Lumber

Metal Connector Plates In Fires

Question: 

I am thinking of using wood trusses for the roofing/ceiling structural systems on some houses I shall build. I remember, though, an engineer/volunteer fireman commenting back in 1989 that the connector plates are prone to expand and pop off, early on in a fire, causing catastrophic structural failure. Was this the case, and if so, has this problem been corrected?

Long Span Truss Installation - Educational Program

This program provides information on the installation of long span trusses. 

Floor Vibration Causes and Control Methods - Educational Program

This program provides information on metal plate connected wood truss floor systems and managing vibrations. 

FRT Lumber Use in Type III-A Buildings - Educational Program

Many factors go into classifying buildings. Each type will have different allowable height, allowable number of stories and allowable area limitations based on the classification. This educational program will focus on Type III-A building construction using fire retardant treated wood (FRTW).

Fire-Retardant Treated Lumber Use: Type III-A Buildings

Many factors go into classifying buildings. Each type will have different allowable height, allowable number of stories and allowable area limitations based on the classification. This report will focus on Type III-A building construction using fire retardant treated wood (FRTW).

Fire Retardants and Truss Design - Educational Program

This presentation provides information and analysis of fire retardant-treated wood and metal plate connected wood truss designs.

Truss Repair - Educational Program

This presentation provides information on and requirements for truss repairs.

Industry Testing at SBCRI Is Multi-ply-ing

What will happen if the plies of a multi-ply girder truss are not fastened together properly? Overloading and, potentially, chord fractures can occur.  

Machine Rated Lumber Makes a Lot of Cents

With MSR lumber, CMs find they can more effectively deal with lumber defects that can affect connector plate teeth embedment at critical joints.

It’s one thing to have a salesperson from an MSR producer tell you the advantages of using MSR lumber in your production process. It’s an entirely different thing—and much more persuasive—to have four veteran component manufacturers (CMs) give you the reasons they’re convinced it’s better than visually graded lumber.

Why Lumber Variability Is a Problem for CMs

ALSC’s PS 20-15 has fundamentally changed what this grade stamp represents.

Few issues have demanded the attention of the SBCA Board of Directors more over the past five years than the variability of lumber design values. SBCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel provided guidance to component manufacturers (CMs) on ways to mitigate the potential risk and liability that have arisen in the market as a result of how the lumber industry has chosen to deal with the issue of variable design properties.