts. Meanwhile, raw steel suppliers broke pricing agreements during 2002.
• Foreign raw steel suppliers are hesitant to supply any pricing and will not commit to any tonnages even after pricing is agreed upon.
• To minimize the effect from reduced tonnages and missed deliveries component manufacturer suppliers are forced to either pay excessive freight charges to ship products from another facility or purchase more costly material on the spot. Ultimately, all costs will need to be passed on to component manufacturers.

POLICY: WTCA supports free trade and is opposed to artificial restriction on steel imports. WTCA supports all actions that will result in systemic changes to the manner in which the steel market functions so that steel is priced in an open and competitive way, without governmentally imposed tariffs or quota requirements. WTCA believes all U.S. companies, including U.S. structural component manufacturers, should be able to compete in their marketplaces on a completely fair and equitable basis.

HISTORY: One recent trend that is feeding on itself is construction defect litigation, which has significantly contributed to the current general liability insurance crisis experienced by builders, subcontractors, and those suppliers providing materials for residential construction, including the wood component manufacturer.

POLICY:

• WTCA and its membership consider the current trend of construction defect litigation to be a very serious problem. It is spreading across the country and affecting an increasing number of truss and wall panel manufacturers, as well as the customers (i.e., builders) of such manufacturers.
• The cost of defending construction defect suits is outrageous. Contributing to the cost are complex legal concepts, broad discovery that is permitted, needed experts and guaranteed insurance coverage disputes. Once a lawsuit is filed, the insurance industry reports that 40 percent to 60 percent of all monies expended on the defense of the case pay the lawyers and experts. When named in a construction defect lawsuit, being in the right usually means very little.
• Construction defect lawsuits translate into large expenses, which can dramatically increase a business's insurance premiums and ultimately, if named plaintiffs in numerous lawsuits, make it difficult or impossible to obtain required insurance coverage.
• WTCA supports offsetting the product and general liability insurance crisis by instituting tort reform, a uniform federal product liability code or by other legislative means.

HISTORY: The concept of "Smart Growth" has exploded onto the national consciousness as one of the most critical issues confronting America today. It touches on choices we Americans hold close to our hearts– where we live, work and play, the education of our children, commute times to work, and the economic and job opportunities created by new growth in our communities. It is an idea that addresses the questions of how best to plan for and manage growth, when and where new residential and commercial development, as well as schools and major highways, should be built and located, and how to pay for the infrastructure required to serve a growing population. In its broadest sense, Smart Growth means meeting the underlying demand for housing created by an ever-increasing population and prosperous economy by building a political consensus and employing market-sensitive and innovative land-use planning concepts. It means understanding that suburban job growth and the strong desire to live in single-family homes will continue to encourage growth in urban/rural areas. At the same time, Smart Growth means meeting that housing demand in "smarter ways" by planning for and building to higher densities, preserving meaningful open space and protecting environmentally-sensitive areas.

POLICY: WTCA supports the following growth principles that help address how to:

• Best plan and manage growth in a timely and predictable manner by identifying when and where there should be new residential and commercial development, as well as where schools and major highways should be built and located. It should include a plan to find a broad-based and fair means to pay for the infrastructure required serving a growing population.
• Remove barriers to innovative land-use techniques by changing negative perceptions towards high-density, mixed use and infill development, and eliminate or change local zoning code barriers. Ensure that approval process for new housing is efficient, predictable and fair.
• Recognize market forces, by understanding the locations and types of homes in which people want to live. The first step in mapping future growth patterns is to understand and accept that most homebuyers have an overwhelming preference for single-family detached homes with a backyard.
• Achieve reasonable balance by using innovative planning concepts to protect the environment and preserve meaningful open space, improve traffic flow and enhance the quality of life for residents.
• Recognize economic impact and growth by understanding the "ripple effect" and how it directly influences several aspects of the local economy.
    - By creating new jobs.
    - By increasing business income for related industries.
    - By developing a new property tax base for local governments.
• Ensure that growth is managed at the local level.

HISTORY: Metal plate connected wood truss construction represents the future of framing in residential and commercial construction. Latest statistics show that trusses are being installed in the roofs of more than 60 percent of homes and multi-family structures across the country. Trusses and related engineered wood products (e.g. I-joists, laminated veneer lumber, glulam beams, etc., which are regularly sold by truss manufacturers) are providing an excellent building solution for home and building owners throughout the U.S. The goal of the structural building component industry is to supply an environmentally efficient, affordable and safe construction product that also meets the public's expectations for fire safety performance. Together, with the cooperation of the fire service and the truss industry, addressing fire performance issues is certainly achievable.

