The last Inspection Question involved ventilation of the attic space. Poorly ventilated attics can cause health and structural concerns. However, structural concerns can also arise from improper modifications to the framing.

Most of the attic framing used in today’s construction consists of custom designed and engineered systems, called Truss Framing. The Truss Framing system is a series of custom designed components that are manufactured in a factory with specific installation instructions (each framing member is numbered and has a specific installation location). However, it is not uncommon to discover attic framing that has been ‘field modified’ to accommodate some mechanical component, or room modification that was not included during the original construction design. As the Truss Framing is custom designed and engineered to withstand wind loads, field modifications can void the engineered specifications, so who can modify a manufactured truss?

True or False? Licensed HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical contractors are permitted to modify engineered attic truss components.

FALSE - Factory built truss assemblies are ENGINEERED systems. Modifications of these systems require an engineering certificate, accompanied with a letter from the architect describing the approved field modifications.

A plumber or HVAC contractor with a 'sawz-all' is not authorized to modify these engineered systems, no matter what they say.

Congratulations to: Susan Kelly of Keller Williams Realty Emerald Coast