OH&S requires builders to be more diligent with on-site safety, but sometimes short-cuts are taken when installing trusses, which can lead to disastrous results.
Solid nogging or trimmers between trusses are not an uncommon sight on building sites.
They may be adequate for spacing trusses apart but they are not suitable for bracing them. Nogging involves nails being driven or skew-nailed into the end grain. Nogging will not behave well as a restraint as nails can easily withdraw or pull out of the timber.
There is also often only a row of nogging on large span trusses, which is not exactly a safe working at heights environment; especially when there’s only a couple of nails in the end grain holding the structure together.
This is the very reason why the draft: ‘The National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction’, produced by Safe Work Australia, clearly states: ‘nogging or trimmers are not permitted to be used as temporary bracing.’
Available from MiTek Australia , MiTek TrussSpacers provide a temporary bracing solution that complies with both AS4440 and the Safe Work requirements.
These truss spacers can be fixed to trusses prior to lifting. They sit flush with the truss chord and are then rotated 90 degrees to be effortlessly fixed to the adjoining, previously braced truss. This can be carried out with a quick blow from a hammer meaning there is no need to use a nail gun whilst trying to balance and hold on to a noggin at the same time.
MiTek TrussSpacers ensure smooth, even ceiling and roof lines and the truss spacing units are available in two standard sizes; 600mm and 900mm.
These truss spacers can be purchased from Licensed MiTek Fabricators.
