Cut Engineered Board

[PETER W BENNETT]

Inspected this 6 year old home with TJI'S. The attached photo shows two 6 inch ducts going through an engineered board, possibly a timberstrand, parallam, microlam which does not rest on the beam below which supports a bearing wall above.
I wrote it up recommending review by qualified contractor and all necessary repairs. The buyer's attorney received a fax by a licensed contractor who stated that there is no problem and not future problems.
What's the purpose of the cut board which is under a bearing wall?

[buddy brault]

Peter, this is being used as a rim board for lateral support of joist. I would say as long as there isn't a series of penetrations and there is no notches in beam your ok. Truss joist web site is iLevel by Weyerhaeuser - The leading provider of structural framing materials and finishing products for residential and commercial applications. (http://www.trusjoist.com) . You may be able to down load some of there installation guidelines.

[Jerry Peck]

Looks like it is going through OSB on a stud wall, I can see the studs behind the OSB in the crack between it and the beam.

From the photo, I don't see anything wrong either - no studs cut, beam not cut, TJI not cut.

[Scott Patterson]

This is a cut TJI!

[PETER W BENNETT]

So what's the purpose of the board?

[Jim Luttrall]

Peter, this is being used as a rim board for lateral support of joist.

Peter, I think Buddy had it pegged. It is hard to see the detail of what the boards do in your picture, but it appears the cut board is attached to the end of horizontal floor joists which are resting on the lower beam. The rim joist in this case would simply keep the floor joist from rotating.
Does this fit with what you saw on site? Do you have any more pictures?

[Robert Dalga]

Peter,
You did your job and wrote it up correctly (if you suspect something is wrong it probably is thus defer to a specialist). It sure looks like a notched (two in fact) beam to me in your photo and if it's carring a load above (which most beams do) then it's probably comprimising the strength of the beam.

[PETER W BENNETT]

I think I answered my original question "what's the purpose of the board?"
The cut board is for support for the edge of subfloor.

The photo "board1" shows the squashblocks and tjis resting on the beam.
The photo "board2" shows the cut board is between the tji and beam.

But here's another issue: does the cut board provide "structural" support for the plywood subfloor?

[Jerry Peck]

But here's another issue: does the cut board provide "structural" support for the plywood subfloor?

I doubt it.

You would need "framing", i.e. 2x, for that. Ever try to nail into the side of plywood or OSB? Don't count on it for doing much at all.

[Michael Greenwalt]

As I look at the photo's the beam/girder does not appear to be cut, though I may be missing something. I have ran across Weyerhauser beams that have had substantial holes cut in them (usually mechanical contractor work) and I usually contact the engineers. Most times thier regional inspector has already observed the beams and contacted the builder/contractor. Recently I inspected one where the engineers had issued a letter to the contractor stating the beam should be replaced but it was not and the house was sold. After my inspection, and action by the contractor, the engineers developed a steel plate to reinforce the beam and certified it.
I was suprised just how much the engineers would accept with thier manufactured beams; it is much more than what they put in writing on the installation instructions. Bottom line though is to contact the engineers directly or have the clients contact the engineers so that a fix can be made.