Controlling project overhead while delivering on architectural program mandates structural designers to work in highly collaborative environments. Paper drawings or separate two-dimensional computer drafting files often fail to account for physical conflicts between structural framing and complicated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing routes. Removing framing design from siloed drafting exercises and into coordinated real-time modeling helps engineering teams detect interference problems up-front.
Working in a synchronized modeling space allows architects and engineers to create a single source of truth for structural coordination. Detailing pre-engineered truss components in context within a unified 3D model transfers production intelligence straight to fabrication machinery with zero re-keying. Precut truss packages built from digital plans fit building dimensions perfectly every time — on the first lift.
Why Are Design Errors So Expensive?
Finding a problem when you’re already on site installing framing is a serious delay that comes with immediate cost implications. When structural framing obstructs a commercial HVAC duct or main sewer line, crews have to stop while engineers design a field patch.
Field-patched trusses delay the rough-in process for subsequent trades and create re-work that costs time and money. If a structural member is cut on site without engineering approval, your warranty may be invalidated by the manufacturer.
Design changes also affect the delivery schedule and can create general contractor (GC) and developer tensions. Even in a good construction market, resolving the same interference multiple times can erase your subcontractor’s profit margin and leave the project owner liable for liquidated damages. Digitally resolving structural inconsistencies before components arrive on site is the best way to manage total project costs.
What Does BIM Have to Do with Trusses?
Building Information Modeling (BIM) changes the way project teams think about creating, managing, and sharing structural data throughout the lifecycle of a project.
Traditional drafting practices focus on lines and text notes to define structural systems. BIM creates a three-dimensional representation of the building that contains the geometric and functional properties of every structural component. Each structural piece in the model holds important metadata like material specifications, structural properties, and custom fabrication data.
Large-scale commercial and institutional markets are leading the charge towards mandated digital collaboration. Multi-family housing builds are often required to submit a full building model for review. Progressive engineering firms are adopting the model as a communication tool that connects designers, engineers, and even off-site manufacturing plants.
Structural components modeled in 3D exist in only one place. Making a change to one view of the model automatically updates related details throughout the entire project.
Common Truss Design Challenges
Engineering wood trusses to support complex architectural rooflines and floor plans involves juggling many intersecting factors at once. Tackling structural, mechanical, and architectural requirements without a centralized digital workspace makes small file offset errors into real installation headaches.
Mechanical Conflicts With Floor Trusses
Tight residential and commercial builds often have very limited mechanical chase space to work with. Large commercial HVAC runs, sprinkler systems, and complicated plumbing will often intersect with floor trusses if structural framing plans are designed separately from mechanical plans. Spotting these collisions during installation forces framers to shim ductwork or detail field truss patches that weaken structural framing.
Vertical Truss Alignment for Multi-Story Projects
Multi-story construction projects have to coordinate roof load paths all the way down to the concrete slab. Adding or removing a roof jack on an upper floor can cause localized overstressing on a supporting beam or balcony if that information doesn’t propagate downstream. Cross-verifying every joist location and header alignment by hand is time-consuming and prone to human error.
Accidental Cutting of Structural Members
When prefabricated trusses don’t match as-built conditions in the field, crews will sometimes resort to altering them on site. Drilling new holes or cutting into a truss chord to make things fit will significantly weaken its structural capacity. This can lead to truss sag, cosmetic ceiling cracks, or complete structural collapse under extreme loading from snow or wind.
Rework Costs Slow Down Overall Build Progress
There is always a ripple effect from unused or incorrectly sized trusses. Engineers will need to draft up a new shop drawing and approve field work before crews can move on to the next task. Every discipline — mechanical, electrical, plumbing — must pause installation while the problem area is remediated. One bad error can push your projected finish date back weeks.
How Does BIM Improve Truss Design?
Incorporating BIM into truss design methodology allows framing engineers to double-check architectural decisions early in the design process. Validating mechanical, architectural, and structural systems in a shared 3D space removes assumptions and enables engineers to “see” framing components before they’re built.
Automated Clash Detection with MEP Routes
Software today can automatically scan for interference issues across the entire model. If a 3” drain pipe intersects with a roof truss web, the program recognizes this spatial conflict and alerts the design team. Engineers can then quickly adjust the open-web size or move the plumbing through-wall route to avoid framing members.
Collaboration Between Engineering Disciplines
Sharing a unified digital workspace empowers architects, engineers, and contractors to view and edit a single file structure simultaneously. Traditionally, siloed groups of professionals can break down informational barriers and see how their discipline interacts with the wood truss system. Resolving conflicts digitally creates a culture of team problem-solving and encourages all stakeholders to approve the coordinated model.
