Product Performance

Ramp It Up!

Trusses provide a cost-effective, responsive solution to concrete formwork.

This Isn’t Your Father’s Truss Bridge

An unusual design project gives this CM international exposure.

Rock the Block

CM increases profit with pre-designed shear blocking panels.

Inside the Box Building

Innovative thinking and careful construction allowed Truss Craft to give a condemned structure new life.

Fire Rating For Sloped Roof Truss Assemblies

Question: 

A question has come up concerning sloped roof trusses and fire assembly ratings. Some are reluctant to rely on test results from flat (parallel chord) trusses applied to sloped roof trusses. Do you have any information regarding the suitability of the fire rated ceiling assemblies for sloped roof trusses? Does the “minimum depth” requirement of the parallel chord assembly apply to the minimum depth of a sloped roof truss (i.e., heel height?)

Truss Repairability

Question: 

Occasionally we deal with truss failures due to impact and or crushing forces such as trees falling onto roof structures. At what point can the truss no longer be repaired? Also, what should an adjuster look for when determining repair-ability? Or should a storm adjuster basically punt and call a consultant for every truss failure?

Fire Damaged Trusses

Question: 

I have been hired by an insurance company to determine the extent of damage to roof trusses exposed to fire. How much fire damage compromises the structural integrity of the truss?

Responsibility Of Snow Drift Load Calculations

Question: 

Is the truss designer or the building designer responsible for calculating snow drift loads on a roof system?

Bracing Schematics

Question: 

Are there any schematics available on how to horizontally brace a 7/12 pitch roof?

Lumber Grades In Wood Trusses

Question: 

The grading rules usually permit some percentage of visually graded lumber to be below grade – I believe it is 5%. ANSI/TPI 1 requires that all lumber used in trusses be of the grade specified by the truss design. A strict interpretation of ANSI/TPI 1 would require that the fabricator cull the 5% that is off grade. What are your thoughts on this?