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I am a building contractor who specializes in Agricultural buildings. I recently set trusses on a dairy barn 68’x 144′ on 14′ high frame walls, when I arrived at work the next day the place was a hell of a mess with trusses and wall framing everywhere. My studs where at 2′ o/c strapped at 2′ o/c and anchored to the foundation with anchor bolts at 6′ o/c, the trusses were pre-engeneered and spaced at 4′ o/c. When we left the job site after setting the trusses all continues horizontal bracing was installed it was cross braced at both ends.
To my surprise the Insurance adjuster came to the conclusion that a heated updraft came down the mountain side, got under the trusses and lifted the whole building up and dropping it off of the foundation and from what I gather this is quite common for this type of location at this time of the year.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if they have any suggestions on what can be done to remedy the situation, besides waiting till late summer to finish the construction (cows must be in by late august).
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I've investgated several building colapsed involving trusses, and I've never heard of a "heated updraft".
It would be virtually impossibl for anything short of a tornado to lift up a structure like that.
Can you describe what happened in more detail ? Any chance of getting pictures ? That would help a lot.
Was there any sheet metal on the building, or just framing ?
*Same thing has happened 'round here with barns. Boils down to inadequate bracing. There was a discussion a while ago on proper bracing for trusses that applies directly to the project you're working on. Truss bracing must run diagonal from the heel to the peak for it to be effective. And do several sections of trusses, not just one. Brace the walls diagonally from plate-to-plate as well. In the meantime, it's kinda like playing pick-up-sticks, only on a grander scale.
*Shawn Iam no meteorologist, but from all the weather I have studied, while I fought wildland fire heat rises so how a heated "up draft" came "down" the mountain I do not know. The closest thing I can come up with would be Foen/ Gradient winds. Hell if Insurance is picking up the tab smile and start ove I guess!
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I am a building contractor who specializes in Agricultural buildings. I recently set trusses on a dairy barn 68'x 144' on 14' high frame walls, when I arrived at work the next day the place was a hell of a mess with trusses and wall framing everywhere. My studs where at 2' o/c strapped at 2' o/c and anchored to the foundation with anchor bolts at 6' o/c, the trusses were pre-engeneered and spaced at 4' o/c. When we left the job site after setting the trusses all continues horizontal bracing was installed it was cross braced at both ends.
To my surprise the Insurance adjuster came to the conclusion that a heated updraft came down the mountain side, got under the trusses and lifted the whole building up and dropping it off of the foundation and from what I gather this is quite common for this type of location at this time of the year.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if they have any suggestions on what can be done to remedy the situation, besides waiting till late summer to finish the construction (cows must be in by late august).