Wood trusses are prefabricated frameworks made of lumber and connected by metal plates that support roofs, floors, and other structures. They are widely used in residential, commercial, and agricultural construction. While trusses can be designed in almost any shape or size, restricted only by...

To strengthen a truss member or web, add a scab to reinforce it. For example, if you have a point load in the middle of a panel, one or two scabs may be used instead of increasing the grade or size of the member or using a multi-ply truss. Scabs reinforce overhangs by enhancing bending and...

Introducing Paperspace with IntelliVIEW Suite version 24.02 – This comprehensive plan finishing solution is seamlessly integrated within iModel, offering component designers a parallel workflow to the component layout. IntelliVIEW Paperspace features an intuitive user-interface, enabling...

While attending an Ontario Structural Wood Association meeting in October – somewhat like attending an SBCA Chapter meeting – part of the discussion turned to the quality of house plans. After many years in this industry, I can tell you that this discussion wouldn’t have...

Bearing: A structural support, usually a beam or wall, which is designed by the building designer to carry the truss reactions to the foundation. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] MiTek’s engineering software uses two common types of bearings, roller and pinned. There is...

This article appears in the May 2024 issue of STRUCTURE Magazine as Part 7 of 9. Reprinted with permission. This multi-part series discusses significant structural changes to the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) by the International Code Council (ICC). This article includes an overview...

One constant thorn in the side of truss fabricators is the cost of preparing quotes, often multiple times for the same job through the life of a project. I find that this is especially true for custom homes, as they often go through numerous revisions for aesthetic, budget, zoning, and other...

Typically, trusses are spaced evenly. The spacing shown on MiTek engineering drawings is a tributary area carried by the trusses. Each truss is designed to support one-half of the roof/floor load on each side. The spacing between the trusses may be of any combination if the tributary area does...

Imagine a looming deadline, a complicated 2D, multi-family floor plan. It will take days to get accurate measurements, manually. STITCHER® streamlines the process by capturing walls, openings, and intricate details with precision, transforming a 2D architectural drawing into a 3D model in a...

The demand for wall panel equipment after World War II was unprecedented, even to this day. Industrialization was in the air, and factory-built wall panels became the gateway, even before roof trusses. Most of the action was in the affordable housing sector, driven by the mobile home, modular,...