1. Unit 50
Roof Trusses
Truss Types and Components • Principles of Truss Design • Truss Fabrication • Installing Roof Trusses • Truss Safety

2. Roof trusses are commonly used in residential construction
Roof trusses are commonly used in residential construction. Metal plate connectors fasten the truss components together.
A roof truss is an engineered combination of structural members arranged and fastened in triangular units to form a rigid framework for support of loads over a long span. Ends of the trusses bear directly on the opposing exterior walls. See Figure 50-1.

3. Roof trusses serve the same purpose as rafters but provide a larger unsupported span.
The basic components of a roof truss are the top and bottom chords and the web members. Web members extend between the top and bottom chords and are tied together with metal plate connectors. The top chords serve as the roof rafters and the bottom chords act as ceiling joists. See Figure 50-2.

4. Various roof truss designs can be combined to form intersecting roofs.
Trusses may be placed over most types of walls, including wood-framed, precast concrete, and masonry walls. Trusses can be constructed to form various roof types including gable, hip, mansard, and gambrel. Trusses are also available for intersecting roofs. See Figure 50-3.

5. A variety of standard roof truss designs are available
A variety of standard roof truss designs are available. An endless number of variations of the standard designs are possible.
A variety of truss designs are available. Common truss designs include the king post, W-type (fink), queen post (fan), K-type (howe), room-in-attic, scissors, piggyback, hip (girder), and vault. See Figure 50-4.

6. Galvanized metal connector plates tie together chords and web members and distribute and transfer loads between adjacent members. The teeth are very sharp and should be handled carefully.
Metal connector plates tie together the chords and web members and distribute and transfer loads between adjacent members. Metal connector plates are manufactured from 16-, 18-, and 20-ga galvanized structural steel that has been machine-stamped to produce small teeth that protrude from the face of the plate. Tooth length ranges from 1/4″ to 1″. See Figure 50-5.

7. Hinge plates may be used as an alternative to piggyback trusses
Hinge plates may be used as an alternative to piggyback trusses. The top chords are aligned at the peak and nails are driven through the prepunched holes.
Hinge plates are hinged, two-piece metal connectors used as an alternative to piggyback trusses. Hinge plates can be attached to the lower ends of top chords, allowing the chords to fold flat for shipping. At the job site, the top chords are raised into position and another hinge plate is fastened at the peak to join the adjoining top chords together. See Figure 50-6.

8. The balance of tension and compression gives a truss its ability to carry heavy loads and cover wide spans.
Each truss component is in a state of tension or compression. Components in a state of tension are subjected to a pulling force. Components in a state of compression are subjected to a pushing force. The balance of tension and compression gives the truss its ability to carry heavy loads and cover wide spans. See Figure 50-7.

9. A tight fit between truss members is essential to the structural integrity of the truss.
Trusses are assembled on large tables at a manufacturing plant using various jigs, fixtures, and holddowns. As the truss components are precut, they are laid out on the assembly table and secured in position. A tight fit between truss members is required for structural integrity of the truss. To ensure tight fits, the cuts must be accurate. See Figure 50-8.

10. During manufactured truss assembly, metal plate connectors are pressed into truss components.
Metal plate connectors are then properly positioned and pressed into the truss chords and web members. The metal connector plates are carefully positioned. See Figure A large gantry press runs along rails on the sides of the assembly table, pressing the plates into the truss components. The truss then passes through a set of rollers that compress the connector plates a final time before shipment.

11. When framing intersecting roofs, valley trusses are installed over the roof sheathing. Hip roofs can be framed using a Dutch hip system where truss jack rafters are attached to a hip truss.
Gable roofs require only one type of truss and are the easiest type of trussed roof to construct. Hip roofs are framed using a combination of trusses and conventional framing or by using a Dutch hip system. When framing intersecting roofs, the most efficient method is to place the valley trusses on top of the sheathing. See Figure Before trusses are installed, all walls must be aligned and properly braced.

