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Article
2007 December
- Wood, like other structural materials, exhibits an inherent variability in strength properties from piece to piece.
- The design value is obtained by reducing the fifth percentile test result by a property reduction factor.
- The grading of lumber is not an exact science; a reasonable amount of discrepancy is to be expected between individual pieces graded by different graders.
- Cross-cutting stress-graded lumber into pieces shorter than the original piece is a common practice wherever lumber is used in construction.
Article
2007 December
- With the advent of component saws, bow and crook suddenly became an issue.
- There’s only so much the saw manufacturers can do to compensate for crooked lumber.
- We’ve all likely witnessed the snail’s pace of a complicated truss setup on a manually jigged pressing table.
Article
2007 December
- One Idaho manufacturer struggled with analyzing job costs with its existing system.
- Building Components of Idaho now determines the true costs of different jobs; this data ties directly to the general ledger.
- An incentive plan helped the company with accurate labor tracking and contributes to employee reviews.
Article
2007 December
- Being involved with the WTCA Board benefits individual companies just as much as the collective industry.
- Board members say participation helps them keep up with the latest trends and news in the industry.
- Several companies have collaborated with one another to meet orders in an efficient way that makes customers happy.
- In times of need, Board members say the first people they call for help are friends they’ve met at meetings.
Article
2007 December
- A bill was repealed in 1997 that allowed Caltrans to issue permits for transporting wall panels stacked horizontally.
- A coalition of CalESCA members, building contractors and homebuilders rallied to restore the bill that would allow wall panels to be hauled horizontally.
- In October 2007, AB 1612 was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- There is no single statute of limitations for the many categories of records component manufacturers hang on to.
- The federal requirements vary tremendously, do not apply to all types of records, and may even contradict themselves from agency to agency.
- It is possible to strike a balance between saving too much and keeping too little.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- Euler’s buckling formula dates back to 1757; we still use it today to determine bracing.
- With the creation of an analysis program that more accurately predicts the behavior of a truss system, bracing designs can be examined.
- Given that relatively few material properties were measured, the SAWFT predictions are surprisingly close to the instability loads obtained from the tests.
- This work shows promise as a first step toward development of robust structural analysis algorithms for developing new design procedures for wood structural system s
Article
2007 December
- Quality is something that no one should sacrifice, no matter what.
- Part of manufacturing is discovering the nuances that make a world of difference.
- Make it a goal to get your systems tuned up, in place and ready for the New Year.
Article
2007 December
- Solar panels—devices that convert solar energy into electricity or heat—are often installed in trussed and conventionally framed roofs.
- To determine if a truss can withstand the load of a solar panel, add the value of the panel to the maximum top chord dead load capacity.
- If a panel can be applied to a conventionally framed roof with the same design load capacity as a truss system, the application should also work in the trussed roof.
Article
2007 December
- The third largest cause of workplace injuries, slip and fall injuries can be expensive to employers.
- Tend to outdoor and indoor housekeeping during the winter weather months to minimize slip and fall hazards.
Article
2007 November
- WTCA President Bob Becht emphasizes bracing and long-span truss installation education.
- There was a time when short member temporary lateral restraint was not installed safely.
- BCSI and the B-Series documents have helped to provide direction and a consistent message on bracing and installation issues.
- Given the current state of housing, we need tools like BCSI to raise the level of professionalism in construction.
Article
2007 November
- There are many guidelines and recommendations in place to ensure trusses are installed and braced properly.
- Truss Design Drawings show the truss calculation and engineer stamp, but usually show limited bracing.
- It is our hope that BCSI recommendations are followed in the field, but we cannot enforce them.
Article
2007 November
- Making sure your vehicle is in good operating condition is one of the best defenses when driving in winter weather.
- Put together a basic cold-weather emergency kit for each vehicle in your fleet.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- Brand your company as "The Solution" for all of your customers’ needs.
- If you offer wall panels, engineered wood products, steel trusses, and turnkey labor, or engineering design services in addition to wood trusses, be sure to market them.
- Work with the design and specifier community to help streamline the front end of the construction process and value-engineer structures.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- The IRC 2006 references BCSI 1-03 in two locations—R502.11.2 and R802.10.3.
- In 2006, BCSI 1-03 was revised and retitled Building Component Safety Information; Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses.
- Although BCSI 1-03 is referenced in IRC 2006, you should use the most recent version of the booklet—BCSI.
Article
2007 Sept/Oct
- OSHA’s Top Ten list is a great place to start for reviewing safety issues at your facility.
- Three of the 2006 Top Ten (one, three and nine) fall under OSHA’s Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (Part 1926) and don’t apply to component manufacturing.
- The remaining seven violations relate to standards that are important to comply with as a component manufacturer.
Article
2007 August
- OSHA defines a powered industrial track (PIT) as any mobile, power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials that can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator.
- OSHA requires you to implement a PIT vehicle training program and verify that each operator has been properly trained and evaluated.
Article
2007 August
- Remember safety when you consider material handling in your operation.
- Creating a safety committee is a great way to inspire a culture of safety and discuss areas of the plant to examine.
Article
2007 August
- When a truss member is damaged, the anticipated flow of loads through the truss is disrupted, and that load must be resisted by another member(s).
Article
2007 June/July
- High school and college students can be a valuable resource during the summer months.
- Their inexperience can also bring a unique set of safety risks.
- Create a safe environment for your summer help with a few simple adjustments.
Article
2007 June/July
- Component manufacturers need to be wary of builders demanding deep discounts not agreed upon in contracts already in place.
- Although you may feel like giving up trying to understand insurance requirements, it is possible to learn about them.
- If you aren’t aware of what your insurance coverage actually provides, you are exposing yourself to tremendous and avoidable risk.
Article
2007 June/July
- Wood-framed buildings over three stories above grade should be designed under the IBC.
- These buildings fall outside the prescriptive/conventional construction provisions of the IRC and IBC and must be designed using engineering principles.
Article
2007 May
- To fully understand how loads interact with each other, they must be tested as a system instead of as an individual element.
- WHD is here to stay, building momentum and bringing the structural integrity of buildings to a whole new level.
Article
2007 May
- A new provision was introduced to the wood truss section (i.e., R810.2) of the 2006 edition of the IRC that permits the use of roof snow load computed using 0.7pg.
- Engineered design, through ASCE 7, is required in instances where the limitations on which the IRC is based are exceeded.
- ASCE 7 snow load design provisions require the evaluation of other conditions that may produce load surcharges in addition to the balanced uniform loads of pf or ps.