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Article
2006 May
- Toe-nailing has long been recognized in building codes as an acceptable means of attaching wood members to wood bearing walls.
- WTCA has submitted a code change proposal to the IRC regarding the truss-to-wall connection requirements.
Article
2006 May
- SNCMA joined forced with the Struc-tural Engineers Association of Southern Nevada (SEASoN) by forming a truss committee within the engineers’ group.
- Using teamwork, the two groups successfully resolved issues surrounding drag loads and uplift.
- Most recently, SNCMA and WTCA staff provided content for SEASoN’s design responsibilities document based on language in WTCA/TPI 1 Chapter 2.
Article
2006 May
- This issue of SBC Magazine is devoted to design and engineering advancements.
- The cover story highlights a design challenge that Pioneer Truss couldn’t pass up. Though the structure was small, the effort it took to design and build the trusses with ultimate precision for it was not.
- In February, BMC West graciously welcomed members of the fire service to its facility in the Portland area. Atten-dees seemed most impressed with the truss design software and the overall level of professionalism displayed during the tour.
Article
2006 May
- Most youth are unaware of careers in the truss manufacturing industry.
- Raising awareness about your company locally can bolster market share and promote employment opportunities.
- Consider becoming involved in builder trade shows and career expos to showcase products and employment opportunities.
Article
2006 May
- BCSI 1-03 booklet will soon be revised. Individual B-Series summary sheets will then undergo updates based on booklet changes.
- The new version will be reformatted into an 8.5x11-inch spiral-bound three hole-punched booklet. q The most significant changes will occur in BCSI’s two bracing sections, B2 on temporary bracing and B3 on permanent bracing.
- A change in permanent bracing perspective was developed when WTCA worked with the National Council of Structural Engineers Association on a code change proposal for the IBC 2006.
Article
2006 May
- Studies conducted on manual component saws, once the standard of the industry, found that operators were spending more time doing the manual set-ups than they were cutting wood.
- Almost anything you can automate will likely be an improvement over the manual production method you are currently using. The average saw operator will do three to four hundred set-ups per shift with an automated saw.
- It doesn’t do any good to have a saw that sets up in seven seconds if it takes much longer than that to get the wood moving through the saw.
Article
2006 May
- This event is one example of WTCA’s work to provide solid technical education on the fire performance of trusses.
- The goal of the tour was to listen to the concerns of the fire service about structural building components in modern building construction.
- The fire service was very impressed with the level of sophistication programmed into the truss design software, asking questions about how it could be integrated into the pre-fire planning process.
Article
2006 May
- John Meeks began his post-military car-eer in the commercial concrete industry.
- Meeks met Gang-Nail’s Cal Jureit in Florida, and joined Automated Building Components, Inc. as the Engineering Manager in charge of building franchise chains.
- He became involved in truss design engineering at ABC, and also took an interest in bracing and installation while inspecting a truss collapse.
- Throughout his career and still today, Meeks has made his mark on the wood truss industry as a respected forensic engineer.
Article
2006 May
- Imagine taking a horizontal slice of a hard-boiled egg and looking at it from the top. Now imagine designing roof trusses to fit on top of that shape and completing the job within budget.
- Pioneer came up with the idea of drawing the trusses first in CAD to represent the roof in true 3D.
- Paul Lenauer credited technology with making this project possible, while the project’s architect credits structural building components with helping make his vision a reality.
Article
2006 May
- Back in the ‘80s, truss technicians had to input the lengths, bearing locations and any concentrated loads on a truss other than a standard truss.
- Today’s truss design software helps streamline truss technicians’ work, but fundamental design, engineering and building code concepts are still important.
- Design technology gives us the capability to take designs to the next level and spec in a wide range of products from wall panels to steel trusses.
- The time has come to embrace all structural building component materials.
Article
2006 May
- Chainsaws are powerful; according to Lowe’s, "you won’t find a tool with more power per inch."
- Chainsaws were designed to cut only wood, so make sure that all other objects are cleared from the area before using them.
Article
2006 May
- BCSI-B2 provides temporary bracing guidance for trusses spaced up to 24 inches on-center.
- BCSI-B10 offers temporary bracing guidance for wide on-center trusses such as those used in post frame buildings.
