An Old Debate: Cutting Trusses
To the Editor:
We at the Wood Truss Council of
America (WTCA) would like to
respond to the recent article
“Retrofitting a Skylight in a Truss
Roof” (2/02) by Les Deal. As a trade
association representing the metalplate-
connected wood truss industry,
we believe that this article did not
cover some very important safety
considerations with regard to altering
trusses.
This article goes against one of the
fundamental accepted practices in
our industry: Never cut, drill, or alter
truss lumber or plates. Any field modification
that involves the cutting,
drilling, or relocation of any structural
truss member or connector plate
shall not be done without the
approval of the truss manufacturer or
a licensed design professional.
In the