POLICY:

• In many occupancy types, the building code does not require truss construction to be protected (i.e., covered with gypsum). When ANY type of construction is left unprotected, it is subject to collapsing earlier than expected and with less warning. All unprotected construction can be dangerous to the fire service.
• Pre-fire planning and actual fire ground training are very important in dealing with the destructive power of fire and protecting firefighter lives. Just as tactics have to change when fighting high-rise fires and again for steel structure fires, trusses and related engineered wood products will require different fire ground tactics to meet this fire challenge.
• The truss industry needs help from the fire service. The fire problem with trusses is not well defined. The wood truss industry needs clear and very detailed examples of situations where trusses have performed poorly in fire ground situations as well as examples of situations where trusses have performed well. Using both scenarios, more can be learned about how to make the fire ground safer for firefighters.

WTCA supports making a positive effort to promote universal building labeling of ALL types of construction to help the fire service in early size-up identification of a building on fire on the fire ground.

WTCA supports making a positive effort to promote universal building labeling, provided that the law as written does not discriminate against wood truss, related engineered wood construction, or any other form of construction. In other words, all structural elements, whether wood, steel or concrete based, that are used in building construction should be labeled in a systematic and quickly understandable manner.

WTCA will support legislation, provided that WTCA is involved in writing the bill and in the legislative process ensuring that the law is applied uniformly to all building types.

Computerized Pre-Fire Planning is WTCA's preference over building labeling within cities and communities. This type of program would create a database on each building and the summary pre-fire plan would be able to be downloaded to the fire chief on the way to a fire for use in developing fire ground tactics. WTCA understands that this type of technology is not readily available to all fire jurisdictions, so in those cases labeling might be the preferred method.

• WTCA will advocate and support the development of computerized pre-fire planning programs as the best method for pre-fire planning. The truss industry can facilitate this with its expertise in construction industry computer technology.
  

WTCA–Representing the Structural Building Components Industry (WTCA) supports passage of the Innocent Sellers Fairness Act (ISFA), as it holds sellers of products responsible in proportion to their wrongdoing, and provides protection from liability for damages that the seller did not cause.

As it pertains to the 110th Congress, WTCA will encourage its membership to participate in grassroots legislative advocacy efforts, such as the annual SBC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, to build support for ISFA. 

Approved Board of Directors 2/23/2007

This is a concept that came as a result of our individual meetings with SLMA, East Coast Lumber, International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Temple Inland, Potlach and Weyerhaeuser, and which was warmly embraced through the discussion process as having the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness of both industries. Any lumber company representative who would like to help advance the interests of the wood component industry are welcome to participate in this committee. The objectives of the committee are to:

• Attend WTCA committee meetings in specific interest areas as often as is reasonably possible.
• Seek out ways that the lumber industry and its associations can assist each committee in meeting their objectives.
• Entertain opportunities for assistance on a specific issue that WTCA is tackling based on committee discussion and definition of its importance to WTCA by the WTCA Committee Chair.
• Become advocates and representatives of WTCA committee activities within their individual companies and within the lumber trade association they are active in, to aid in facilitating WTCA marketplace positions and objectives and collective industry testing and research initiatives.

This group will form its own committee structure and implementation process. They will have the potential to make a significant difference on behalf of the wood component industry.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 10/29/00

• Forests are renewable resources that provide valuable products that touch each of our lives every day, and that sustainable management of the forest resource is a very positive and environmentally sound approach to forest management.
• WTCA and its members, in concert with discussions held with several lumber mill owners, believe the need for or endorsement of forest certification to be of questionable value. The proof of the lumber industry’s good stewardship to date is in the health of today’s forests, clean water, abundant wildlife and the renewable, energy-efficient products derived from those forests.
• Forests that have economic value will be managed forests. The greater the economic value of the forest, the more care forests will receive, and the more people will be inclined to invest in the business of growing and managing current and newly developed forests.
• As forest management practices continue to evolve and improve, it remains unclear forests that have little value will not be managed and may be converted to other activities that have greater value. Tropical deforestation is a classic case of forests being converted to other economic uses — the primary conversion being to use wood as a fuel for heating and cooking.
• If certification costs make the prices for the end-use of forests too high, the logical next step is that these end-users will find more economical substitute products and will cause good forest management to have increasingly less value.
• As forest management practices continue to evolve and improve, it remains unclear what tangible value forest certification provides to the forest owner, the lumber buyer and processor and the public overall.
• Industry must not permit forest certification to become yet another tax on society clothed in the emotion of deforestation and clear cutting.
• For those companies that desire to be certified, having voluntary certification programs available to them should be sufficient. The market can then choose whether or not it will reward those companies that choose to participate in such voluntary certification programs.
• There are products in the market whose use aids in sustainable forestry. Wood trusses, for instance, use predominately 2x4 lumber, which can be manufactured from smaller diameter trees so that more of the forest resource is used. Also, trusses are a very environmentally sensitive and valuable product because they save, on average, one board foot per square foot of structural area trussed when compared to traditional conventional framing methods.

