Blog

The TRIFORCE® blog is all about sharing our passion for building, either through our bloggers’ opinions on the market or on technical matters related to wood building. Through these articles, case studies and stories, we hope you’ll learn more about the open joist TRIFORCE® and floor system performance.

The TRIFORCE® blog is a forum for ideas and opinions and, by all means, we invite you to share your experiences in the response section. If the blog inspires you to seek actual technical advice suited to your circumstances, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a more in-depth conversation. We’ll be happy to help!

2023 Just Around the Corner: Fresh News from TRIFORCE®

The TRIFORCE® team would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the New Year! We are happy and proud to announce that our blog articles will be coming back in 2023. As we return to normal business, we are honored to count you among our loyal readers. We are also thrilled … Continued

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A Value-Engineered Next-Generation Open Joist that saves you time and money

When you compare several popular floor framing options, you will learn that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The engineered joists price can also differ greatly. Let’s first take a closer look at the pros and cons of Steel-Plated Trusses, I-Joists, and Dimensional Lumber. We will then introduce you to TRIFORCE®. Spoiler alert, one … Continued

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Mixing It Up: Wood to Steel Connections

As the manufacturer of TRIFORCE® joists, Barrette is obviously among the strongest proponents of wood-frame construction. But sometimes, because of design situations, there is a need to mix steel products with wood components. So how do these different components connect to produce superior buildings? Steel Shapes Steel beams pack a lot of load capacity into … Continued

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5 reasons why your floor system is underperformant

A high-performance floor system must be effective at all levels. Safety, comfort, cost optimization, practicality in construction. All being important considerations for both builders and owners. Discover five reasons why your floor system could be underperforming without you knowing it! 1. It is not fireproof Depending on the construction type, the floor system must either … Continued

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Individually tested : only proven TRIFORCE® joists are shipped to job sites

To certify a product for use under the current model building codes, bodies like the International Code Council (ICC) and the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) confirm that the product is built to and performs to identifiable standards…standards that ensure longevity and safety. Such certification has been confirmed for TRIFORCE® open joist (ICC Report ESR-2999 … Continued

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Our 5 Most Popular Blog Posts from 2020 Regarding Construction News and Trends

“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” Winston Churchill We all know how challenging 2020 has been for everyone because of COVID-19’s massive impact it had on our industry. But once again, in spite of everything, our experts strove to bring you quality content and valuable information about technical challenges and new practices in construction, … Continued

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Environmentally Conscious Design & Manufacturing

The open joist TRIFORCE® relies on more than 35 years of expertise, being rooted to the well-known Open Joist 2000® as its predecessor. It represents the synthesis of all the features and benefits of all types of joists combined. Manufactured in an ultra-sophisticated facility with a 100% robotic production, TRIFORCE® open joist results in an … Continued

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Choosing a fire-rated solution for single-family floor systems

Whether you’re building, renovating or rebuilding a single-family home, your basement floor system has to provide a fire-rated solution. The International Residential Code (IRC) identifies the fire-resistance expected of your floor if a fire breaks out below it. If your floor structure consists of  2″ x 10″ dimensional lumber, you already have your solution.  This is … Continued

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Decreasing deflection to increase comfort and perceived quality

Deflection is the vertical up and down movement of a floor when it is subjected to loads. Deflection performance is both a safety and a comfort consideration. Perceived quality is another related consideration. It’s not as well understood, but it’s also important. Safety Building codes define allowable deflection to keep flooring and ceiling materials from … Continued

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TRIFORCE®, as green as the raw material that it is made from: Wood!

Did you know that wood is the most sustainable, natural and renewable building material available in North America? Wood represents a building material that can assist in the fight against climate change caused by greenhouse gases. It is renewable, recyclable, reusable, and organic. It also cleans the air, cleans water, provides oxygen, and is biodegradable. … Continued

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*Note/mention: The designer and/or general contractor of the project or building must ensure the accuracy of the technical information discussed in this blog over the years and always rely on the most up-to-date product’s requirements, specifications and installation guidelines available online on this website, and the applicable codes and standards.