12. Light trusses can be positioned by hand after they are placed upside down between the exterior walls of a building.
Smaller and lighter trusses can be placed by hand on one-story buildings. The trusses are placed upside down between the walls. Using lifting poles with a V-shape at one end, one or two carpenters upright the truss and position it. Other carpenters on ladders along the exterior walls toenail the ends of the bottom truss chord to the top plate. If two poles are used to upright the truss, the poles should be positioned close to the quarter points of the span. If one pole is used, it should be placed at the peak when raising trusses. See Figure

13. Longer and heavier trusses should always be hoisted by crane in an upright position.
Longer and heavier trusses are hoisted by crane into the upright position. See Figure If a truss is laid flat while being placed, lateral bending and jarring can place a strain on the connections and cause plates to loosen and pull away from the wood members. Bracket scaffolds may be attached to the inside of exterior walls so carpenters can fasten the trusses to the double top plate. For large commercial trusses, an aerial lift may be used along the inside of opposite exterior walls.

14. Metal spacers such as these are used to properly space trusses and are not designed to be used as bracing. Sheathing is applied directly over the spacers.
Metal truss spacers are a fast and accurate method for spacing trusses and eliminate the need to mark the top plate before placing trusses. See Figure Truss spacers can remain in place under the roof sheathing.

15. Truss anchors and hangers are used to attach trusses to other structural members.
Metal anchors, hangers, and angles are used to attach trusses to the tops of framed walls and to one another. See Figure Metal anchors are used to attach the heels of a truss to the top plate of a framed wall. Truss hangers are used to attach trusses to other trusses such as when attaching hip jack rafters to hip rafters.

16. For one-story buildings, the first truss is placed along the double top plate and is secured with vertical, horizontal, and lateral ground braces. For multistory buildings, ground braces are attached to the subfloor.
Trusses are erected starting at one end of a building and moving toward the other end. When the first truss is placed in a one-story building, the truss must be securely braced to the ground. In multistory buildings, truss braces are fastened to the subfloor. Vertical and diagonal braces should be installed every 8′, with one end nailed to the top chord and the other end nailed to a horizontal tie or stake driven into the ground. See Figure Lateral braces are installed for additional stability.

17. Temporary diagonal braces should be installed across the top chords of the trusses at least every 30′ starting from one end of the building. Temporary lateral braces are installed at 8′-0″ intervals.
After the first truss is properly braced, the remaining trusses are placed and properly braced. A 2 × 4 cut to 22 3/8″ long can be used to space the trusses at 24″ OC. Starting at the heel end, 2 × 4 lateral braces are installed at 8′ intervals along the top chords. See Figure Each lateral brace should extend over four or five trusses and be fastened to the top chord of each truss with two 16d nails. The ends of the lateral braces should overlap at least two trusses. Bottom chords should also be braced with 2 × 4s nailed to the chords at 15′ intervals. Diagonal braces can also be installed across several trusses every 30′ starting at one end of the building. Diagonal braces extending from each corner of the building and nailed to the bottom chords are also recommended.

18. Permanent metal braces may be installed between roof trusses as lateral bracing.
Where permitted by the local building code, permanent metal lateral braces may be installed between roof trusses rather than lateral top chord braces. See Figure Teeth in the flanges at both ends of the brace are driven into the sides of the truss using a hammer. Permanent metal braces must be supplemented with the same diagonal bracing as used with wood top chord braces. When the braces are in place, roof sheathing can be installed directly over the braces and top chords.

19. Roof anchors are installed to provide an anchorage point for lifelines of personal fall-arrest systems.
When a portion of a trussed roof is properly braced and sheathed, a roof anchor and personal fall-arrest system may be used when installing the remaining roof trusses. Several designs of roof anchors are available. See Figure Some roof anchors are made of metal and are attached to braced trusses or framing members with nails or screws. A D-ring provides an attachment point for a lifeline.