- Truss Designers note on Truss Design Drawings that truss top chords must be laterally braced by the roof sheathing to prevent the top chord from buckling.
- When purlins are specified, check with the Truss Designer to determine the maximum unbraced length of the top chord between purlins to avoid top chord buckling.
Article
2006 April
- Viking noted that in 2005, 66 percent of its wall panel system customers and 75 percent of its revenue could be directly tied to exhibiting at BCMC or advertising in SBC Magazine.
- Exhibitors can use the show to learn customer needs, improve their marketing plans, and fine-tune their products.
Article
2006 April
- To comply with the provisions of the model code, a method or material must meet the requirements of the referenced standard
- A Project Committee has been formed to evaluate the 2002 edition of ANSI/TPI 1.
- WTCA is planning to propose changes to the I-Codes for the 2007 code cycle that will move in the direction of having the metal plate connected wood truss requirements currently included in the IBC and IRC also placed into TPI 1 so that both are consistent and ultimately most of the information about truss design and construction will be in TPI 1.
Article
2006 April
- This issue of SBC Magazine focuses on grassroots activities within the industry and also houses the annual membership listing.
- The cover story features Boozer Lumber, a South Carolina component manufacturer with a new perspective on sustainability.
- Another feature honors the life of Robert Mort, Sr.
- The concept of "shear-out" is explained in this issue’s technical feature article.
Article
2006 April
- Hiring and training locally, also referred to as the "homegrown" method, has the greatest potential for meeting the industry’s need for technicians.
- Many potential technicians can be found in the local technical college, and some may start in the shop and work their way up.
- Component manufacturers have been successful with employing homegrown technicians; one reason is they come up through the ranks, and the pay is competitive with the typical salaries for these jobs in the industry.
Article
2006 April
- V.2 includes updated references to the IBC & IRC 2003 codes and ASCE7-02.
- A new delivery method simplifies navigation and course material downloads.
- A new feature provides all content in text format for hearing impaired users.
Article
2006 April
- The WTCA Board voted unanimously to pass a resolution changing the name of the association to "WTCA – Represent-ing the Structural Building Components Industry."
- A management committee resolution was passed to change the Wage & Benefit and Financial Performance survey policy.
- Two new technical staff members have been hired, and the number of professional engineers on staff has increased to four.
- The design of the research and testing facility is nearing completion.
Article
2006 April
- A user-friendly automated saw requires a willing learner to handle its operator-dependent functions.
- Most automated saws today have some form of production reporting, including a comprehensive picture of everything that is going on at the machine.
Article
2006 April
- Boozer Lumber has taken a humanistic approach to employee training to accommodate the needs of a changing work force.
- The training strategy is vastly different from the traditional cerebral and academic-focused leadership training.
- One significant element of Boozer’s training involves employees’ career-long journey to self-awareness.
- The company’s culture change has positively impacted its bottom line and has allowed Boozer to differentiate itself from the competition.
Article
2006 April
- The Western Component Manufacturers Association has taken an active role in educating local and state building officials in Oregon.
- Through its educational efforts, WCMA has begun to forge relationships with the building inspector community.
- In the last six months, WCMA has been invited to participate in several meetings with the inspectors, who have been very receptive to the manufacturers’ information.
Article
2006 April
- The future of the industry is cemented in the simple truth that by using trusses, manufacturers can design more complex roof lines than with stick framing.
- The industry is entrepreneurial.
- Past presidents noted the far-reaching effects that consolidation could have on the industry and its leadership.
- Development and involvement of leadership from the larger companies in the industry is essential.
Article
2006 April
- A new design check, initially termed “chunk-out,” appeared in the truss design process with the adoption of TPI 1-2002.
- The appropriate technical term for chunk-out is actually “shear-out.”
- Understanding shear-out requires defining the stress distribution around the plate and comparing the magnitude of stresses to the wood shear strength under the plate.
- Future finite element stress analysis and testing has been planned in order to define the nominal stresses associated with the shear-out condition.
Article
2006 April
- WTCA chapters offer an excellent venue to get to know your competition and even work together.
- Local chapters provide an environment where relationships and friendly rivalries develop.
- Working together and focusing on making the structural building components industry stronger increases its stature, and everyone reaps the benefits.