Advertiser Forum: Sugar Pills and Rocket Fuel Anna Stamm It never ceases to amaze me how “simple” things can become so complicated. I’m sure I’m not alone in this quandary – the feeling that you’ve stepped into a maze and now struggle to get out. Simple Beginnings, Complicated Developments Last spring, I... Read More May 2024 Issue #16298 Page 6
How Do You Determine Fabrication Tolerances During Design? Glenn Traylor How does a component manufacturer determine what fabrication tolerances should be used during truss design? To answer that question, we first need to clarify what is meant by “fabrication tolerance.” Per ANSI/TPI 1–2014, the guidance is 3.3.2 Fabrication Tolerance. All... Read More May 2024 Issue #16298 Page 35
Design Connections: What Will Customers Want, Need, and Pay to Have Geordie Secord Over the last couple of articles, I’ve spent some time discussing improvements that would improve both the energy efficiency and the ability of the truss system to withstand extreme weather conditions. If you’ve read those articles, you will know that I think it is ridiculous that we... Read More May 2024 Issue #16298 Page 90
Advance Your Career and Earnings By Learning From Mistakes We Are All Prone to Make Todd Drummond Each generation has to learn all the life lessons either through their own mistakes or the counseling of the older generation. The vast majority of us wish not to repeat the same mistakes and, if possible, avoid them altogether. If you wish to avoid embarrassment, whether you are new to being an... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 24
Do You Know the Frequent Non-Compliance Issue That’s “Easy” to Fix? Glenn Traylor The photo shows a 2 x 4 truss with an ANSI/TPI 1 non-compliance issue. This is something that never should have happened! Can you spot the problem? [For photo, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] If you shouted, “a missing connector,” then give yourself a gold star! As I was ranking... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 35
What is the Best Way to Handle Defects Under the Plated Area? Glenn Traylor Everyone who uses lumber in trusses understands that defects in lumber can impact truss performance in different ways. Some defects are not important but others will affect truss performance and can even cause truss failure. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] In the first photo,... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 35
Can Eased Edge Lumber Usage Impact Truss Design? Glenn Traylor Originally intended as an improvement in lumber manufacturing, most dimensional lumber used for framing has a radius corner created during the planing process. The rounded corner radius is intended to make the lumber easier to handle and can improve the lumber’s performance because sharp... Read More February 2024 Issue #16295 Page 33
How Should We Select a 3rd Party Quality Assurance Program? Glenn Traylor As a new year begins, now is the time to ask: do I need a 3rd party auditor? If you don’t have one, then you need to take a hard look at your business. As companies in other industries have learned too, using a third party to conduct all audits throughout an organization (or supplementing... Read More January 2024 Issue #16294 Page 33
Do Your Floor Truss Chord Splices Meet Your Design Requirements? Glenn Traylor It seems like a simple thing—connect lumber together with connectors creating a top or bottom chord for your floor trusses that exceed your lumber length inventory. It’s one of the simplest applications of metal connector plates. But, while the task seems obvious, there are several... Read More December 2023 Issue #15293 Page 31
Species Substitution: Lean into the Full Flexibility of MSR Lumber MSR Lumber Producers Council MSR Lumber has a long history of being the right choice for component manufacturers. This reliable and consistent lumber grading system revolutionized the construction industry when it was introduced to the market in the 1960s, and it continues to be a mainstay for truss producers decades... Read More December 2023 Issue #15293 Page 74