Spatializing Roof Geometry for Framing Teams
Cross-sectioning a roof by hand to gain spatial understanding of how complex roof trusses fit together is extremely difficult. 3D modeling allows teams to view any truss intersection from any angle. Teams can also quickly cross-section any area with a few clicks, making it easier to verify complicated roof truss layouts, ensure girders fit, and visualize connection details on tricky wall segmentations.
Project Planning Based on Model Information
When engineers plan material deliveries from coordinated model data, they can supply highly accurate material takeoffs that align perfectly with job site progress. For example, instead of dumping every roof truss on the roof at once, models can help determine what trusses can be bundled together and brought in on the same lift. Well-organized phased deliveries limit unnecessary material movement, protect products from inclement weather, and keep jobsites clean.
Latco Truss + Prefabricated Truss Manufacturing
Creating a perfect digital model is useless without a prefabrication partner that lives and breathes the same technology. Latco Truss is equipped with automated machinery and advanced software solutions that translate modeled information into high-quality engineered products. Eliminating the need to measure and lay out trusses in the field ensures fabricated members will fit every time.
Floor Truss Design That Accounts for Mechanical Runs
Floor trusses from Latco Truss are engineered to maximize horizontal clearance for MEP chases. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC crews can run their utilities straight through floor trusses without drilling or notching wood joists.
- Wide face chords create a large flat nailing surface for the installation of subfloor OSB.
- Wide web trusses reduce overall weight and allow longer span distances.
Customizable Chasing Opens for Mid-Line Mechanical Runs
Our team can also fabricate trusses with built-in chasing on interior webs to meet unique plumbing or electrical requirements. Large vents, HVAC plenums, and specialty plumbing runs fit cleanly within floor trusses without compromising structural integrity.
Roof Trusses Built for Design Intent
Heavy snow and wind load requirements don’t come close without precise truss layouts that match your exact architectural blueprints. Latco Truss specializes in high-quality engineered roof trusses that match complex rooflines perfectly.
- Computerized press brakes ensure metal plates land in the right place every time.
- Specialty wood selection minimizes movement and ensures roof trusses don’t warp over time.
What’s Next for Digital Construction?
Builders and designers have only scratched the surface of what’s possible when working with structured wood products. Cloud-based design and modeling software will only continue to improve as computing speeds increase. These are just a few ways we can expect digital design coordination to improve.
AI-Assisted Building Models
Future BIM applications will offer artificial intelligence-assisted modeling recommendations to help automate structural layouts. AI will recognize basic building parameters like room sizes and roof pitches, then make initial truss layout suggestions that can be adjusted by the engineer. Automated engineering speeds up the design process by allowing engineers to assess multiple structural scenarios quickly.
Interactive Digital Copies of Buildings
A digital twin is a live digital copy of a physical building that can be updated continuously throughout its lifetime. Capturing precise measurements during the wood truss manufacturing process allows contractors to feed information straight into the owner’s digital twin. Building owners will always have an accurate depiction of what structural materials exist within their facilities.
Automated Compliance Checking
Checking truss layouts for code compliance will become a thing of the past. Building departments will eventually integrate their local codes directly into model-based platforms. There will be no more guessing or double-checking heel heights or roof slopes because preferred specifications will automatically highlight.
Why Do Structural Engineers Like Working With BIM Trusses?
Transitioning to a model-first coordination mindset is one of the best decisions engineering firms can make to future-proof their businesses. Removing guesswork and information lags between the drafting desk and fabrication shop allows engineers to care about what really matters: structural safety and efficiency. Pre-engineered trusses streamline the erection process, which eliminates stress from the general contractor.
Partner With Latco Truss | BIM Friendly Truss Design
Avoiding coordination nightmares starts with partnering with the right truss manufacturer. Latco Truss creates engineer-designed roof trusses and open-web floor trusses that are compatible with digital modeling workflows. We can help building professionals avoid design errors before they even happen. Contact Latco Truss to start building with confidence and rely on manufactured components every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can working with a BIM-friendly truss manufacturer help save time?
Planning truss components within the model allows project teams to coordinate structural and mechanical elements before construction even begins. Avoiding errors on-site means avoiding rework, which means staying on schedule and saving money.
Q. Does Latco Truss accept Autodesk Revit files?
Yes, we do! Latco Truss has access to the most advanced structural framing software, which allows us to work within Revit files. Reach out to our engineering team for more!
Q. Can roof trusses and floor trusses be designed in the same model?
Absolutely. You can model any type of truss that we manufacture within the building model. Since every dimension and plate location lives in the model, you can guarantee that your trusses won’t interfere with HVAC lines or create structural headaches.