Approved Executive Committee 09/14/2001; Updated and Ratified Executive Committee 06/25/2002

The WTCA Board of directors approved the following resolutions:

1. Proposed Resolution Recommendation 1 — The WTCA Board recommends to the TPI Board that it immediately amend section 8.9.2 and develop an interim guideline.
2. Proposed Resolution Recommendation 2 — The WTCA Board will recommend to the TPI Board that TPI TAC complete round robin testing within the next 6 months to expedite a solution to ANSI/TPI 1 8.9.2. The testing plan will define:
i. The conditions causing a block shear (“chunkout”) failure to be a design issues and the frequency by which these conditions occur in truss production.
ii. The variables that impact the block shear failure mode.
iii. The remedial design options to compensate for and mitigate the block shear design issue.
iv. The testing plan will be developed by TPI TAC and WTCA E&T.
3. Proposed Policy Recommendation 3 — The WTCA Board recommends to the TPI Board that it become a TPI policy that all substantive design changes to the ANSI/TPI 1 standard will only become part of the standard after a thorough assessment by TPI TAC of the truss design consequences of the change on:
i. Lumber and lumber cost using a common denominator.
ii. Plates and plate cost using a common denominator.
iii. Any other items, such as the ability of the design software to plate the joints, etc.
iv. The analysis shall use a broad range of truss types and configurations so that there is assurance that the consequences of the change will be fairly representative of what will happen in normal production truss design.

WTCA Board Resolution: Responding to Local Media Situations

Background Board Resolution Management Committee 1999
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE INDUSTRY
Actions to be taken upon those occurrences that may materially affect the truss industry (e.g. hurricanes, earthquakes, fire, etc.). To interface with the public, media, governmental authorities and third parties with respect to the issues relating to the occurrence, the executive director shall have the authority to travel to the area of the occurrence, disseminate accurate information, assist WTCA members on truss industry issues that arise out of the occurrence; educate, train, and otherwise act in a manner beneficial to the industry.

As the structural building components industry continues to grow and gain market share and visibility, the potential for media exposure increases. In some cases, such as a Habitat for Humanity or an Extreme Makeover project, this exposure is a positive thing.

The potential for negative media attention and “bad press,” however, is always high. For example, in the event of a fire fighter death from falling through the floor of a residence, even when the structural framework is not yet known, the magazine, newspaper or television report may report that “trusses kill firefighters.”

It is therefore RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of WTCA to:

Request that WTCA staff be contacted right away to develop an immediate plan of action and determine additional responses that may be necessary depending upon how the situation unfolds.

This team will quickly make a decision whether the situation warrants action by the Executive Director in concert with the WTCA President and Executive Committee.

This team will monitor all media reporting on the topic and watch the news cycle. Most often the news cycle is short and taking an aggressive action can extend the news cycle by creating a controversy where one would not have existed if no action had been taken.

If a member is contacted directly by the media, take the following action:
o DO NOT speak on the topic at that time. Tell the reporter you would like some time to prepare for the interview.
o Immediately call WTCA staff and your WTCA Chapter President/Board Rep.
o Develop a short-term action plan in concert with the Chapter President/Board Rep and WTCA staff.
o Determine who will be the spokesperson for the industry on this issue.
o Determine all the facts and then the key talking points—boil these down to three points at most.
o Determine who has the best working knowledge of the facts and talking points.
o Ensure that anyone who speaks on the issue use the talking point concepts as the basis of any conversation. All members need to speak with one voice.
o Call the journalist or reporter to set up the interview date and time—preferably face to face at their location.
o Prepare for as many questions as you can. Gather important data. Hold a mock interview with WTCA staff.
o Stay focused on the issue and key talking points for the entire interview. Do not let your guard down or say anything in what seems like casual conversation. It often comes back in unexpected ways.

