Important Distinctions Between Truss Technicians & Truss Designers
Originally Published by: SBCA Magazine — March 12, 2024
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The National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction, ANSI/TPI 1 (TPI 1), is referenced in both the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) in establishing responsible parties when it comes to the preparation of individual metal plate-connected wood truss designs. Under TPI 1, the Owner, Building Designer, Contractor, Truss Manufacturer, and Truss Designer all have different defined responsibilities and scopes of work, but it is not uncommon for many of these entities to be unaware of how those scopes are delineated in TPI 1.
To provide a concise summary of those scopes, particularly as it pertains to the Building Designer, Truss
Manufacturer, and Truss Designer, SBCA has drafted a new reference document, “Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Design Process Summary”. This summary can be useful to component manufacturers (CMs) in communicating scopes of work to architects, engineers, building designers, and contractors.
For instance, the document includes this helpful illustration of the truss design process:
Of particular note is the clarification between Truss Designer, a defined term in TPI 1, and truss technician:
“It is important to understand that the Truss Designer’s responsibility is limited to the design of the individual truss members, and not either the roof system or floor system. It is important that the Building Designer reviews the Truss Submittal Package to ensure it conforms to their design intent. Additionally, the Truss Designer is not usually an employee of the Truss Manufacturer. The Truss Manufacturer will typically employ a truss technician who is responsible for reviewing the contract documents and providing design criteria and requirements to the Truss Designer. The truss technician is typically not a Registered Design Professional and is not performing design services. The primary function of the truss technician is to convey the truss specifications as supplied by the Building Designer to the Truss Designer who is often employed by the Metal Plate Connector supplier and is a registered Design Professional.”
To access and download this reference document, click HERE.