Wedges and offcuts under trusses: the Officer lock-up finding to know
Why packing under trusses and beams matters, and why lock-up is when to catch it.
In short: Trusses and beams must bear on proper supports. At lock-up on Officer builds we have found them sitting on wedges and sheet offcuts.
What we found
On one Officer build, wedges had been driven under several trusses to hold up the heating unit platform, over a wall that was never designed to carry load. On the same job, fibre cement offcuts had been used as packers under a steel beam and trusses.
Why it matters
Packing has to be a rated material, sized for the gap and fixed. Wedges can slip and sheet offcuts can crush, so the load ends up somewhere the engineer never intended.
Why lock-up is the moment
By fixing stage the ceiling is sheeted and packing is hidden for good. Lock-up is the last time an inspector can look up and see every bearing point.
Top plates on wedges
We also found top plates wedged to get them level. Plates need full bearing on the studs below; wedging is not an accepted fix under AS 1684.
What to ask the builder
Ask for each packed point to be replaced with rated packing or for the engineer to approve the detail in writing.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Officer. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
