PARTS OF

STEEL AND
TIMBER TRUSS
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 APEX
Highest point
where the sloping
top chords meet
3
 BEARING
Structural support of
trusses (usually walls)
normally with a timber
wall plate
.

4
 BOTTOM CHORDS
(BC)
the lowest
longitudinal member
of a truss
5
 CANTILEVER STRUT
web that joins the bottom
chord above the bearing
point to the top chord of a
cantilevered truss.

6
 CLEAR SPAN
– horizontal distance
between interior
edges of supports.

7
 HEEL
–point on a truss
which top and
bottom chord
intersect.
8
 JOINT
point of intersection
–

of one or more web(s)

with a chord

9
 NAIL PLATE
–galvanized steel plate
punched to form a nail
pattern integral with the
plate and used to
connect timber
members.
10
 NOMINAL SPAN
– horizontal distance
between outside edges of
the supports (wall plates) –
usually the tie beam
length.

11
 SPLICE POINT

Top and bottom chord

–

splice

12
 PLUMB CUT
–vertical cut to the end
of the top chord to
provide for vertical
(plumb) installation of
the fascia or gutter
13
 NODE (NODE
POINT)
– point of
intersection of two or
more members that
make up the panels
of a truss

14
 TOP CHORD OR RAFTER
– a horizontal member that
establishes the upper edge of a
truss. If the Top Chord is too long
to be made of one piece, the
chord closest to the peak is
called the splice.

15
 WEB
members that join the
top and bottom chords
to form a triangular
pattern. Any internal
members connecting
the Top Chords and the
Bottom Chords.
16
 OVERHANG
-The horizontal distance measured
from the end of the Bottom Chord
(butt cut) to the end of the tail, not
including the fascia. If the wall is
cantilevered the measurement is
from the outside of the wall to the
end of the tail. Click How to Match
an Existing Roof for more details on
cantilever
17
 RUN
A horizontal measurement
taken from the end of the
truss (Butt Cut) along the
Bottom Chord to the mid-
span.

18
 PURLINS
Horizontal member placed
between two main load
carrying structural members.
They can be used as spacers
carrying decking or roofing
materials and providing some
lateral support for the main
members.
19
 BRANDERING
small section timber member used to
support a fixed
ceiling; brandering is usually fixed
to the underside of the truss bottom
chord. Cantilever-part of the truss (or
beam) that extends beyond its
support, (exclusive of the overhang)
20
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