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We received a lot of positive feedback from readers about an article in the April issue regarding a component manufacturer’s product defect negligence lawsuit. While this is not the industry’s first escape from a negligence or breach of warranty finding as a result of proper risk management procedures, it’s a very timely lesson for us. As SBCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel explains in Important Legal Trends for 2011, the building industry is in another litigious cycle. Many of you pointed to the moral of the story: That the value of providing SBCA Jobsite Packages with all component orders cannot be overstated.
- The fact that ten truss technicians may come up with ten completely different designs for the same project is evidence that components are not commodities.
- It is very important to confirm that the applied loads are the loads that the EOR or building owner has specified.
- Using unique ways to share design best practices is a great way to develop skills and build strong teams.
- Every component design department should have a small reference library of important technical documents.
- It is generally best to make sure your designs conform with the most current versions of the IBC and IRC.
- However, building code adoption is at the discretion of the authority having jurisdiction.
- SBCA’s vision for a testing facility is to create new methods to value engineer structures.
- Finding out about load paths through building components has been the focus of SBCRI’s work.
- The ability to do forensic testing in SBCRI is a useful risk management strategy.
- 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.
- SBCA members can use wfd.sbcindustry.com to post jobs and review résumés—free!
- Devote 15 minutes every week to look at SBCA’s resources, read Industry News Headlines and catch up on email.
- Standard metal connector plates are suitable for use in lumber with moisture content of 19 percent or less and in building applications with no exposure to corrosive substances.
- Connector plates used in trusses exposed to high humidity or caustic chemicals may need to be treated to prevent corrosion.
- A variety of protective coatings can be applied to truss places in situations where special protection is necessary.
- It is critical to reinforce basic saw safety techniques like wearing PPE, housekeeping and machine guarding regardless of skill level or experience.
- Remember to have concentration and patience when operating any saw.
- Take a proactive approach to preventing injuries by properly maintaining all saws.
(includes corrected tables for print version)
- The biggest obstacle in selling panels has always been getting builders framers to recognize the value.
- Different market segments require unique skill sets just like different products do.
- Given the ultra-competitive market, strategic planning is critical for component manufacturers in 2011.
- There is often confusion in the marketplace about what criteria must be met to accept a new product and approve it for use in the intended application.
- The IBC and IRC require products not approved within the code to be “at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.”
- Manufacturers of products that do not have span tables or design values listed inside the IRC and/or IBC must provide design values for their products through independent testing.
- Build
Our Mission
The mission of SBC Magazine (SBC) is to inform those engaged in the structural building components industry, which includes the membership of the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA), in an effort to promote their common interests. Further, SBC strives to ensure growth, continuity and increased professionalism in this industry by staying abreast of leading-edge issues and serving as the industry's primary source of information.
Editorial Focus
The exclusive focus of SBC Magazine’s editorial content is on the products and issues of importance to manufacturers and distributors of structural building components. SBC’s scope includes information on regulatory action; handing, installing and bracing of products on the jobsite; raw materials; trends in building materials and building material distribution; building component research and testing; technical, engineering and design issues; building code news; economic forecasts; legislative activities; human interest; safety; risk management and contracts and industry best practices.
Article Submission Policy
The SBC Magazine editorial staff strives to maintain the magazine’s journalistic integrity. Because we want to provide objective industry articles to our readers, SBC does not publish submitted content that promotes a particular product, service, method, material, or business approach. This includes any submission that resembles editorial copy but is, in essence, advertising. The goal it is to provide science-based and appropriately referenced information, topical opinion points of view and key current industry specific articles to the broader structural building components industry and all those that are reading SBC.
Editorial Review Board Considerations:
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Has the topic been identified by our readers as an important topic?
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Does the article have applicability within the structural building components industry beyond a small and identifiable minority/subset of companies?
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Does the article contain enough valuable information to allow the reader to make a more insightful business decision within the realm of the structural components industry? (i.e., is there new and valuable “meat”?)
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Has the topic of the article been covered in recent articles?
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Does the article provide a balanced set of viewpoints regarding a key industry topic, method, material, or business approach?
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Are assertions made by the author properly sourced/cited?
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Is it clear to the reader how the author reached his/her conclusions (e.g., interviews, other publications, writer’s personal opinion)?
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Does the article avoid vague terms such as “many people think…” or “most would agree…”?
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Does the article allow the reader to thoroughly understand and assess the facts and draw conclusions or criticisms of the editorial content?
Article Submission Guidelines
Feature articles submitted to SBC Magazine should range from 800-1500 words. Articles should include visual aids such as graphs, pictures, figures or other pictorial representations of the text. We prefer electronically submitted articles in a PC-compatible format such as MS Word or PDF.
Please send articles to the Managing Editor. See above for editorial calendar and deadlines.
While we accept submissions from anyone who works with or has knowledge of structural building components, here are some specific areas to consider. Please note that any submissions become property of SBC Magazine.
Parting Shots
Turn to the inside back cover of SBC and you’ll see a section we call Parting Shots. Send us your industry-related photos, and we’ll consider them for print. Examples include interesting design projects, correct (or incorrect) jobsite practices, SBCA Chapter events and old photos that demonstrate historical industry events. All photo submissions are subject to art department review.
For SBC Advertisers/Industry Suppliers
SBC advertisers’ support of the industry helps us reach our goal of educating readers. Another way advertisers and other industry suppliers can educate readers is by submitting content that fits the guidelines of our Article Submission Policy. Suppliers are encouraged to submit articles for consideration or contact SBC staff with an article idea. Preference may be given to SBC Advertisers in terms of space reservation. Contact staff if you have an idea or questions.
For Engineers
Professional engineers seeking continuing education units are encouraged to submit articles for publication. Articles should be technical in nature and address engineering topics that relate to the design, manufacture, or installation of structural building components. If published, send your state’s CEU criteria to SBC staff and we’ll provide the necessary documentation to redeem your credits.
Policies for Republishing Article & Documents
REPUBLISHING SBCA COPYRIGHTED DOCUMENTS WITHOUT SBCA COMPENSATION: If any material from SBC's articles is copied for use for purely promotional and educational purposes and not for resale, then SBCA will provide permission for all of the specified article(s) provided SBC is given credit as source of the document and a link to our website is given as www.sbcmag.info.
REPUBLISHING SBCA COPYRIGHTED DOCUMENTS WITH SBCA COMPENSATION: If any material from our articles is copied and then used within another document for the purpose of generating income for another association or corporation, then SBCA, with the approval of the SBCA Executive Committee, will (1) sell the article and all of it can be included in the new publication in its original form; (2) will grant permission to copy and republish all or portions of the article with SBCA receiving a royalty for the sale of each new document published. The royalty will be agreed upon by SBCA and the party requesting permission.
For copyright requests, please contact SBC staff.