Braced truss frame and fall protection system

Abstract

A bracing panel for constructing a truss frame having spaced trusses includes first and second engagement members having outer faces extending parallel to each other. A plurality of spacing members are attached to the first and second engagement members. The plurality of spacing members are configured and dimensioned to maintain the outer faces of the first and second engagement members parallel and spaced by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing. A bracing member extends between the first and second engagement members and laterally with respect to the spacing members for providing lateral support to the spacing members.

1 . A bracing panel for constructing a truss frame having spaced trusses, the bracing panel comprising:
 first and second engagement members having outer faces extending parallel to each other;   a plurality of spacing members attached to the first and second engagement members, the plurality of spacing members configured and dimensioned to maintain the outer faces of the first and second engagement members parallel and spaced by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing; and   a single bracing member extending between the first and second engagement members and laterally with respect to the spacing members for providing lateral support to the spacing members.   
     
     
         2 . The bracing panel of  claim 1  in combination with a reinforcement member configured for connection adjacent at least one of the plurality of spacing members to reinforce the spacing member against in-plane bending. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The bracing panel of  claim 1  in combination with at least one hanger configured and dimensioned to surround a portion of a truss and support a bracing panel to position the bracing panel with respect to the truss and connect the bracing panel to the truss. 
     
     
         5 . The bracing panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first nailing plate connecting the first engagement member, a first spacing member of the plurality of spacing members, and the bracing member;   a second nailing plate connecting the second engagement member, a second spacing member of the plurality of spacing members, and the bracing member;   a third nailing plate connecting the first engagement member and the second spacing member; and   a fourth nailing plate connecting the second engagement member and the first spacing member.   
     
     
         6 . A braced truss frame comprising:
 first and second trusses, each truss including a chord member having an upper surface aligned coplanar with the chord member of the other truss, each chord member having a length; and   a plurality of first bracing panels attached to the chord member of the first truss and attached to the chord member of the second truss, the first bracing panels having a width sized for spacing the first and second trusses by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing, the first bracing panels maintaining the chord members of the first and second trusses parallel and spaced by the predetermined truss spacing, the first bracing panels being spaced apart from one another along the length of each chord member.   
     
     
         7 . The braced truss frame of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first bracing panels comprises:
 first and second engagement members having outer faces extending parallel to each other;   a plurality of spacing members attached to the first and second engagement members, the plurality of spacing members configured and dimensioned to maintain the outer faces of the first and second engagement members parallel and spaced by the predetermined truss spacing; and   a bracing member extending between the first and second engagement members and laterally with respect to the spacing members for providing lateral support to the spacing members.   
     
     
         8 . The braced truss frame of  claim 7 , wherein the first engagement member engages the chord member of the first truss along a length of the first engagement member and the second engagement member engages the chord member of the second truss along a length of the second engagement member. 
     
     
         9 . The braced truss frame of  claim 8 , wherein each of the spacing members include first and second end faces, each of the first bracing panels being attached to the trusses by fasteners extending through the chord members and into the first and second end faces of each spacing member. 
     
     
         10 . The braced truss frame of  claim 9 , further comprising a reinforcement member connected to the first truss and the second truss adjacent at least one of the plurality of spacing members to reinforce the spacing member against in-plane bending. 
     
     
         11 . The braced truss frame of  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcement member has a width generally equal to the width of the bracing panel. 
     
     
         12 . The braced truss frame of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one hanger connecting the first engagement member and the first truss and at least one hanger connecting the second engagement member and the second truss. 
     
     
         13 . The braced truss frame of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first bracing panels further comprises nailing plates attaching the first and second engagement members to the first and second spacing members and to the bracing member. 
     
     
         14 . The braced truss frame of  claim 7 , further comprising a third truss including a chord member having an upper surface aligned coplanar with the upper surfaces of the chord members of the first and second trusses, and a plurality of second bracing panels, each of the second bracing panels being attached to the chord member of the second truss and attached to the chord member of the third truss, the second bracing panels having a width sized for spacing the second and third trusses by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing, the second bracing panels maintaining the chord members of the second and third trusses parallel and spaced by the predetermined truss spacing. 
     
     
         15 . The braced truss frame of  claim 6 , further comprising an anchor attached to at least one of the first and second trusses adjacent to one of the first bracing panels, the anchor being adapted to support a worker after the braced truss frame is installed and secured to a wall structure. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing a truss frame for installation on a wall structure, the method comprising:
 connecting a plurality of first bracing panels to a first truss prior to installation of the first truss on the wall structure, a first engagement member of each of the first bracing panels extending parallel to and engaging a chord member of the first truss along a length of the first engagement member, the first bracing panels being spaced apart from one another along a length of the chord member;   connecting a second truss to the first bracing panels opposite the first truss prior to installation of the first and second trusses on the wall structure, a second engagement member of each of the first bracing panels extending parallel to and engaging a chord member of the second truss along a length of the second engagement member, each of the first bracing panels having a width sized for spacing the first and second trusses by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing, the first bracing panels maintaining the chord members of the first and second trusses parallel and spaced by the predetermined truss spacing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting a plurality of second bracing panels to the second truss and connecting a third truss to the second bracing panels opposite the second truss, the second bracing panels having a width sized for spacing the second and third trusses by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing, the second bracing panels maintaining chord members of the second and third trusses parallel and spaced by the predetermined truss spacing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising attaching an anchor to at least one of the first, second, and third trusses adjacent to one of the first and second bracing panels, the anchor being adapted to support a worker after the truss frame is installed and secured to the wall structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein attaching the first bracing panels to the first truss comprises securing a first portion of a hanger to a surface of a chord member of the first truss and securing a second portion of the hanger to a surface of the first engagement member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting a reinforcement member to the first truss and the second truss adjacent at least one of the plurality of first bracing panels to reinforce the first bracing panels. 
     
     
         21 . The bracing panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second engagement members has an inner face extending parallel to the outer face of the respective engagement member, wherein no portion of the single bracing member extends beyond the inner face of each engagement member in a direction toward the respective outer face.