It happens. And it will happen again. Time after time, truss fabricators are faced with the awkwardness of addressing a customer’s complaint call. Fabricating a custom product to meet specifications has its challenges. There are codes to follow. Loads to verify, configuration to consider, special instructions for deliveries on lots that are so small the trusses should have been airlifted. Communications between the specifiers/purchaser and the truss plant has its entire unique set of challenges. Maybe due to the complexity of the product, many issues, items, and details have to be considered. Checks and balances have to be made on an ongoing basis to insure a successful product is produced and delivered. If you were the supplier of the trusses in the photo, would your explanation be “it’s because of the method we use to stack the trusses that we didn’t see the missing plate”? If your company does not visually or mechanically verify that every connector plate is installed correctly, then you are missing an important part of the truss manufacturer’s responsibilities per code. At the very least, the stacker, the most important person in the truss operations, the last one to see the trusses before the customer does, should be methodically inspecting ALL connectors. It’s their job to verify the work is done. It’s your responsibility.
This truss was photographed on a jobsite just prior to the workers lifting it with a crane. With a missing plate, the truss could have collapsed while lifting, possibly injuring or killing a worker. A connector was never applied to the face. Analyzing the other trusses in the pack, it was determined that this truss was the third truss build in the run. This side was down on the table and was supposed to be back plated at the gantry. No plate teeth marks were evident, however. Fortunately, someone noticed the error at the jobsite. But, in addition to being an unsuitable and unsafe component, how much did it damage the company’s reputation too?