Wood Truss Engineering Information
This information courtesy of WTCA. Further information is available on the WTCA website, click HERE to go to the site.
WHAT EVERY ARCHITECT/ENGINEER (A&E) SHOULD KNOW ABOUT METAL PLATE CONNECTED WOOD FLOOR/ROOF TRUSSES (DRAFT) BY JOHN E. MEEKS, P.E. [DOWNLOAD 55K]
SPAN TABLES These representative truss span tables provide architects, builders, designers and engineers an idea of the truss spans available for a particular load condition, load duration, lumber type and truss configuration. These tables are intended only to be guidelines, as they do not contain all of the available designs, loadings, and/or configurations available to the user through today€™s sophisticated computer software programs. Individuals needing assistance beyond the scope of these span tables should consult their local WTCA Member Truss Manufacturer or call WTCA Offices at 608/274-4849 for assistance. [DOWNLOAD PART ONE 353KB €¢ DOWNLOAD PART TWO 427KB €¢ DOWNLOAD PART THREE 447KB]
TRUSS SPECIFICATIONS - UPDATED NOV '01 A metal plate connected wood truss specification is available in MasterFormat 06176. It is a great way to keep truss specifications up-to-date and in-line with industry practice. Just download the form and copy it into current project specification documents. Wood trusses were listed under 06192 in the 1988 version of MasterFormat. The listing was revised in 1995 and Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses are now listed as 06176. [DOWNLOAD PDF 101KB] [DOWNLOAD MSWORD DOCUMENT]
WTCA'S RECOMMENDED POLICY FOR REVIEW OF MANUFACTURED COMPONENT PRODUCT PLACEMENT PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN WHICH A PROFESSIONAL BUILDING DESIGNER IS REQUIRED: This policy statement is offered as a means of improving the coordination between the Professional Building Designer, Contractor, Component Supplier and the code enforcement official regarding the review and approval of the Placement Plans for these products. [DOWNLOAD]
TPI/WTCA'S POSITION ON PERMANENT BRACING OF PIGGYBACK TRUSSES The Truss Plate Institute and Wood Truss Council of America, the two United States trade associations most knowledgeable about the design, construction, and bracing of metal plate connected (MPC) wood trusses, do not believe that there is a significant problem, as has been suggested by others, with MPC wood trusses that are a component of a piggyback trussed roof system. TPI, whose members manufacture truss plates and provide the designs for wood truss components, and WTCA, whose members build trusses, based on their combined 47 years of industry experience are able to state unequivocally that the number of reported instances of piggyback truss performance problems is infinitesimal when compared with the number of piggyback roof trusses in buildings. [DOWNLOAD]
STANDARD RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DESIGN PROCESS INVOLVING METAL PLATE CONNECTED WOOD TRUSSES (NOTE: This link is to view the document only. To order this document contact WTCA Staff at 608/274-4849 or via email at wtcapubs@woodtruss.com.) [DOWNLOAD]
WTCA 1-1995 COMMENTARY: WTCA 1-1995, Standard Responsibilities in the Design Process Involving Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, was developed by the Engineering Review Committee of WTCA with the intent of clearly defining the responsibilities of the various parties involved in any construction project in which metal plate connected wood trusses are used. The need for this document stems from the fact that, for many wood construction projects, responsibility for the various tasks involved and products used is often "assumed". The Truss Plate Institute (TPI), with the full cooperation of WTCA, has recently undertaken the task of developing WTCA 1 into an ANSI consensus standard. [DOWNLOAD]
Previous page: Wood Truss Technical Terms
Next page: Contact Information