With my local jurisdiction contemplating moving to the 2015 I-Codes, I keep hearing about a new truss design standard. Where can I get a copy of the referenced ANSI/TPI 1-2014?
I am glad you asked. ANSI/TPI 1-2014 is a publication of the Truss Plate Institute (www.tpinst.org ), and is the latest version on the National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction. It is also correct that the 2014 version is the referenced standard in the 2015 IBC and IRC.
For the component manufacturer (CM), specifiers (architects, engineers and building owners) and code officials, the two most important chapters are Chapter 2, Standard Responsibilities in the Design and Application of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses; and Chapter 3, Quality Criteria for the Manufacture of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses. These two chapters, in my opinion, should be required reading for anyone planning, building or inspecting a project utilizing wood trusses.
Like the Building Codes, the TPI Design Standard has been around for decades, starting with the first release in 1960. Over the years it has been revised and updated, and today is the standard bearer for wood truss construction as we know it.
Now the good news! The Standard has long been made available for purchase by TPI, most recently in both hard-copy and electronic versions that include both the Standard itself as well as the non-mandatory Commentary and Appendices. Just recently, TPI has made the Standard Only (without the accompanying Commentary and Appendices) available online in a read-only format absolutely free of charge at: https://www.tpinst.org/tpi-store/ansitpi-1-2014.
This is tremendous news and should be shared widely with the audiences mentioned at the beginning of the article. Hopefully it will be downloaded and stored conveniently on the desktop and/or mobile devices of a vast majority of them for easy reference on a frequent basis.
Thanks for reading, SS.