Design Process

YOUR PROJECT

Starting at the concept stage and/or with a completed set of plans, our structural component design professionals can provide significant benefit to you through technical guidance and component design questions.

The earlier that you engage us in your project, the more we are able to provide you with the best guidance.

As a partner, we can help advise you on the following:

Cost saving options
Buildability
Designing out waste
Stagging & scripting components

STANDARD OF CARE

Truss Craft Structural Components and Black Hills Structural Components design structural components using proprietary software. All structural component designs are unique to the project they are designed for thus it is critical to the success of every project that all parties work from a complete set of plans and specifications.

It is also paramount to the design process that all parties involved in the project establish and open line of communication.

ANSI/TPI 1-2007 outlines what the component manufacturer is responsible for. ANSI/TPI 1 was adopted into the building code and is therefore, the law.

THE FOLLOWING ARE KEY SCOPES OF WORK FOR THE COMPONENT MANUFACTURER OUTLINED IN THE STANDARDS:

“The Truss Manufacturer shall obtain the Truss design criteria and requirements from the Construction Documents.”
“The Truss Manufacturer shall communicate the Truss design criteria and requirements to the Truss Design Engineer.”
“Where required by the Construction Documents or Contract, the Truss Manufacturer shall prepare the Truss Placement Diagram that identifies the assumed location for each individually designated Truss and references the corresponding Truss Design Drawing.”
“Where required by the Construction Documents or Contract, Legal Requirements or the Building Official, the Truss Manufacturer shall provide the appropriate Truss Submittal Package to one or more of the following:
Building Official; Registered Design Professional for the Building and/or Contractor for review and/or approval per Section 2.3.4.2,” which says:
1. “The Contractor, after reviewing and/or approving the Truss Submittal Package, shall forward the Truss Submittal Package for review by the Registered Design Professional for the Building.”
“The Truss Manufacturer shall be permitted to rely on the accuracy and completeness of information furnished in the Construction Documents or otherwise furnished in writing by the Registered Design Professional for the Building and/or Contractor.”

Review Construction Drawings & Specifications >
Review Local Building Codes >
Qualify Discrepancies >
Design Components & Layout >
Submit to Contractor for Review >
Send Files to Shop to Fabricate >

Key Definitions from ANSI/TPI 1

Building Designer: Owner of the Building or the Person that Contracts with the Owner for the design of the Framing Structural System and/or who is responsible for the preparation of the Construction Documents. When mandated by the Legal Requirements, the Building Designer shall be a Registered Design Professional.

Contractor: Owner of a Building, or the Person who Contracts with the Owner, who constructs the Building in accordance with the Construction Documents and the Truss Submittal Package. The term “Contractor” shall include those subcontractors who have a direct Contract with the Contractor to construct all or a portion of the construction.

Owner: Person having a legal or equitable interest in the property upon which a Building is to be constructed, and: (1) either prepares, or retains the Building Designer or Registered Design Professional to prepare the Construction Documents; and (2) either constructs, or retains the Contractor to construct the Building.

Registered Design Professional: Architect or engineer, who is licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the Legal Requirements of the Jurisdiction in which the Building is to be constructed.

Truss Design Engineer: Person who is licensed to practice engineering as defined by the Legal Requirements of the Jurisdiction in which the Building is to be constructed and who supervises the preparation of the Truss Design Drawings.

Truss Designer: Person responsible for the preparation of the Truss Design Drawings.

Truss Manufacturer: Person engaged in the fabrication of Trusses.

Truss Submittal Package: Package consisting of each individual Truss Design Drawing, and, as applicable, the Truss Placement Diagram, the Cover/Truss Index Sheet, Lateral Restraint and Diagonal Bracing details designed in accordance with generally accepted engineering practice, applicable BCSI-defined Lateral Restraint and Diagonal Bracing details, and any other structural details germane to the Trusses.