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The component industry is full of complex documentation, from blueprints and truss design drawings to bids and contracts. Reading these documents effectively and knowing what to look for can make the difference between a profitable job and a huge headache. This article will discuss some of the easy mistakes that can be made and advise on processes that can help reduce the chance they occur.
The following article provides SBCA's proposed best practice Truss Design Drawing (TDD) warning note language for CMs to use as a standardize approach with respect to defining their scope of work.
Proposed Sample TDD Warning Note Language
Read more about membership with the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) and determine membership dues.
Editor’s Note: 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.
One of the best ways to ensure your remote designers feel like an integral part of the team is to make an effort to get everyone physically in the same place from time to time. Dan Morris, truss design manager at Apex in Jacksonville, Florida, notes that while they have regular interactions over the phone or through online meetings, they’ve also learned that “you need to have face-to-face time” to keep the team unified.
We sincerely encourage all SBCA CM Members to read this article on SPIB's Supplement #9, which contains an in-depth analysis of a series of next steps that all members should consider implementing that are intended to provide a best practices roadmap.
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.
Jess Lohse (Rocky Mountain Truss) returns again this month to provide a component manufacturer's perspective on the contents of the new March issue. We hope you enjoy it as much as he seemed to!
SBCA's Marketing Chair considers the place of social media and how it can enhance, but will never replace, the value of participation in your industry's trade association.
- Not stating a SOW can also subject a CM to the prospect of increased claims and liability.
- A manufacturer should strongly consider developing a SOW template that can be used in its bids or proposals and as an addendum or attachment to the customer contracts it signs.
The following provides SBCA's proposed best practice contract language for CMs to use as a standardize approach with respect to defining their scope of work. The grey highlighted text ties most directly to the commentary provided after the proposed sample language.
Proposed Sample Contract Language
- A lot has changed in the components industry over the past two decades, and a new Framing the American Dream (FAD) project would allow us to quantify just how much, as well as detail our product’s benefits over other framing methods.
- Beyond FAD, SBCA is also focusing on helping component manufacturers across the country fight an unfair provision in the model building code, R501.3.
- As you think about investing in the future of your business, think about how much you’re willing to invest this year in these two projects to ensure a bright future for our industry.
Senior Truss Designer • Nelson Truss • Edgerton, WI
Nineteen years ago we found ourselves in a similar spot
Three key steps to get you headed down the right path.
The following provides SBCA's proposed best practice truss submittal package language for CMs to use as a standardize approach with respect to defining their scope of work. The grey highlighted text ties most directly to the commentary provided after the proposed sample language.
Proposed Sample TDD and TPD Submittal Transmittal Language
The following article provides SBCA's proposed best practice Truss Design Drawing (TDD) Cover Sheet language for CMs to use as a standardize approach with respect to defining their scope of work. The grey highlighted text ties most directly to the commentary provided after the proposed sample language.
Proposed Sample TDD Cover Sheet Language
Lean Six Sigma is a mountainous challenge, but there are some basic ways to prepare for the climb.
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.
Meet Jasper Diederiks, Sales Manager at Heartland Truss.
SBCA’s partnership with Tim helps educate his followers on the benefits of structural components.
The invention of the modern-day metal connector plate in the mid-1950s is commonly attributed to A. Carroll Sanford and J. Calvin Juriet. As the baby boomer generation was being launched, houses could not be built fast enough for America’s fledgling families striving to capture the dream of homeownership. Connector plates gave builders a method to assemble homes more quickly and spawned over 50 different types of plate configurations and manufacturers.
The Baltimore Carpentry Task Force brings students together to explore construction careers
I had an interesting conversation recently with an engineer that I have known for at least 15 years.
- By conducting its own ASTM E119 floor assembly fire testing, SBCA has the data it needs to effectively fight the controversial IRC Section R501.3 code provision and help preserve CMs’ market share.
- SBCA has drafted template best practice language CMs should consider using in their TDDs, customer contracts and submittal documents to counter the efforts of the lumber industry to shift liability onto end users.
- Through Framing the American Dream and WorkForce Development efforts, SBCA is actively engaged in helping CMs successfully navigate today’s labor challenges and grow their businesses.
When used effectively, social media is a great marketing tool that can help drive leads to your sales team, brand your company as a credible thought leader in the industry, improve your company culture, and entice job seekers.
There was so much information to absorb at this year’s show! And there are more resources online to help you catch up on anything you missed.