Steel Buildings in Europe

Part 1: Architect’s Guide 1 - 21 Figure 3.15 Beams with circular web openings Trusses Trusses are a triangulated assembly of members. Two basic configurations are used in single storey buildings – pitched roof trusses and ‘flat’ trusses of near uniform depth. Pitched roof trusses A variety of pitched roof truss forms are used in pinned frames, as illustrated in Figure 3.16. The trusses illustrated in Figure 3.16 are commonly fabricated from T and angle sections, and are used to create a sloped roof. The large (mostly unused) space between the trusses may be considered a disadvantage, requiring heating and raising the overall height of the structure, but it is a cost effective solution for modest spans and provides space for services. Because these trusses are used with a steeply sloping roof, the span/depth ratio is typically 5 to 10 for spans up to 20 m