![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() By developing industry standard details through the National Framers Council (NFC), we are helping to ensure innovative framing is more widely accepted in the framing industry. If these individuals aren’t familiar with innovative framing techniques, they may not readily accept them and require the framers to re-frame parts of the structure. Some framers are hesitant to pursue innovative framing because of challenges they have faced in the field with building officials and general contractors. Having a diverse portfolio is important because it allows framers to be open to more jobs, which was critical to survive the most recent economic recession. When that happens, innovative framing becomes the new standard of framing because it’s quicker and safer to frame.īy learning innovative framing techniques, my company has been able to bid on projects we otherwise would not have been able to do. Yet once the new methods are learned, and framers experience the ease of installation and discover how all the parts of the framing fit together well, I’ve seen them quickly become comfortable with the techniques. So moving away from conventional framing toward trusses, wall panels and other framing components is a difficult process at first. The traditional and prescribed methods are simple to follow and have been taught and passed down for generations. Stick framing has worked well for a long time, and framers (just like everyone else) can be reluctant to change. From my personal experience, innovative framing was initially challenging to implement. I know some component manufacturers wonder why innovating framing isn’t universally adopted more easily. By evaluating an individual project’s needs, the GC can determine if using innovative framing is right for a particular job. If the job is very far from the component manufacturer, then the transportation costs can outweigh the savings. However, the distance between the component manufacturer and the job also plays a factor. Typically, using components reduces labor costs, so it’s beneficial to use them in areas where labor costs are high. The general contractor (GC) needs to look at both labor and transportation costs to see if using innovative framing adds value to a project. However, as a framer I have to point out this innovative approach to framing isn’t a good fit for every job. As you can see in the picture on the right, by using a girder truss to project the wings, we were able to build the structure our customer desired. Using stick framing, this structure would have been nearly impossible to construct. I worked on a job recently, Broadstone Oaklawn Dallas, where the customer wanted to achieve a contemporary look by having cantilever wings coming off a tower. Innovative framing makes better use of raw material by using triangulation, but also takes advantage of structural system effects. The implementation of innovative framing is complex, but by standardizing details and training framers, building officials, components manufacturers and engineers, innovative framing is steadily becoming the new standard in framing. It takes a creative approach to using material to meet our customer’s needs, while still providing good quality structures. Buildings are getting increasingly more complex and customers want spans unachievable through traditional span tables. Using material efficiently is the cornerstone of what your industry is now calling innovative framing (read Scott Ward’s Editor’s Message for a thorough definition of this concept). By standardizing details and training framers, NFC can help make innovative framing the prevailing approach. ![]()
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