What’s the story with the ‘zigzagging’ of those diagonal tubes in a truss?

Answer:
Some people say it should really be done this way, others tell you it doesn’t matter at all.
Both answers are correct, as the question completely depends on the brand and especially the type of truss. In other words, the question does not have a straight answer, and that’s what causes confusion. This means that (technical) reasons have to be given. Find out more*.

*Article provided by the courtesy of Rinus Bakker and the ARGH!


Are sleeved steels fit to be used in all occasions?

Answer:
No, certainly not everywhere. Finally a clear answer to a question. We will explain why use of these on RSJ’s or steel ‘I-beams’ is not very clever. Find out more here.

Article provided by the courtesy of Rinus Bakker and the ARGH.


Can I calculate my own truss grid?

Answer:
Calculating a truss grid is complex, if the structure is suspended from more than 2 points.
Prolyte has made the KYLO tool to assist you with this. If the KYLO tool is not sufficient you are advised to call in the help of a professional rigger /engineer.
Consult the Black Book on for further reading.


Is the CE mark applicable for truss?

Answer:
For particular product groups, like toys, electromechanical devices or parts thereof is its obligatory to have these products marked with the CE sign.
Manufacturers may apply the CE mark if their products are fabricated in compliance to ruling European minimal regulations (standards). This is a way for the manufacturer to show his commitment of fabricating his products as safe as possible and in compliance to standards and regulations known to him.
You can be ascertained that the manufacturer has tried to make his product as safe as possible.

For many products the manufacturer is allowed to apply the CE mark. For other products, for instance lifts or other equipment with a raised level of risk for health or safety, only an appointed, independent institute may apply the CE mark, a ‘Notified Body’. Notified Body’s are appointed by each country according to their own insight and national regulations.

Prolyte is allowed to apply the CE mark to their trusses. To be able to do this Prolyte has undergone a controlled procedure under auspices of an appointed institute.
In 1996 Prolyte has followed this procedure to be able to apply the CE mark to their tower systems. Following Prolyte’s interpretation of the machine directive towers fall into the category “lifting machinery”. Prolyte is the only company that has taken the effort to do so.

It is questionable whether the CE mark should be applied to trusses as well.
The circumstances and the type of use determine whether the CE mark is applicable. A grid on 4 legs would not apply, however the same grid, flown on 4 hoist would fall, in our opinion, into the category "lifting equipment".


Can I combine other truss brands that suggest or say they have “Prolyte compatible” truss with Prolyte truss?

Answer:
Some connection types, like the conical coupler or the gusset plates, have been copied by a lot of manufacturers. The various truss brands with similar connection types seem to fit onto each other. Or with a little help they are made to fit to each other.

Let’s have an example first:
When anyone would suggest to put the brake pads (definitely a safety involved item) of a General Motors car onto a Ford vehicle, or the other way around, the most heard reaction would be: “What kind of idiot are you?
Even though both manufacturers will not bypass their engineering departments, and the parts involved will be very much up to all quality and safety standards, mixing up both – possibly only slightly - different parts and thus manufacturing a “new” brake, could proof to be fatal in the short or long run.
Who is liable in such case?

Now we come back to truss. Connecting to different brands of truss is no different from the above example. Let’s say you know both manufacturers and they can provide you with all the technical information you have required. And still you would prefer to connect one brand to the other for artistic or other reasons. If failure does happen, you are liable.

A connection of two brands, even though it looks to be fitting quite nice is still a newly manufactured product by legal standards, and thus the ‘manufacturer’ (the guy connecting these two trusses) must do all calculations and checks needed when a new product is made.
So any inward (toe-in) or outward (toe-out) friction between the two resulting in additional bending and/or shear stresses must be checked. As well as the alloys used and the allowable stresses and the wall thickness of the connection elements, the surface area’s bearing stresses, the end-brace bending or buckling capacity, etc.

And now in the case that you only know the technical details of only one, and ‘somebody’ tells you that it is OK to join this to another brand. Are you able to analyze this into the very details that are legally needed? If not, you can predict the reaction of this particular person after failure has occurred: he will deny ever having said so. Make sure you get it in writing, and in such a way that all liability goes his way as well.

That Prolyte specifically warns for inter-connecting different types of truss in general term is not for our safety, but for yours. Our industry benefits by improving its safety, not by ignoring warnings, even though they might look commercially motivated at first impression.

Demand a manual at all times with every product you buy, it’s mandatory to provide one.