When a connector has been installed on a joint and it is determined the plate does not meet the requirements of the design standard, then the truss designer has to make a decision. The connection can be repaired by removing the plate, or there may be a way to facilitate the repair leaving the plate in place, or the connection could be adequate with further evaluation leaving the joint “acceptable as is” with no repair necessary. In the situation where the plate has to be removed, an important aspect of the repair should be, “If I am removing a plate and replacing it with another plate, how does the first plate tooth impact affect the repair?”
Installing a connector into the lumber on its own damages the lumber as the plate is pressed into the lumber. Removing this plate creates an area where new plate embedment is considered 50% effective. In other words, one would need twice the tooth count to equal the original requirement assuming no other defects are present.
In the example pictured, 75% of the new plate area (shown in red) will have had tooth embedment from the removed plate. The blue hashed area is where a 50% reduction would be required.
In this case, merely replacing the connector with another 30 square inch connector would not be adequate. An 8 x 8 plate would be necessary to ensure the tooth count necessary per joint.