Key media interview implementation concepts
o As you go through this process, take into account that the media's main goal is to generate viewers and ratings, along with the advertising sales dollars that go with it. One must always remember that this intent does not necessarily foster objectivity and accurate use of ALL the facts. Given this, the interview questions will likely be geared to elicit the emotional side of the issue at hand.
o Before going into an interview situation, bear in mind the following realities:
o You must know the subject matter far better than the journalist or reporter. They are very good at doing their homework, so if you do not know the topic inside and out, you cannot anticipate the answers to questions they are asking and formulate a response that takes the emotion out of the answer.
o Journalists and reporters will ask the same question over and over using different phrasing to see if they can strike a nerve or get a different response. Our answers must be consistent, accurate and stick to the fact-based industry message.
o At the end of the interview, the reporter or journalist may go into conversational mode. Remember that this is the time that something innocent can be said that could be taken out of context and used to interject emotion back into the situation. Never let your guard down during an interview, even if it appears to be over.

It isn't news to structural building component manufacturers that this is a quiet, hard-working industry with excellent facts behind its success, but that doesn't mean that the general public is aware of this. Education is key to reaching the marketplace and informing the media, our customers, specifiers, local legislators, etc. about the industry. Facts mean knowledge and knowledge means better decisions.
We need to be proactive, not reactive. It's easy to think that it is someone else's responsibility to educate the world about this industry. However, lack of involvement may make us our own worst enemy. Ask yourself, what should I be doing for our industry? In the long run, not taking the initiative to provide education in your area may mean that the media or someone else in your community is the one who paints the picture of the components industry.

What are some ways to get the word out and put a human face on the components industry?
o Write press releases with pictures.
o Make donations to civic building projects.
o Conduct plant tours for building officials, architects, engineers, firefighters, legislators and potential legislators during an election-year cycle.
o Show your local community how much value your company adds to your community. This is very important preventative medicine for our industry. Make active, local community involvement a part of someone’s job description. If there is not a commitment to it being a key part of the job, it will never get done.
o Our industry's story needs to be told in our own voices. We must be energized to undertake this activity or it is clear that, as our industry gets bigger, we will be a target for criticism even when it's completely undeserved.

WTCA will prepare on-line media training for our membership as well.

Approved Board of Directors 10/07/2006

As a WTCA member and director, it is very important that each of us take an active role in the growth and strength of our industry organization through the following activities:

• Personally holding and supporting the vision and mission of our organization.
• Being the official WTCA representative and person most passionate about WTCA in your region of the country.
• Forcing forward thinking with respect to industry issues.
• Delineating the board’s role on the issues.
• Working on industry policy.
• Expecting staff accountability in managing association affairs.
• Using everyone’s time, board and staff, efficiently.
• Conducting membership drives or contacting potential members in their area.
• Increasing support, attendance and activities of all members in WTCA functions.

Approved Executive Committee 03/02/2002

• Builder/Framer Individual Member: Any builder or framer not actively connected with a business that is eligible for membership as a Regular Member or an Associate Member, and who is interested in furthering the purposes of WTCA. Members in this category cannot be engaged in a business that primarily derives its income from the component industry. Dues Amount - $125.

We will add a Builder/Framer category to the BCMC registration description as follows:

• SPECIFIER OR BUILDER/FRAMER MEMBER FULL REGISTRATION:
Includes admission to educational programs, opening reception, breakfast events and the entire tradeshow. (Day Pass Options are not available for this registration.)
• Each registration will be $625, unless the Specifier or Builder/Framer can find a CM sponsor.
• CM sponsor rules:
 A CM can sponsor Specifiers or Builder/Framers that they have a working relationship with.
 If sponsored, the Specifier or Builder/Framer will come to the show with the CM adding the Specifier or Builder/Framer to their company in the BCMC attendee database. The BCMC show cost will then be at the CM rate.
• Builder/Framer Corporate Member: Any builder or framing company that would like to take advantage of WTCA’s products or programs, e.g., Truss Knowledge Online training programs and related programs for all their staff or jobsite safety materials at the more favorable corporate rate, and does not own a component manufacturing operation.

