Rethinking Shear Transfer at Floor Transitions Jeff Vance Still defaulting to rim boards at every floor edge? In modern wood-framed construction, it’s worth taking a closer look at several detailing options including ribbon boards or top chord bearing detailing. These options can simplify construction and reduce blocking material while still... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 46
Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage: How Semi-Automated Equipment is Rebuilding the Construction Workforce Jeff Brown Panels Plus is helping companies do more with less — safely, consistently, and efficiently. The Construction Labor Crisis: Fewer Hands on Deck The construction industry is in the middle of a critical workforce challenge. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 82
Wall Panel Sheathing: How to Optimize Material and Labor ROGworx Team Let’s face it, nobody loves sheathing walls panels. Sheathing is heavy, awkward to handle, slows down your production line, generates a lot of waste, and depending on how you cut it, it can create a lot of air-born dust that can make your working environment unpleasant. However, it does... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 74
What a Flight on Japan Airlines Taught Me About Visual Safety Culture Ben Hershey On a recent trip from Seattle to Vietnam via Tokyo, I flew on Japan Airlines and was struck by more than just the exceptional hospitality. What stood out most was their disciplined safety culture, specifically how their flight attendants conducted safety checks. As they walked the cabin before... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 52
Protecting Tomorrow: Why Advocating for Safety and Building Codes Matters Today Ryan Colker Building safety is an essential part of our daily lives, influencing everything from the homes we live in to the businesses we visit and the public spaces we use. Safe buildings don’t just happen by accident, they are the result of careful planning and the adoption and enforcement of... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 102
Changes in Flat Roof Snow Calculation in ASCE 7-22 MiTek Staff Chapter 7 of ASCE 7-22 (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures) introduces significant changes that affect the magnitude of snow loads and, consequently, truss design. While some of these changes reduce snow load values, others increase them. One of the... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 108
What Kind of Message Does Your Facility Send to Your Employees? Glenn Traylor In Quality Assurance, we aim to improve our product by enhancing manufacturing methods. Continuous effort is made to ensure work meets plant standards, with each employee fulfilling their role. Even so, businesses that have a very narrow view of quality might be overlooking an important... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 39
5 Ways Building Safety Professionals Are Using Artificial Intelligence Joan O’Neil and Ed Cilurso As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve as a transformative technology, it is increasingly supporting building safety professionals both in the field and behind the scenes. AI integration into the industry empowers professionals and organizations by providing enhanced tools to assess... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 106
The ICC Code Development Process – Code Action Hearing Update MiTek Staff The International Code Council (ICC) recently completed the first of two Group B Code Action Hearings (CAH) in Orlando, Florida, from April 27 to May 6 for development of the 2027 I-Codes. The second CAH will be held in October in Cleveland, Ohio. This marks a significant milestone in the new... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 114
What to Consider Before Purchasing an Automated Linear Saw Wendy Boyd I’ve had the privilege of working with frame and truss manufacturers for many years now, and I’ve seen firsthand how the right equipment can transform a business. If you’re thinking about investing in an automated linear saw, I can honestly say, you can reap many benefits... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 19