Jobsite Documents

Installation Guidelines

Question: 

What are the requirements on the permanent bracing of bottom chords? Can gypsum board diaphragms be used?

Valley Sets

Question: 

What are the requirements for installing valley sets over roof trusses? I am interested in nailing and support conditions. Some engineers ask for the bottom chord of the valley truss to be ripped to match the roof pitch of the underlying trusses. Is this necessary? How can I calculate values for uplift resistance for the building inspector?

Deflection Of Long Span Scissors Trusses

Question: 

I was wondering if you have any information or anecdotes relating to the deflection performance of long span scissors trusses? We recently sold a job with 70 ft. long scissors trusses. The customer is in the process of installing the trusses and doesn't like the deflections he is seeing. To make matters worse, the scissors trusses are framing into a valley set (which we provided) that is erected on 35 ft. Howe trusses. The Howe trusses are exhibiting very little deflection. Any ideas?

Main Wind Force Resisting Systems Vs Components Cladding

Question: 

As an engineer, I have noticed truss designers in some high wind states routinely using “Main Wind-Force Resisting Systems” wind pressure coefficients as opposed to “Components and Cladding” coefficients to design for wind uplift. A roof truss is not a main wind-force resisting system and would have to have a tributary area of more than 1000 sq. ft. before qualifying for the lower Primary Frame coefficients. In my experience this practice is routine.

Submittal Packages and Jobsite Packages: What Should Be Included?

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

What the Code Says: Truss Placement Diagrams

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

Trusses with a Twist

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

Truss Industry Standard of Care Issues: Part 2

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

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

  • CMs deal with customers with a wide range of skill sets, including those who have drawn their house plans on a McDonald’s paper napkin. I wish I were making this up!
  • While CMs are not responsible for ensuring that customers brace jobs correctly, they can provide BCSI documents to help customers build a better building and stay safe.
  • The BCSI book and B-Series Summary Sheets are a CM's saving grace, especially if the customer plans to install the trusses on their own or not hire an engineer of record.

Installation Instructions

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