The following dues schedule will apply:
Dues Level Sales Volume Dues Amount
1 $0 - $19,999,999 $403
2 $20,000,000 - $99,999,999 $765
3 $100,000,000 - $199,999,999 $1,377
4 $200,000,000 - $299,999,999 $2,295
5 $300,000,000 - $399,999,999 $3,213
6 $400,000,000 - $599,999,999 $4,590
7 $600,000,000 - $799,999,999 $6,426
8 $800,000,000 - $999,999,999 $8,262
9 $1,000,000,000 and up $9,690

• We will add a line to our membership renewal form (member information verification form) that adds a review and acceptance of the following WTCA member tenants.
• Embrace and implement the WTCA mission statement.
• Understand, support and advocate WTCA’s positions and policies.
• Work to develop a united voice in the market that strengthens the structural building components industry.
• Be the eyes and ears of WTCA locally, and when any local issues arise that affect component manufacturers; such as legislative, building code, engineering, education/training, risk, insurance, quality, or fire performance of components; contact WTCA immediately to gain the benefit of the broad-based expertise of the entire organization.
• It is essential to have a united industry voice. This requires a good understanding of WTCA’s position or communicating with WTCA to ensure that nationally, regionally and locally a consistent and accurate industry message is being conveyed. When a member speaks or takes action on behalf of the industry, they are speaking or taking action on behalf of WTCA.

WTCA wants to do everything to make access to its site as simple as possible for its users, while at the same time protecting users' privacy. To this end, staff must be careful about changing email addresses of users, to ensure security is maintained.

PROCEDURE: When changing users' email addresses, WTCA staff will follow these steps when helping you change or add an email address to your record:

• Staff will ask you to give them a piece of information on any piece of correspondence sent directly to your company, such as an invoice number.
• If you do not have any such information handy, staff will fax or mail a password to you at the fax or physical address WTCA has in its database for you. When you receive this password, call staff and give them the password, and they will update your email address.
• Staff will then reset your online password, which will be sent automatically to the new email address. You will then have access to your account through the new email address.

WTCA believes this is the most efficient way to help you update information and protect the security of our users' accounts.
Approved Executive Committee 02/17/2003

WTCA’s Top Chord Club (TCC) is a program that WTCA developed in order to foster continued growth of membership. Any WTCA member who sponsors a new member (i.e., gets them to join) earns points, and is awarded according to the procedures below.

AWARDING OF POINTS: When a company becomes a member of WTCA, a sponsor may be listed in the sponsor line of the membership application. The sponsor earns points according to the following schedule:

• Three (3) points received for signing up a Component Manufacturer or any Associate.
• Two (2) points received for signing up a Component Manufacturer or Associate whose membership has lapsed and has decided not to renew in spite of repeated contacts by staff.
• One (1) point received for signing up a Professional.
• Top Chord Club points shall be awarded to members who sponsor new chapter members, with the same point structure as for members who sponsor new national members.
• Since chapter development is WTCA’s highest priority, we should recognize these members who encourage chapter development. We should also recognize the amount of work involved in forming a chapter. Each individual who is highly active in forming the chapter shall be awarded one point for each chapter member who joins in the first year. Nominations of individuals who have been actively involved in the formation of a chapter or the change from a local association to a chapter should be submitted to staff, and determination of who receives points will be made by the Membership Committee Chair, with input from the chapters and WTCA staff.

QUALIFICATIONS OF TOP CHORD MEMBERSHIP: Top Chord points accumulate annually from Annual Meeting to Annual Meeting. Club membership status is based on the following:

• Member Status
  Individuals become club members if they are members of WTCA and have accumulated ten (10) points (not necessarily in one year). This entitles them to one (1) year of membership in the TCC. Benefits of membership are an invitation to the TCC Dinner and a white TCC pin. Individuals renew TCC membership when they earn three (3) additional points in one (1) year. (Example: A person can be a TCC member one year, and then be dropped the next year because s/he did not earn three (3) points. Then, when three (3) points are earned, s/he is considered a TCC member again for one year.)
• Lifetime Member Status
  Individuals become TCC Lifetime Members when they earn a total of twenty-five (25) points. They receive the following: a letter of congratulations; an invitation to the annual TCC banquet for themselves and a guest; a gold/blue TCC pin; and a TCC plaque that is engraved with Lifetime Member WTCA TCC with their names.
• Diamond Club Status
  Individuals become TCC Diamond Members after they have received fifty (50) points. They then receive: a letter of congratulations; an invitation to the annual TCC banquet for themselves and a guest; and a diamond TCC pin.
• Top Chord Club Dinner
  New, sustaining and lifetime members are sent invitations approximately one (1) month before the TCC reception/dinner at BCMC. A TCC Member listing is printed annually in SBC Magazine.

Approved Membership Committee 03/01/2002

HISTORY: The portions of the WTCA mission statement that are relevant to this policy are:

• Provide the Services Our Membership Needs to Continue Expanding Truss Market Share.
• To formulate policy that protects and advances the interests of member manufacturers.
• To initiate and carry out projects that deal with membership concerns and promote industry marketplace interests.
• To be the information conduit for our membership by staying abreast of leading-edge issues and disseminating this information through educational seminars and our wood truss industry publications.
• To be the voice of the truss/engineered wood products industry to regulatory and standards-generating agencies.
• To promote the safe, economic, and structurally sound use of trusses, thereby increasing the market penetration of wood truss products.
• To support research, development and testing of trusses that place the truss industry on a sound engineering basis and improve the quality and efficiency of our products, for the purpose of obtaining greater product acceptance.

