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Oregon <br />Code Interpretation <br /> <br /> TRUSSES <br /> <br />SSC Sec. 401 <br />2303(a), (b) <br />Chap.25 <br /> <br />Requested by: Walter Friday, Manager <br /> Structural Program <br /> <br />Issue or Request: Questions to the state level indicate long <br />stahding confusion on how trusses are regulated, specifically: <br /> <br /> 1. The Code does not define a "truss". What is the defini- <br /> tion of a truss? <br /> 2. Where does the building official get authority to regu- <br /> late trusses? <br /> 3. Where are the technical requirements for testing and <br /> designing trusses? <br /> 4. Why are trusses usually required to be stamped by an <br /> Oregon Engineer or Architect? <br /> 5. Can a builder build his own trusses using a reference <br /> book design? <br /> 6. How is the building official assured that trusses fabri- <br /> cated off the construction site comply? <br /> 7. How are manufactured trusses identified? <br /> 8. Is it o.k. for a building official to authorize job <br /> fabricated trusses? <br /> 9. If a homeowner wishes to design and construct trusses for <br /> his or her own use, can the building official authorize? <br />10. Can trusses be recognized as prefabricated co~ponents? <br /> <br />Answer to Ques. tlon i: There is no definition of a truss in the <br />Oregon Structural Specialty Co(]e or companion Uniform Building <br />Code Standards. Section 401 says, in part, "Where items are not <br />defined, they shall have ~the~ir ordinary accepted meanings within <br />the context within.which-they .are: used. Webster's Third World <br />New International Dlct.ionary of the English Language, Unabridged, <br />copyright 1961,~ shall be. considered as providing ordinary <br />accepted meanings." <br /> <br />Truss is defined, in part, in this dictionary as #3b: An <br />assembly of ~e~bers (as bea~s,, bars, rods) typically arranged in <br />a .triangle or combination of triangles to form a rigid framework <br />(as for supporting a load over a wide area) that cannot be <br />deformed by the application of exterior forces without defor- <br />mation of .one or more of. its members." <br /> <br />Answer to..Quest%gn 2~ SeCtion 2303(a) and (b) are key to truss <br />~'esign. <br /> "Section 2303(a) General. Ail buildings and portions <br /> thereof shall be designed and constructed, to sustain, within <br /> the stress limitations specified in this mode, all dead loads <br /> and all other loads specified in this Ch~ter or elsewhere, in <br /> this code. Impact load shall, be considered in the design~of <br /> any structure where impact loads occur. <br /> <br /> <br />