Lightweight Wood Trusses

Lightweight Wood Trusses

Most of the modern roof constructions adopt the use of lightweight roof trusses. The truss consists of small member sizes that reduce its weight, giving it its low weight properties. The use of small size of timber allows the truss to fails quickly in case of a fire outbreak, risking the life of occupants. This paper discusses the dangers of lightweight wood trusses and the initiatives of fire departments that reduce deaths related to the failure of the trusses.

Dangers of Lightweight Wood Trusses

The structural aspects of trusses make them dangerous for use in roof construction. Since the bottom chords provide majorly provides tension, failure of a single connection plate transfers the load from the point to another. In case the receiving joint is weak to accommodate the additional weight, it moves the load to another joint. The process continues throughout the truss making the whole truss to fail (“CDC – NIOSH,” n.d).

Secondly, the jointing gusset plates usually consist of gauge eighteen stamped steel capable of penetrating to a maximum of three-eighths inches into the wood. This small penetration makes the truss weak, facilitating its failure in the case that one of its parts has an excess load. Lastly, the emerging technology of fabricated plastics as joints makes the frame vulnerable to fire outbreak. Any light increase in temperatures weakens the plastic fittings, making the whole truss to breakdown. These three conditions endanger the life of occupants of constructions with lightwood constructions exposed areas (“CDC – NIOSH,” n.d).

Efforts of Fire Departments

Fire departments embarked on implementing the recommendations of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) towards fire safety. Firstly, the department provides adequate knowledge and education about sound truss construction approaches. The department teaches populations about the performances of the trusses under fire attack. Secondly, the department trains learners towards the early detection of fires involving truss systems. Early detection allows the proper arrangement of the fire ground operations. Lastly, the department conduct planning and inspections of constructions sites to ensure the truss system meets the standards, set standard for operating procedures that combat fires safety.

Reference

CDC – NIOSH Publications and Products – Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters Due to Truss System Failures (2005-132). (2014, June 6). Retrieved March 6, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-132/default.html