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TEAMWORK AND GENEROSITY RALLY FOR VICTORY IN FLORIDA — 6/13/2003

Madison, WI - Years of diligent and valuable work culminated this spring in Florida, as the new state truss regulation took effect on April 30. The new Florida truss regulation 61G15-31.003, "Design of Structures Utilizing Prefabricated Wood Trusses," has clarified the previous section of Florida law, added a cover or index sheet process that reduces the time and related expenses associated with truss design process in Florida. This change to the use of a concise cover sheet makes it quick and easy for building officials to find all of the project information they need to undertake plan review.

Since 1999, the Wood Truss Council of America (WTCA) and the Truss Plate Institute (TPI) have worked closely with Florida structural building component manufacturers and the Florida Home Builders Association in undertaking this extremely important truss industry project. TPI recently donated $15,000 to the WTCA Florida Chapter Executive Committee's (FCEC) War Chest, a fund used to defray these types of significant unbudgeted costs.

WTCA President Scott Arquilla thanked TPI's Board of Directors for their support of this endeavor. "Early on, it was only the WTCA Executive Committee and our Florida Chapter Executive Committee that really understood the full impact of the initial Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) actions and law changes, and fully supported what we were trying to achieve in Florida, the culmination of which is the new truss regulation 61G15-31.003. Once the TPI Board realized the impact the initial FBPE proposed changes would have had on their businesses, they quickly supported our efforts in every way. Their contribution, approved at our joint meeting in May, 2003, to help reimburse us for our efforts in Florida, show how the TPI Board and WTCA have joined together to support issues, such as this, and make every effort to grow and improve our industry for the benefit of all parties. I sincerely thank Charlie Hoover, TPI Board President, and each Board member for their gracious support," he commented.

Florida's triumph is felt by many in the component manufacturing industry and, though at times it was a rocky road, Charlie Hoover expressed his satisfaction with the victory in Florida, "It was disappointing for me personally as a Professional Engineer in the state of Florida to go before the board to present our arguments and feel completely irrelevant to their decision process. It was encouraging when we discovered we have friends and allies that can force some common sense back into the process. This was teamwork and we each played our roles very well. Thank you to all the participants that represented the industry in this successful mission."

For more information on the 61G15-31.003, contact WTCA at 608/274-4849.