Floor Trusses, Wall Frames and Roof Trusses, etc. are designed to be part of a structural system that includes the battens, bracing, trusses, binders, ceiling, supporting structure and the connection of these elements. Each element on its own may not be strong but fixed together they form a strong, stiff and stable system.
Until all these elements are fully assembled, fixed and braced, the roof structure and building will not have achieved its final strength.
To prevent possible injury to construction personnel and/or damage to the engineered components, anyone working with the engineered structural components must exercise common sense and a large degree of caution during the construction phases.
Appropriate protection of people and products should be considered at all times.
Some common sense protection items include:
- Ensure that all elements are connected to each other as designed.
- Ensure that all elements are all equally braced for dead load, live load and wind load.
- Use appropriate lifting devices that do not damage existing components already installed.
- Use appropriate temporary bracing, scaffolding and planks prior to working on the engineered components.
- Do not load any truss, including standing on, until all temporary bracing for that truss has been installed and stabilised and all girder boot fixings have been correctly fastened.
- Do not apply any load, including standing or leaning on, to the overhang of any truss especially jack and creeper trusses/rafters until the fascia is installed.
- Do not stack excessively heavy loads of materials on truss components.
- Ensure adequate bracing is firmly attached to enable the unfinished structure to support construction live loads, material and any wind loads that may occur overnight and during the day.
- Other as applicable to each job.
Since every job is different in the conditions that prevail on site, it is the builder’s responsibility to ensure that these conditions are closely considered and met before, during and after construction while work is still occurring on the site - also while other trades are involved.
Note that any recommendation in this document regarding the above issues are a suggestion only and may not be applicable to every job. Additional safety measures to the above may be required to protect the workers, components and the environment.
