One of our local building departments is requiring truss bracing specs on construction drawings for new homes, separate from any engineered truss drawings done by the manufacturer. I don’t believe we have a problem in our area of the country with truss failures, just seems to be the latest kick, which slows the permit process down even further.
I’m looking for some feedback on permanent truss bracing, particularly for the midwest region, what your putting in, and where the specs are coming from.
Thanks
Replies
There are 2 types of bracing, and I'm not sure which one you're talking about.
One is permanent web bracing. It's purpose is to keep webs from buckling when they're in compression. These should be indicated on the individual truss drawings. Most manufacturers also put tags on the webs where the braces are required.
The second type is permanent bracing that's more designed to resist wind and seismic forces in the overall structure. This is supposed to be called out by the fictitional "building designer", or the project architect or engineer. But I've rarely seen it called out on anything.
the 3rd type of bracing is erection bracing. But since you said "permenant" bracing, I assume this isn't what you mean.
Defecation eventuates.
I am talking about permanent bracing in regards to provide support for wind loads.
The truss drawings for this house has bracing requirements for 9 of the 25 different trusses for this job, the other 16 trusses are hip set trusses, piggy backs, and attic storage.
The bracing specified on the truss drawings are not sufficient for the building department. I spoke with our consulting engineer today, and he reviewed the truss drawings and said the main truss in question (35' long, 9/12 pitch hip) required no bracing due to the web members are in tension, no compression webs.
Without seeing what they're requiring of you, it's kinda hard to comment on.
When you say "to provide support for wind loads" do you mean something like gable bracing? Or are you talking about diagonal bracing in the ceiling plane to keep the building square? Or something else entirely? Can you give us some examples of the types of bracing they're requiring?
The braces you see called out on the webs on the truss drawings are only to keep the one individual web member from buckling. They have nothing to do with the overall building bracing.
BTW - It's impossible to have a truss with all tension webs - They almost always alternate from tension to compression as you go from one end to the other across the truss.
Give me ambiguity or give me whatever.......
I would like to tell you that drawing is for your best interest,as a home owner and home builder, i started using trusses in the late 50'S in ohio and we had to figure that out for ourselves, as now i live in the south and it is required to be attached to ever bundle of trusses delivered to a work site .
please use it and follow it to the letter and just maybe your house will stand in that high wind storm that we think will never come .
Codes for sure vary from region to region. I guess the best case scenario would be also to add truss ties to top plates, tie plates to floors, etc. to reduce the likelihood of the roof sailing off the house in a windstorm. However, this is not a code requirement in our region, and as such, we will never see this done as it is in Florida.
I can see where your coming from though.
Best-
TRUSS MANUFACTURERS HAVE ENGINEERS ON STAFF. IF THEY WANT TO SELL TRUSSES IN YOUR AREA, THEY WILL SUPPLY THE INFORMATION THAT THE INSPECTIONS DEPT. WANTS.
TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING.
Truss manufacturers *don't* have engineers on staff (typically) and aren't required to call out anything just because a building department wants it. Some stuff is the responsibility of the building designer/architect/engineer.
As of this point, I still have no idea what the guy is talking about.
Drugs cause amnesia...and other things I can't remember.
sir; i think you will find that your man wants the braces to go diagonial from the top plate to the ridge , and that set of specs. should be attached to the truss bundle.
also these nail to the bottom of the top rake on each side
should require around 8= 2x4x 16to 20 feet long
"and that set of specs. should be attached to the truss bundle."
Not necessarily -
In most parts of the country, the truss manufacturer is not required to specify any kind of permenant bracing, with the exception of web braces.
I got a gun for my wife, best trade I ever made.
Sorry for the delay. The truss bracing specs the building department is requiring is Permanent, i.e. diagonal bracing. The truss company is not responsible for specifing any bracing for overall strutural integrity (of the building), it is up to the designer/architect. As mentioned in my prior post, I had our engineer review the truss drawings and specify something to appease everyone. I'm not against them requiring bracing requirements, but in some instances it is not necessary and they are still requiring it. So, if I'm to argue this case against the building department it will go to the state level, and the contractor is itching to get his permit to get this house going, understandably. Seems like I happen to be the guinea pig for this "new" requirement, which has alot of people confused. My take on it is the liability issue the city has, and they want someone to be accountable for what is built, especially since this is not a problem in our region (residential truss failures).
Don't blame you for being ticked off, being a "guinea pig" for something new. I know it would tick me off.
While I'm sure you don't want to fight it, it's always easiest to fight something like this when it's new. Once they've done it a while it's harder to get them to change.
You might try getting industry organizations involved. If you have a chapter of th Home Builder's Association around, they might assist with something like this.
In some states there are chapters of the WTCA. (Wood Truss Council of America) You might get some assistance from them in opposing the issue.
Don't really know what to suggest other than that.
BTW - I've never heard of a residential truss failure anywhere........
Uncle Sam wants you...to bend over.
By chance is your truss supplier a start up company of the unemployeed firestone wilderness designers?
Gee.... it's a tire and we designed it as a tire. It' black...it's round ...and it rolls so therefore it's a tire.
The truss manufacturer designed the truss but not the bracing. The engineer designed the bracing but not the truss. The only common point between them is you ,so anything missed, omitted, forgotten, miscommunicated etc... becomes your resonsibility. A court of law will not, under any circumstance, allow ignorance as a defense.
My $.02, find another truss supplier, mine provides both and I sleep well.
Keep in mind that this is a fairly new thing, and is not done everywhere.
Until recently, truss manufacturers weren't responsible for recommending any kind of bracing. (Except web braces) Each truss was thought of as a component, or "piece" of the building. You would no more expect the trus manufacturer to specify the building bracing than you would ask the lumberyard to specify the wall bracing just because they sold you the studs.
Recently, there has been a shift in thought in some parts of the country. Some codes require truss manufacturers to do things that they weren't required to do before. IMHO, I think this is wrong.
So your smart-a$sed attitude isn't really helpful or correct in all situations.
Can you give me one good reason why a truss manufacturer should design bracing for the overall building?
Thank God for the IRS. Without them I'd be stinking rich
Gee, I love it when you get into a disscussion. The tag lines are rich. ROFLOL
david
Fine homer
Code calls for 1x material in Mich usually 1x4 but I can get 1x3 to pass the inspectors. It has to be contious 6' or more. If that isn't good enough go to 2x4.