Joe_Carrick

Yep, I did that already. No Grilles - just Registers. I downloaded a Return Air Grille with plenum box from 3D Warehouse and modified to fit my duct chase.

I thought there were Return Air Grilles in the Core Library but all I can find now are Registers (supply). Any idea where these things went?

AFAIK, CA will not be a multi-user system in the way we would really want it to be. ie: It will not provide for simultaneous editing of a project by multiple users. If you can break the project down into separate plan files with a common background plan then it can work - but not with just one plan. In order for it to work within a single plan file; CA would need to devise a "Locking Scheme" based on users and "Layers" or "Layersets". The "Save Plan" system would need to be coordinated with that "Locking Scheme". It's not a trivial programming project so I doubt they are inclined to do it. Currently I don't know of anything in the Plan Database that identifies different users who have opened a plan file. That's a critical element in any multi-user system.

You can change the Default Wall Type to be used in the "Defaults": Edit > Default Settings > Walls > Interior Walls > Wall Type

Yes and the Steel Strong Walls are really good. I include their details as a PDF when using them.

San Diego Municipal Code 113-02S and 113.02T are a couple of them. I'd have to look further to get all the details.

The City of San Diego has a zoning ordinance that refers to the "Phantom Floor". Essentially this is defined as any: Crawl Space Area where grade to floor above exceeds 5' Open Area adjacent to a Mezzanine where the ceiling above is more than 5' high Attic space where the roof surface above is more than 5' above the attic floor. They use this "Phantom Floor" in the calculation of "Gross Floor Area" to determine the FAR. Apparently they think we're going to finish any or all of those spaces and rent them to the Leprechans. Does anyone else have to deal with this other than in San Diego?

Basically, that's true but there are a lot of new products available (Simpson Timber Screws for example) and changing thoughts on how the connections effect the twisting of joists, etc. I think I'm going to just start using the Simpson Technical Bulletin Guard Post Installation Using Strong-Drive SDWSTIMBER Screws It's only for the post being 36" above the deck - but the design load at that point is 500 lbs, well above the CRC required 200 lb point load. 500x3 = 1500 ft.lbs. 200x3.5 = 700 ft.lbs. I'm finding that many Building Departments are not only accepting but actually requiring this sort of documentation in ConDocs. The one thing that's really interesting is that in most cases they are not checking the guardrail itself - just the posts. I provide calcs for the guardrail as a beam with a 200 lb load at mid-span (vertically and laterally).

I've been doing calcs for wood guardrails (the rails and the posts) for decades. It seems to me that this is such a common thing that there must be software available to do the calcs. However, after extensive searches on the web I haven found anything at all. Does anyone know of such a program?

That won't be much of a problem since here in earthquake country we will need Simpson HD2's in key locations anyway.

Not yet, but I will probably go with the Simpson H1's. My eave overhangs are 3' and the site is on the high point of a relatively steep hill with about a mile clear of any obstructions. With the design wind speeds of 110 mph the uplift potential isn't insignificant. In addition I have a conventionally framed roof (2x14's) with a overhang of 6' and that I know is a problem without the H1's.

It would be much more helpful if you would post the plan and some specific pics showing where the problems occur. Section views can often be adjusted and you may need to "Frame the Ceiling". I agree however that David was a little harsh.

It only does that if the king post is located at an internal bearing point. Note that the king post doesn't have to be perfectly vertical. It just needs to be relatively close. (My case is about 85 degrees from the bearing wall to the peak of the truss.)

Sometimes yes, but in many cases their details are sketchy. I'm looking at one that only specifies (2) 16d Toenails in a generic detail. For large overhangs (potential wind uplift) this may not be sufficient and as the responsible professional I'm not comfortable with that.

1. That code section CRC R602.10 requires the "Braced Wall Lines" to be not more than 25'. Then there are minimum lengths of "Braced Panels" within each "Braced Wall Line", depending on the lengths of the "Braced Wall Lines". 2. Actually, the mid span support for long trusses is less costly. It basically just requires a "KingPost" at the bearing point up to the peak. This will typically reduce the number and/or length of additional web members.

In some cases trusses must be designed to bear on interior walls. In that case, particularly if the wall is a required shear wall, they are definitely attached to the trusses. The house I'm working on currently is 100'x43' and the code requires braced walls no more than 25' apart. Consequently there are interior bearing walls and the trusses are designed to be structurally supported at approximately mid length.

What do you specify for connecting trusses to the exterior walls and interior shear walls? I am assuming some sort of Simpson object but which one?

I do that sometimes but it will eliminate any existing doors and windows so I avoid that in most cases.

I know we can't per ( CRC, IRC } put an Electrical Panel in a Bathroom but what about a Laundry Room? Is it allowed? I know I did it in a remodel project about 10 years ago in San Diego but that was when the codes and plan check requirements were much easier.

If you have Wall Types save in your Library, Selecting one of them will initiate th Walls Tool using that Wall Type. It's not 100% seamless because you will be starting a new wall - but it definitely eliminates the need to "Break" the wall and then edit the Wall Type after creation.

FWIW, I have different wall types saved in my user Library. When I want to switch from drawing one type to another I just select the new wall type from my user library and start drawing. The solutions Eric listed are also very common.

It must be a roof plane.

Right Click on the Layout page in the Project Browser. > Edit Page Information.

The basic problem with the stated exception is that you can't be sure the same type (capable) dryer will always be installed. The originally specified dryer may be replaced at some time in the future with one that doesn't comply. I personally think there should be an exception based on the air-flow (fan assisted if needed). How do we get this issue fixed in the codes?

I've been trying to find a way to vent a clothes dryer more than 15' (2-90 degree elbows) from an exterior wall. According to some previous threads it's possible to use an in-line exhaust fan such as "FanTech" to extend the allowable distance. However, the CRC, IRC or any other code I know of doesn't have such a provision. The City of San Diego has basically refused to allow any extension of the allowable distance. Can anyone quote a code section that allows an exception? Without some sort of solution the location of a Laundry Room is severely restricted in a single family home.