POLICY: The WTCA Board of Directors establishes task priorities at least yearly based on the work that it believes needs to be performed by WTCA staff and others to meet the foregoing mission statement. Where it is deemed appropriate by Board approval, the WTCA will invest in research to accomplish priority tasks, using the following guidelines:

• A proposal is made to the WTCA Board of Directors for a specific project to be funded.
• All technical project proposals will be prepared in concert with WTCA’s Engineering Review Committee (ERC) and will define the research objective, procedures, cost, critical path timetable, and the potential outcomes that seek to improve the market for component construction.
• All marketing oriented project proposals will be prepared in concert with WTCA’s Marketing Committee, and will define the research objective, procedures, cost, critical path timetable, and the potential outcomes that seek to improve the market for component construction.
• The complete proposal will be approved by WTCA’s ERC or Marketing Committee and submitted to the WTCA Board of Directors for evaluation and possible funding.
• Once funding is approved, a project contract will be written by WTCA before any funds are dispersed.

Approved Marketing Committee 03/12/1998

The WTCA board embraces the Carbeck Structural Components Institute’s (CSCI) mission to promote innovative research, development and education to advance the structural component industry. This structure has been created to:

• Provide a tax deductible donation mechanism for private individuals that have benefited from our industry, to continue to help our industry grow and prosper.
• Provide the structural building components industry with a foundation through which we are more likely to obtain government grants or matching funds for research and education that is in the public interest.

The Board of Directors believes that:

• Analysis and testing of a variety of structural component attributes will provide us with a more solid technical foundation from which to grow our industry.
• The quality assurance testing and standards development work was a project that showed our industry the benefits of work that can be undertaken by CSCI.
• Additional analysis and testing will be needed on key technical subjects.
• Our industry must undertake research and development work proactively.

The WTCA board will assist foundation board members as they are called on to help advance specifically defined foundation activities.
Approved Executive Committee 03/20/2002

To guide and direct industry research, WTCA will:

• Form a WTCA research committee made up of two at large members of WTCA, appointed by the president, and the entire WTCA executive committee. This group will:
• Take guidance from all research developed as a result of the WTCA policy on funding truss industry related research.
• Review, prioritize and seek funding sources, such as CSCI, for all research to be undertaken.

Approved Executive Committee 03/02/2002

There has been some concern expressed over SBC having employment advertising in SBC Magazine and the possibility of this diminishing the value of SBC in terms of an industry information resource. Through discussions with seven WTCA board and committee members on this issue, SBC staff has determined that the concern is not prevalent enough to require the elimination of this type of advertising, but that some guidelines would be helpful. Therefore, SBC has developed the following guidelines for advertisers that choose to place employment related advertising:

• SBC Magazine will accept classified and/or display ads from individual companies promoting specific employment opportunities within their organization. The focus of this advertising will be on the features and benefits of the company, the features and benefits of the position available, and the features and benefits of the job’s location. SBC will not publish specific salary information for any position advertised.
• SBC Magazine will accept classified and/or display ads from recruitment companies promoting that company’s recruiting services. The focus of this advertising will be on the features and benefits of the recruitment company and the services it can provide to perspective clients. SBC will not publish specific job openings or salary information in ads placed by recruitment companies.

Approved Executive Committee 03/28/2002

The WTCA Chapters, Committees, and Board of Directors are committed to advancing the marketing committee interests and objectives of our industry as follows:

• To realize all the benefits that BCMC and SBC Magazine provide to our industry we will help in the sales efforts by encouraging those companies supplying products to member companies to participate and support us in growing and advancing our industry’s interests; supporting our industry and their company’s proprietary business sales/marketing interests through advertising in SBC Magazine and exhibiting at BCMC; and joining and participating in our association. We will obtain staff assistance as needed to support our efforts. We will provide all contact information to WTCA so that it can maintain a complete and up-to-date database.
• To foster WTCA’s products and services to become more widely utilized within our industry to assist in the proper application of, to enhance safety and to genuinely warn and instruct on the use of the products we manufacture to help advance the interests of all component manufacturers. We believe that being strong advocates of our association work will help us realize the goals we all have of improving the market share and overall business opportunities for component construction.
• To help develop key literature and services that will benefit all members of WTCA, we will bring to the attention of the board, committee or staff key industry issues that would benefit from the collective input and assistance from WTCA.

