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Component Manufacturing dverti$er
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$er
February 2019 #11235 Page #28
A Case for Minimum Post Frame Truss Loads By Mike Momb The Pole Barn Guru
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n my career, I have done about everything imaginable when it comes to post frame (pole) building trusses. I have been blessed to have been able to spend a better portion of over two decades working within or owning prefabricated MPCWT (metal plate connected wood truss) manufacturing facilities. I have designed, had engineered, fabricated, and delivered trusses. As a builder, I raised my first set of post frame trusses nearly 40 years ago and many more have followed. I have also been a provider of post frame building kit packages across most of my adult life. This industry (post frame buildings) is one where low price, rather than service and quality, drives most sellers and buyers. Sellers, more often than not, have not learned well how to convey the value of benefits they offer – instead they live in fear of being a five-spot more than their competitors when it comes to price. For nearly seven years, I have been writing a weekly advice column, “Ask the Pole Barn Guru™”, where I answer post frame building-oriented questions from anyone. One repeatedly asked question involves adding ceilings to existing post frame buildings. Most roof trusses for these buildings are not designed to support ceiling loads, generally due to a fear of increasing building price. Many post frame buildings are constructed in areas where pole buildings are exempt from building permits, or there are little or no structural plan reviews done. This contributes to an attitude of “make it cheap” by encouraging the use of minimal loads for trusses. A great majority of post frame buildings are used as residential accessory buildings – garages, shops, RV parking, man caves, she sheds, etc. Nearly all of these buildings have truss spans of 40 feet or less, so my proposal for voluntary minimum loading requirements for post frame buildings will be directed toward these structures. Why not apply these minimums to larger span structures? Many wider span buildings are going to be used as horse riding arenas or equipment storage for farming and are never going to have ceilings in them. Costs to design for greater loads, for spans of 50 feet and greater, could result in some significant costs. Wide span buildings being used for more humanly-occupied (and therefore more critical in protection of human life) purposes are likely to have a Registered Design Professional (architect or engineer) involved, who will specify roof loads based upon building use and function. Continued next page
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