Trussed rafter association members turn out in force for AGM

Around 60 Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) members attended the organisation’s annual general meeting in south Wales on March 4.

It had been an “interesting” year of chairmanship, said Philip Bell, who was re-elected for a second term as chairman. And, he said, while he had predicted some of the problems the sector faced in 2009, he hadn’t anticipated the alarming rise in the price of TR26, or the inclement weather from November through to January which had threatened any recovery in construction.

Some sparks were now rising from the ashes, he said, and the TRA was continuing to help members steer their way through to better times – and, in turn, three new members were strengthening the association.

“We had anticipated a financially difficult year and there were reductions in income from the training course, a decrease in interest from the bank and a decrease in the sale of publications,” said TRA director Susan Farrow. “However, we tightened the reins, attracted new members and subscriptions held up well, so we’re in a stable financial position.” She added that there would be no increase in subscription fees this year.

Pasquill Roof Trusses, Muir Timber Systems and Kingdom Timber Engineering are the new recruits, broadening the TRA’s membership base in Scotland.

Committee work

The AGM also heard of the work of the TRA’s various committees.

According to Mark Murphy, chairman of the health and safety committee, the TRA has established a close relationship with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), to the point where the latter gives advance notification of its programmed campaigns. The HSE has also “ring fenced” TRA members with regard to its “Clear the air” dust campaign and won’t inspect them until the HSE has been able to provide guidance for truss fabricators on how to reduce dust.

Mr Murphy also demonstrated new safety and risk assessment cards to affix to equipment. Members will shortly be able to download these from the website (www.tra.org.uk). Along with Ray Curran, education and training manager of the UK Timber Frame Association, Mr Murphy also presented the new Site Safety campaign.

Les Fuller, chairman of the technical committee, updated members on the work the TRA has done to ensure its members are fully prepared for the implementation of EC5.

The systems providers, MiTek Industries, Gang-Nail Systems, Wolf Systems and ITW Alpine, had had four meetings throughout the year to discuss design harmonisation and further meetings will be held “to make sure everyone’s singing from the same hymn sheet,” said Mr Fuller.

Publicity committee chairman Neil Summers described an email campaign to 127 local authorities in a test sample area of the Midlands on February 2. The campaign talked about the work of the TRA, the benefits of membership and the importance of quality assurance and will now be rolled out across the rest of the country.

He also reminded members that free publicity is guaranteed through their TRA membership and to send in more case studies.