Truss Failures and Warnings

CSI Overstress [CSI 1.04] CSI = Combine stress increase, the combined total of bending and axial. (Maximum CSI = 1.00)
Solution Options:
Add webs, if bending is the largest part of the total CSI.
Increase chord lumber, if axial is the largest part of the total CSI
Reduce truss spacing.

Failed in Deflection - Maximum allowed by code (also check absolute maximum in inches) Most roof trusses use 240/180,
attic and floor trusses use 360/240. Using 240/180 as the example, 240 refers to the live load and 180 refers the total load.
Solution Options:
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber.
Increase slope(s).
Reduce spacing.

Education and Training Center

Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

Page 1

Truss Failures and Warnings (cont)

Max Pnl Length Exceeded Truss panels have exceeded your company limits. This is the maximum length between
joints as described in Setup/Manufacturer/Geometry/ Preferred Panel Length.
Solution Options:
Add more webs.
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber

Max Vert Defl Exceeded The maximum has been exceeded as described in Design Info/Deflection/ Absolute [in.].
Solution Options:
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber.
Increase slope(s)
slope(s).
Reduce spacing.
Increase depth at ends.

In Plane L/D Exceeded Top

In-Plane
Top or bottom chord
chord, possibly even a web
web, is to long
long.
Solution Options:
Increase the depth of lumber.

Truss Height Exceeds 12-0-0 Truss will work, however, transporting truss without special permits could be an issue.
Solution Options:
Piggyback trusses to reduce shipping height.
Decrease slope if possible
possible.
Education and Training Center
Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

Page 2

Truss Failures and Warnings (cont)

Max Deflection in Panel Exceeded TPI 2002 now limits the maximum sag between the truss joints for the top
and bottom chords.
Solution Options:
Add more webs.

Max LL Horiz Defl Exceeded Load from snow or rain is pushing the walls out
out.
Max TL Horiz Defl Exceeded All loads from the truss is pushing the walls out.
Max Horiz Defl Exceeded
Common in scissor trusses. Look at the Truss Drawing, in print preview, for specific
information
horiz Def = 0.75
0 75 inches
horiz Def = 1.25
1 25 inches
NOTE: TPI/ANSI (codes) Max LL horiz.
inches, Max TL horiz.
inches.
Solution Options: (same for all three)
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber.
Reduce the spacing.
Decrease the pitch of the bottom chord.
chord

Material Exhausted The computer has tried all the materials in your lumber file and has found that you do not
have lumber long enough.
Solution Options:
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber
Reduce the spacing
Add more webs.

Education and Training Center

Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

Page 3

Truss Failures and Warnings (cont)

OP CSI Overstress (CSI 1.737) Not enough lateral bracing.
Solution
S
l ti
Options:
O ti
Reduce the purlin spacing in Design Info.

SSI Failure Shear overstress. The wood fibers are tearing apart.
Solution Options:
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber.
Shift joints closer to the shear problem area.

Shear Overstress Same as SSI Failure.

Solution Options:
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber.
Shift
Shift joints
j i t closer
l
to
t the
th shear
h
problem
bl
area.

Web member W3 has long cut The truss will work, however, the angle of the cut may be longer than your saw
can cut or may reduce the area of wood where the connector plate is attached. In some cases MiTek Engineers
would
ld require
i an adjustment
dj t
t to
t cutting
tti or llarger plate.
l t
Solution Options:
Use Single cut member ends to reduce the length of the web cut in question.

Education and Training Center

Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

Page 4

Truss Failures and Warnings (cont)

Bearing Undersized (313) The truss will work, however, if the truss is supported by a 3 1/2 wall, more bearing
surface will be required.
Solution Options:
Use a bearing block.
Use a bearing enhancer.
Drop vertical webs through bottom chord to bearing. (This makes the wood grain
bearing surface and reduces bearing requirements)
Add more plys. (although this is an option, it is not economical)

perpendicular to the

Ply to Ply nailing inadequate Girder truss supporting tie-in trusses cannot transfer the load from the ply
carrying the hangers to the ply without the hangers.
Solution Options: (Design Info\Nail/Screws/Bolts)
10d or 16d nails
Hex-head screws
dd a zig-zag web

Analog Error Check this warning by using View/Analog. Each structural member should have or red line through
the member in a parallel manor. For accurate analysis this line should fall within the edges of the lumber.
Solution Options: Remove small top and/or bottom chords.
Education and Training Center
Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

Page 5

Truss Failures and Warnings (cont)

Check loads applied If a truss was originally designed on an earlier version or used a different design code,
the software will automatically request you verify the correct loads are present. (In some cases trusses that are manually
l d d or exported
loaded
t d via
i llayoutt software
ft
can h
have a lload
d th
thatt iis nott iin physical
h i l contact
t t with
ith th
the ttruss.))
Example: The truss is 24-0-0 but one of the loads present in Special Loads is at 40-0-0
Solution Options:
Re-export
R
t your layout
l
t job
j b tto th
the currentt version
i and,
d ffor manually
ll lloaded
d d ttrusses, review
i
th
the S
Special
i lL
Loads
d

Check girder loads Same as above.

Left reinforcement inadequate Heel joints of trusses are first solved for the size and type (sliders/wedges)
members needed to match TPI requirements. However, the physical size of a slider or wedge may not be adequate for the
forces present.
Solution Options:
Edit heel options
Increase grade and/or depth of lumber
Change the type of reinforcement
Increase
I
the
th depth
d th off the
th bottom
b tt
chord
h d tto obtain
bt i an adequate
d
t scarff

Right reinforcement inadequate Same as above.

Education and Training Center

Truss Design Software
Date 10/25/2012

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