Predictika · Wood construction connectors

An AI sales agent's joist hanger order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a framing connector order for a builder: the face-mount joist hanger model, the joist size and lumber species group, the load type and design load per hanger, the nailing planned and the allowable load the order states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published rough lumber hanger table and returns a verdict, every reason and the allowable load and nailing it looked up.

Scope: Simpson Strong-Tie LU, U and related face-mount joist hangers for rough (sawn) lumber, DF/SP and SPF/HF (C-C-2021 catalog table, p. 114): which hanger fits which joist, allowable loads and required nailing. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for the face-mount hangers in the catalog's rough lumber table, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Hangers and joists — LU24R-18, U24R, LU26R-18, U26R, LU28R-18, LU210R-18, U210R, U44R, U46R, U410R, U66R and U610R, and the joist sizes from 2x4 to 6x14 (rough) each is listed for.
  • Allowable loads — the table's uplift, floor, snow and roof allowable loads for DF/SP and SPF/HF lumber, compared with the design load per hanger and with the allowable load the order states.
  • Nailing — the header and joist nail counts the table requires per hanger to reach the listed loads, compared with the nails planned.
  • Approvals — every uplift check goes to a person, because the table's uplift loads already include an increase for earthquake or wind loading and are to be reduced where other loads govern.

Any order for these hangers on rough lumber is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Simpson Strong-Tie does not publish them), the engineering design itself, surveyed lumber and engineered wood hangers, other hanger families (LUS, HUS, HHUS, HGUS, HU, HUC and others), skewed or sloped seats, stainless-steel or other fastener substitutions, and the load adjustments and code approvals of the catalog's notes. The model reflects the 2021 catalog page and is not an engineering approval.

The AI sales agentBuilds the hanger order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

6 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Which hanger models are listed for which joist sizeOnly with care
A product rule for each joist size and hanger pair; a pair nobody wrote down is easy to let through, and the lists change with each catalog.		The listed pairs are part of the model and every pair is checked on every call.
Allowable load by hanger, lumber species group and load typeOnly with care
A lookup over three fields, then a comparison with the design load; build it once and it needs editing with each catalog edition.		The allowable load is looked up on every call and compared with both the design load and the load the order states.
Nailing that must be complete to reach the table loadsOnly with care
The nail counts depend on the hanger model, so a rule per model is needed.		The required nails come with the model and are compared with the nails planned.
Uplift to be confirmed by a person (not blocked)Only with workarounds
A rules engine either allows or blocks; it has no way to say a person should confirm.		The case goes to a person with the reason, and is not guessed.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The order states an allowable load of 2,280 lb per hanger; the table gives 2,015 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
2This hanger model is not listed for this joist size in the rough lumber face-mount hanger table.
3The design load of 2,466 lb per hanger is above the table allowable load of 2,465 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
4The design load of 1,800 lb per hanger is above the table allowable load of 1,735 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
512 header nails are planned per hanger; the table requires 14 to reach the listed loads.
64 joist nails are planned per hanger; the table requires 6 to reach the listed loads.
7The order has 0 hangers; at least one is needed.
8The table uplift loads already include an increase for earthquake or wind loading with no further increase allowed, and are to be reduced where other loads govern; a person should confirm the uplift check.
9The design load of 1,000 lb per hanger is above the table allowable load of 990 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
10The design load of 2,300 lb per hanger is above the table allowable load of 2,120 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
1110 header nails are planned per hanger; the table requires 14 to reach the listed loads.
12The order states an allowable load of 2,465 lb per hanger; the table gives 2,120 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Hanger and joist size: U210R hangers for 2x8 joists, with a DF/SP load stated for SPF/HF lumber

    
The agent's request. Please quote 36 Simpson Strong-Tie U210R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 2x8 rough SPF/HF joists, a floor load of 900 lb per hanger, 14 header nails and 6 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 2,015 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Hanger not listed for this joist size. This hanger model is not listed for this joist size in the rough lumber face-mount hanger table.
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  • Stated allowable load does not match. The order states an allowable load of 2,015 lb per hanger; the table gives 1,735 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
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2. Hanger and joist size: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 36 Simpson Strong-Tie U26R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 2x8 rough SPF/HF joists, a floor load of 900 lb per hanger, 8 header nails and 4 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 990 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 36 hanger(s), allowable load 990 lb each, nailing per hanger 8 header nails and 4 joist nails.
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3. Nailing: U26R hangers for 2x6 joists with six header nails

    
The agent's request. Please quote 48 Simpson Strong-Tie U26R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 2x6 rough DF/SP joists, a snow load of 1,100 lb per hanger, 6 header nails and 4 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 1,305 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too few header nails. 6 header nails are planned per hanger; the table requires 8 to reach the listed loads.
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4. Nailing: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 48 Simpson Strong-Tie U26R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 2x6 rough DF/SP joists, a snow load of 1,100 lb per hanger, 8 header nails and 4 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 1,305 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 48 hanger(s), allowable load 1,305 lb each, nailing per hanger 8 header nails and 4 joist nails.
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5. Design load: U410R hangers on 4x10 beams, roof load above the table

    
The agent's request. Please quote 12 Simpson Strong-Tie U410R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 4x10 rough SPF/HF joists, a roof load of 2,300 lb per hanger, 14 header nails and 6 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 2,465 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Design load above the allowable load. The design load of 2,300 lb per hanger is above the table allowable load of 2,120 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
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  • Stated allowable load does not match. The order states an allowable load of 2,465 lb per hanger; the table gives 2,120 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
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6. Design load: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 14 Simpson Strong-Tie U410R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 4x10 rough SPF/HF joists, a roof load of 2,100 lb per hanger, 14 header nails and 6 joist nails per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 2,120 lb per hanger. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 14 hanger(s), allowable load 2,120 lb each, nailing per hanger 14 header nails and 6 joist nails.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a framing connector order for a builder: the face-mount joist hanger model, the joist size and lumber species group, the load type and design load per hanger, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published rough lumber hanger table and returns a verdict, every reason and the allowable load and nailing it looked up.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote 36 Simpson Strong-Tie U210R face-mount hangers for Alder Creek Builders: 2x8 rough SPF/HF joists, a floor load of 900 lb per hanger. The order states an allowable load of 2,015 lb per hanger. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. This hanger model is not listed for this joist size in the rough lumber face-mount hanger table. The order states an allowable load of 2,015 lb per hanger; the table gives 1,735 lb for this hanger, species group and load type.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned two blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for which hanger models are listed for which joist size, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the hanger model to U26R, the header nails planned per hanger to 8, the joist nails planned per hanger to 4 and the stated allowable load as to 990 lb per hanger.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. This time the validator clears it.
    12. 
      
  12. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    14.