handmade trusses with plywood gussets 6

[Prometheus Farm]

Good Morning,

I am new to the group - thanks for the add. I had a 30' x 56' pole barn with a gambrel roof built by a local Amish contractor. I am now in the position of needed to defend (or re-mediate) the trusses they constructed using 3/4" plywood gussets that were both nailed and glued. They look rock solid to me, but the structural engineer I have been working is saying that they are "inadequate" stating that the 2 x 6 member size and gusset construction are not sufficient (to meet snow load, I assume). NYS code says, if I am understanding it correctly, is that handmade trusses are allowable if they designed to an engineers specifications. Okay fine, but just what are those specifications?? I have not been able to find any specs I can use to compare to my trusses. There was a thread last March on trusses with plywood gussets, and what I have seems to be in line with what you folks were talking about there. I am not engineer myself, but have had a fair bit of math and physics, so I can plug and chugg with the rest of them. Is anybody aware of any standardly recognized formulas or design criteria I can use?

 

[MOJOJOHN]

In Florida, we have an agricultural exemption that applies to non habitual farm structures, depending on zoning and type of farm use. They do not have to be designed by an Engineer or Architect.

If your locality has such and exemption you may not have to meet the structural qualifications normally required, but you should not occupy it or even be near it in the event of a wind storm or snow load.

I have a barn built under that type of exemption on my property but move my wife's horses to safe outside pasture when hurricanes are expected as I know it would not likely survive.

If its a real structure, meant to protect the occupants, you need an engineer. Best to get a good one as this type of structure, though traditional in the past, does not normally work under today's requirements.