BCMC session evaluations indicated that the BCMC Committee hit a home run in choosing the topics they did. Take a few moments to catch up on what you might have missed at this year's show.
When analyzing a girder truss, the Truss Designer needs to keep in mind the assumptions the truss analysis program makes regarding reaction capacities.
It is the Building Designer’s responsibility to verify the capacity of the bearing surface, but the Truss Designer must ensure that the truss-to-bearing connection has a chance of being made without crushing.
The article provides a series of concepts to use if a truss needs to be designed without knowing the bearing surface type and its feasibility of providing adequate support for the trusses.
The exception to IRC Section R602.3.2 allows for the use of a single top plate in a wood stud wall if the design meets specific requirements.
By cutting the volume of lumber in the top plate in half, a single top plate allows more space for insulation and can reduce thermal bridging through the lumber, which increases the thermal efficiency of the wall system.
When trusses are centered over the studs with a tolerance of not more than 1", the stud spacing can be increased to 24" o.c., which removes more lumber, improves energy efficiency and still provides a continuous load path.
To determine if the use of a single top plate is beneficial, a number of factors must be weighed.
The fact that ten truss technicians may come up with ten completely different designs for the same project is evidence that components are not commodities.
It is very important to confirm that the applied loads are the loads that the EOR or building owner has specified.
Using unique ways to share design best practices is a great way to develop skills and build strong teams.
