Steel Roof Truss Failures

Residential and commercial roof trusses are made up of individual wood framing members connected with special metal plates.

Steel roof truss failures.

Photo 1 shows a set of parallel chord. Bottom chord the member located at the bottom of the wood truss. Top chord the member located at the top of the wood truss which forms the shape of the roof. Most truss failures are the result of broken connections.

The basic gable frame is used throughout the home construction industry. Buildings with proper design and construction of bracing systems are essential in reducing and or eliminating wooden roof truss failures. The pitch roof truss is a popular design used in some homes and many small commercial buildings. The bowstring truss is an older classical design often found in buildings over 30 40 years old.

A steel truss in a fire may buckle and overturn because of expansion or weakening from the heat. Truss plates the steel plates with multiple nails which join the wood truss members. The flat truss is used extensively in small industry and is typically made of steel. The most widespread alternative for roof construction in nigeria is the use of trusses of which timber and steel are the primary choice of materials.

Careful attention must be paid to design of structural members and connection details of trusses since their failure can be catastrophic both in terms of loss of life and economy. All american made engineered agricultural gable trusses 4 12 pitch heavy duty 2 angled steel painted black. The top chord can also be flat when used as a wood floor truss or flat roof wood truss. 12 50 a foot 12 40 14 95 a foot 42 60 all lean to shed trusses 1 12 pitch.