When I saw the article on ceiling separation, The Enduring Problem of Truss Partition Separation, written by my friend Frank Woeste in the November issue of The Advertiser, I was excited to read it. As Frank writes, this problem has been around since there has been a metal plate connected wood truss industry. We are very fortunate to have had Frank involved since the beginning and now to have a current update on this subject.
Having been in this industry since 1979, working at Clary Corp., Gang Nail Systems, MiTek, and Universal Forest Products, I also knew Stan Suddarth and Don Percival. They did a tremendous amount of the developmental research for this industry—research which helped propel the fledgling industry forward. This included truss separation as well as a host of additional topics, with both field research and analytical techniques. Their research includes comparative examples of conventional framing and truss framing, truss lumber properties, long term deflection of trusses, and many more topics, plus they trained the next generation of researchers for the MPCWT industry, including, Frank, Larry Beineke, and Mike Triche.
The highlights, to me, of Frank’s article can be summed up in the following points.
- The pioneers. The article reintroduces two industry pioneers, Stan Suddarth and Don Percival, to our current generation in the industry.
- The history. How was the problem of truss partition separation first identified and analyzed? What are the causal links? There is much to learn from the early research.
- The details and solutions. Importantly, there are several actions that can be taken before the problem occurs. From design to installation, component manufacturers can provide and heed guidance on minimizing the potential for partition separation.
- The building code and technical resources. From the code-referenced SBCA Building Component Safety Information (BCSI) Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing & Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses to the SBCA Research Report Summary Sheet, “Partition Separation Prevention and Solutions,” the tools at our disposal are also useful for educating those who install and use our products.
- The bibliography. For anyone interested in more information, the article provides references for further study.
For those who unfortunately have to deal with this problem, you will find valuable advice on a subject that is difficult to address when a home owner is experiencing a quality issue and, more importantly, solutions to the problem in the design and construction phase BEFORE the problem occurs.
Thanks for the article, Frank.