manufacturers

Truss manufacturers are NOT engineers. They are often just guys in a lumber yard who have access to engineering software and who have been given often just a quick overview on how to use that software. My autistic son loves the software package, "Roller Coaster Tycoon", however, as wonderful as his creations are, use of software does not an engineer make. Manufacturers who think they can "act as engineers" are very mistaken!

As a former code tester for a Fortune 100 corporation, if there is something I would tell truss manufacturers it is to make sure that any output generated by truss engineering software states that all output is subject to review by an engineer and that truss manufacturers are not liable for errors in matters of truss suitability. The simple fact is that truss manufacturers are NOT engineers and should not be held liable in matters of truss suitability.

Furthermore, output often has, what are in my opinion, misleading statements pertaining to "the project engineer of record" and the "truss design engineer". If the output does not SPECIFICALLY state that the "project engineer of record" and "truss design engineer" are ONE AND THE SAME, the truss manufacturer is making, in my opinion, a BIG mistake in ASSUMING they are. This is but one argument the lawyer for the defense in our case tried to make... that the engineer who had sealed our trusses was NOT the "project engineer". In addition, truss manufacturers are also being told that "the building official can over-ride the hinge condition" per a very recent conversation I had with a truss manufacturer. If you are being told that, I suggest you look at the links below called "PEO Weighs In..." and "A Case Study"... BOTH are MOST revealing!

Output can also have vague clauses such as "truss suitability is the responsibility of others". Who exactly is "others" if that is not specifically stated? Again, to assume this is the same as "the truss design engineer" is a very WRONG assumption to make. Finally, I would caution any truss manufacturer from having their name show up as the "designer" on the truss placement guide... the FIRST STEP in the truss design process. If you are doing the FIRST STEP and you are NOT an engineer, in my opinion, you are opening yourself to a huge liability. In our case, the truss manufacturer was found liable... a decision that, in my opinion, was completely outrageous - especially since the judge refused to hear even one word, one argument, one question and dismissed all claims against the engineer who had sealed our truss designs. So... beware and err on the side of caution. Protect yourselves by knowing the issues and addressing them! Software end users don't expect software to make them "dangerous"...but if not properly tested... that is exactly what can happen... and you can be held liable!