Lumber

Repairs To Field Modified Damaged Trusses

Question: 

As a home inspector, I have recently inspected an existing home with an attic truss system installed. Several of the truss web members have been cut away to allow access to an attic-mounted heating system. Can you recommend repairs to a truss with cut web members?

Fire Damage Assessment

Question: 

How do you evaluate whether a metal plate connected truss is still usable after exposure to fire? Are there any recommended tests?

Life Expectancy Of Wood

Question: 

What is the life expectancy of wood that was used in an attic truss? Does fire retardant change the life expectancy?

Floor Performance

Question: 

How do you avoid floor performance problems?

Truss Design Factors Of Safety

Question: 

I am currently working on a project where a wood truss system was loaded with a heavy spring snow. I do not believe the load was beyond the truss's design capacity, but how do you know? Is there safety built into wood trusses? If the trusses were loaded beyond their design capacity, it would not have been for a long duration.

Wood Three Hour Fire Assembly

Question: 

Is it possible to construct an assembly for ceiling between first and second floors using 2x with few layers of gypsum to obtain a 3-hour fire rating?

Lumber Sizes And Properties

Question: 

Where can I find tolerances and measurements of green and dry lumber?

Ga Rc 2601

Question: 

In RC 2601, is RC-1 Channel used?

Substituting Fire Rated Wood Truss Assemblies For Light Gauge Steel

Question: 

We recently received bids on a school project, which referenced UL P523. This assembly used light-gauge steel trusses. We noted on the drawing that we could accept an alternate design using wood trusses in lieu of light-gauge steel framing, if the alternate design could meet the fire ratings.

Allowable Mold Levels For Indoor Air Quality

Question: 

Some questions have been raised regarding the levels of mold in the lumber used in one of our truss projects. The issue of indoor air quality is up and coming. Do you have any information regarding standard allowable values? And how can we test for these contaminants?