Approved Marketing Committee 03/02/2002

HISTORY:

• SBC Magazine is 49 percent owned and managed by WTCA.
• SBC Magazine will be a trade magazine written specifically for the component manufacturing and distribution industry. It will again include advertising from suppliers to our industry that will be specifically directed toward improving and expanding the capacities, knowledge and abilities of component manufacturers.
• SBC Magazine will be produced on gloss paper using a four-color process and appear as a magazine style publication.
• The exclusive focus of the editorial content and all advertising within SBC Magazine will be on products, services and issues of importance to the component manufacturer.
• The mission of SBC Magazine is to increase the knowledge of and to promote the common interests of those engaged in manufacturing and distributing wood trusses and related components to ensure growth, continuity and increased professionalism in our industry, and to be the information conduit by staying abreast of leading-edge issues.

POLICY: WTCA will continue to lead the wood component industry in disseminating technical and marketplace information, and will maintain advisory committees consisting of the most knowledgeable industry professionals in the industry.

SBC Magazine will be an important resource used by WTCA for implementation of this important industry role.
Approved Executive Committee 10/31/2001

HISTORY: For the vast majority of truss designs produced in our industry, individual trusses are not designed to have fall protection anchors attached to them and they should not be used as a fall protection anchor point. This is due to potential large impact loads that would be applied to them both vertically and laterally that could cause a local truss failure and the fact that it is impossible to control where a framing contractor will be attaching a fall protection device to a truss. Only when the framing contractor and the truss manufacturer are part of the same company is coordination possible in determining the proper anchor points and even then it is questionable if this will be done easily and properly. Even where coordination is possible, extreme care must be taken or the risk of serious injury or death can occur.

Trusses have been set very safely on both residential and commercial structures using traditional erection and bracing techniques for many years. Accidents usually occur when speed of installation becomes the framing contractor’s objective versus following the proper safe work practices and taking the required time to undertake the installation job with a reasonable amount of care.

Framing contractors must follow safe work practices, ordinary care, reasonable prudence, and the utilization of proper temporary lateral and diagonal bracing, which are essential for safe truss erection.

Fall protection and safety measures are jobsite and building specific. Hence, the best judgment for the appropriate fall protection method to be used for a given job should reside exclusively with the qualified person, one who is both qualified to design, install, and use fall protection systems and authorized to have any problems corrected.

POLICY: WTCA cannot, should not and will not define that any type of fall protection method is superior to another as we are not framing or fall protection experts. All WTCA can say is that an individual truss cannot be designed to carry the loads that may be applied to it for any of a myriad of potential fall events that may take place on a job site. Therefore, a single truss itself should not be used as an anchorage point for any type of fall protection device.
Approved Engineering and Technology Committee 04/26/2001

Adopt the Executive Committee's recommendation with regard to addressing permanent bracing of piggyback trusses as follows:

• Recommend that WTCA bring to TPI TAC and request that they consider adopting a policy that states since no substantive data has been provided to TPI, TPI TAC does not concur with all the assumptions, conclusions, and recommendations set forth in the article titled Permanent Bracing for Piggyback Trusses authored by Frank Woeste, P.E. and published in the March 1998 issue of the Journal of Light Construction.

Since no substantive data has been provided to WTCA, WTCA does not concur with all the assumptions, conclusions, and recommendations set forth in the article titled Permanent Bracing for Piggyback Trusses authored by Frank Woeste, P.E. and published in the March 1998 issue of the Journal of Light Construction.
Approved Engineering and Technology Committee 07/24/1998

1. Identification of Messages and Channels: WPN includes in its campaign communications reinforcement of the value of wood components in construction today (facts that demonstrate wood as a superior building material). Where wood components are involved, WTCA would appreciate being able to provide the WTCA Marketing Committee’s perspective and endorsement, so we ensure a united message all can believe in. WTCA and its membership are willing to then support message delivery, with one support channel discussed being through providing WPN information to WTCA members’ salespeople to deliver to their direct customers and local constituents, like schools and colleges, building officials, specifiers, etc. WTCA needs guidance and direction and tools from WPN on what to deliver, how to do it and to whom the products are targeted.
2. Development of a Wood Component Industry Strategic Blueprint: WTCA will undertake the responsibility of pulling together a small group of key lumber industry suppliers and a small group of component manufacturers. The goal of the small group will be to develop a roadmap that identifies what we collectively (the wood industry and the component manufacturing industry) need to do to enhance/create future value for wood structural components. This will be developed with a full understanding of mutual business constraints and opportunities, and most importantly, end-users needs. We will use this process to build a bridge between the end-use technology and lumber supply and production. The goal is to help ensure that lumber production and grading evolution is undertaken with truss industry needs in mind. The outcome will be a set of objectives with associated tasks, costs and timelines. This will then be provided to the WTCA Board of Directors for review, comment, endorsement and implementation of the WTCA tasks. Progress will be made on each of the tasks in priority order as funding allows. The Carbeck Structural Components Institute can also enhance our ability to facilitate this program through grant and other funding opportunities.

