PCCA Bulletin Board

jar546 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 44 Location: NEPA & Poconos

You have already performed the framing inspection and everything looked ok. On a return trip you happen to notice this:

http://remasinspections.com/images/CutIjoist.JPG.JPG

What do you do? What are the technical requirements for repair? What does the IRC dictate?

Do you turn a blind eye?

midnite1rc · Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: SULLIVAN CO

In the code it states an engineer has to figure out the repair on such an item. In the manufacturers specs the top and bottom are not suppose to be cut at all. If you can't get an engineer to design a repair, tell them to replace the joist.

dbuskirk · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Pittsburgh

This is an absolute no-no.

Get the manufacturer off of the product and contact them, sending the picture, too. They have people on staff to engineer the repar.

Turning a blind eye is not the proper thing to do. without the mass of a rough sawn wood product, the tension and compression sides of these products are critical. The manufacturers of these products all prohibit cutting or notching the top or bottom chords.

Here's a link to Truss Joist's installation material, page 11 shows you not to notch or cut the top or bottom chords

http://www.trusjoist.com/PDFFiles/2025.pdf

fjt · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Poconos

First,
Thanks for the post and photo. Just what is the diameter of that pipe and where whould someone think they could ever stick it?
Second,
Thanks for the great link Dave. I've heard you say that same No-No at PCCA classes.
Just what goes through a contractors mind while cutting an engineered joist? The code references are boring. The real time stuff is great.
I have no engineering degree but mechanically speaking I would say that the pipe needs to be sized down and the contractor needs to know that
"This is a no-no".
I would enjoy seeing how this can be "fixed"

jar546 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 44 Location: NEPA & Poconos

I don't know the diameter of the pipe but it is for a 6000 square foot house and on the other floor they just squashed it to make it fit between the joists.

dbuskirk · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Pittsburgh

jar546.....I forgot to ask. Is it ok if I save this picture and add it into some of our presentations?

It's a great example of what NOT to do.

jar546 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 44 Location: NEPA & Poconos

Not a problem if you want to use it, I don't have my name on it so I guess I made it open game. You can always give me some thanks on the presentation.

ericshaw · Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Cambria Co., PA

That should have been headered off to form a chase for the pipe prior to the pipe being installed. All you can do is write a violation.