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Component Manufacturing dverti$ dverti $ er
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$$er
February 2024 #16295 Page #33
Can Eased Edge Lumber Usage Impact Truss Design? riginally intended as an improvement in lumber manufacturing, most dimensional lumber used for framing has a radius corner created during the planing process. The rounded corner radius is intended to make the lumber easier to handle and can improve the lumber’s performance because sharp corners can catch and dig as it is handled. Some drywall installers have commented that the radius helps installation where sharp corners can impact flatness of their walls and ceilings. Rarely is rounding done with hardwood because it removes dimension from the material and can impact utility, for example, it would create a trough between lumber widths if they were placed side by side to produce a wider surface. In the truss industry, a radius corner can impact embedment of the connector plate into the lumber. In the past, however, this was not a significant factor because edgedistance rules established by the National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction prevented the inclusion of this area with respect to tooth holding.
By Glenn Traylor
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The process of rounding the corners is common in the US and is referred to as “eased edge” lumber or “Easy Lumber.” This is normally 1/8” for dimensional lumber, however, lumber can be purchased with a ¼” radius. In the first photo, the lumber has a grade stamp that indicates Roseburg NO. 2 ¼” EE D FIR KD-HT.
A graphical representation of how lumber with a ¼” Eased Edge looks is shown in the diagram. So, should ¼” EE in lumber be considered during the design process? Recently, I surveyed about 20 folks in the truss industry, from Professional Engineers to component manufacturers, and I got many different opinions, ranging from “it doesn’t really matter” to “drawings should not be sealed if ¼” EE lumber is used.” What say you? Please consider taking a short online survey about EE lumber and its use. Continued next page
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