IMPLEMENTATION: WPN will be the lead organization on coordinating the work and any working sessions needed for the projects defined in #1 above. WTCA will be the lead organization to discuss/formulate a new component industry strategic blueprint and implementing the plan as defined in #2 above.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 01/27/2001

HISTORY: Our joint understanding is that SFPA/SLMA/CWC/WWPA/AF&PA/WPN/MSRLPC (referred to as “lumber associations”) members will work aggressively to protect their business interests through legislation and governmental action. There will be times when the lumber associations and WTCA can work together on common issues such as ergonomics, and there will be times that we will be on opposite sides of an issue such as the Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada. Where we can forge a common legislative approach we will do so, as there is strength in numbers and a united voice.

Lumber association members are commodity-based suppliers of lumber products for their customers. The supply and demand conditions for lumber are based on multiple factors including market demand, stumpage supply, and sawmill production decisions. Pricing is reflective of a number of factors as well and thus price volatility is likely to continue in the future.

The lumber associations have the following primary expectations of WTCA and WTCA members and those are to:

• Empathize with the needs of all lumber manufacturers to make business decisions with a view towards profits and returns on investment; and
• Provide market feedback to the lumber associations so that decisions regarding lumber use can be made and appropriate market strategies developed.

WTCA is not a lumber association. Even though this is probably obvious, it sometimes gets lost in discussions, and it is fundamental to all discussion that we have. It is an association of manufacturers situated within an industry that annually purchases more than 7.0 billion board feet of lumber products. WTCA members produce a product from wood that, through engineering technology, efficiently uses wood fiber. This has some marketplace advantages within the environmental movement that exists in the market today. WTCA members manufacture and supply any of a variety of wood trusses, I-joists, LVL, glued laminated beams, plywood, lumber, trimmable end trusses, steel trusses, wall panels, tees, corners, stairs and related structural building components.

POLICY: WTCA members will work aggressively to advance their interests in serving the structural building component needs and demands of their customers to provide them with the best economic framing system. These products may incorporate lumber, steel, plastic, or other raw materials that provide economic value and profits.

WTCA and WTCA members have the following primary expectations of the lumber associations’ members and those are to:

1. Understand and monitor WTCA needs and take aggressive action to serve the truss market to advance the use of lumber within the truss industry;
2. Provide WTCA members with lumber products that will enhance our ability to provide economic lumber solutions for our customer base (e.g. working on solutions that will allow continued cost effective use of lumber within truss fire endurance assemblies and termite-infested areas, reduction of lumber waste in a truss plant, use of finger jointing technology to reduce warp, twist and crook, etc.) recognizing that one of the key criteria of commerce in the markets we serve is cost of the products we sell.
3. Annually share with the WTCA Board of Directors the lumber associations’ plan of action that is intended to advance lumber industry objectives within the wood truss industry and where WTCA’s input and action may be needed with respect to plan implementation.
4. Work directly with WTCA on all its programs that relate to growing the wood truss market, thereby building a united approach. This will maximize industry dollar resource utilization and ensure that the potential for market confusion is minimized.

Where wood truss market expansion is at issue, WTCA and the lumber associations interests are common and should be worked on collectively with WTCA taking the lead in implementation.

Where lumber utilization, economics and market expansion is at issue, the lumber associations will establish their strategic plans and will take a lead in implementation. The lumber associations may ask WTCA for a customer perspective if desired.
Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 10/29/2000

The WTCA board of directors delegates full authority to the WTCA executive committee to meet with the TPI board of directors to discuss and make decisions about the work of WTCA and TPI. The purpose of the meeting is to:

• Most efficiently utilize the limited resources that are available to each association.
• Promote association cooperation by eliminating duplication of services.
• Provide a more united industry strategic plan utilizing the specific mission statement and member and staff expertise of each group to the industry’s full advantage.

Approved Component Manufacturers Roundtable 03/02/2002