Residential Truss Identification and Manufactured Homes

Residential Truss Identification and Manufactured Homes

Special feature by William Sherman

Division of Building Standards & Codes

An act to amend Article 18 of the Executive Law of New York Section 382-b was passed by the New York Senate and Assembly and signed by Governor Cuomo on September 17, 2014.  This amendment requires the identification of any residential building with truss type, pre-engineered wood or timber construction and became effective January 1, 2015. A similar sign or symbol has been required on non-residential structures since 2005.

As a result, each new residential structure, any addition to an existing residential structure, or any rehabilitation to an existing residential structure, that utilizes truss type construction, pre-engineered wood construction and/or timber construction shall be identified with a symbol (sample below).  For the purposes of the regulation a residential structure shall include all one-family dwellings. Truss type construction shall include fabricated structures of wood members connected at their ends to form a series of triangles; and pre-engineered wood construction shall include load-supporting beams from wood components bonded together with adhesives.

Manufactured homes are one-family dwellings, that utilize truss type construction in the roof system and in the case of multi-section homes typically have pre-engineered wood beams supporting the mate wall opening headers. Therefore, the identification required by this regulation is required on each new and relocated manufactured installed, and each manufactured home rehabilitated/renovated.

The symbol has a specific set of parameters that must be adhered to including but not limited to symbol color and stroke width. The information contained on the symbol will identify the construction type used in the structure and the location of the truss, pre-engineered wood or timber construction.

Manufactured homes are classified as type V construction due to the utilization of wood dimensional lumber in the construction of its interior and exterior load bearing walls, floors, and roofs. The top line of the symbol shall contain a “V” to indicate this.  The utilization of wood trusses and/or pre-engineered wood beams in the roof system thereby require the bottom line of the symbol to contain a “R”. Should the home utilize any of these construction elements in the floor system, such as with a perimeter set home, then the symbol would also be required to contain a “F” on the bottom line.

During field inspections, Division staff are finding this requirement is often overlooked by installers and is making additional efforts to bring this required item to everyone’s attention. These symbols can be found from many online vendors, and are not only required by manufactured homes, but modular homes and stick built homes are required to have the symbol as well. This topic is covered during manufactured housing certification trainings, regulatory information can also be found on the Division’s website www.dos.ny.gov/dcea, and other information online by doing a Google search for “NY residential truss symbols”.  Certified Retailers and Installers should also discuss the symbol with the local authority having jurisdiction for the location of a home installation.