TRUSSED RAFTERS
Trussed Rafters (or Roof Trusses) are specified for over 90% of roofs for housing in Ireland today. Since the punched metal plated trussed rafter was invented in 1952 in Florida USA, they have revolutionised the house building industry worldwide. The trussed rafter is an individually designed component, engineered to provide a structural frame for the support of roof or similar structures and have proven to be an efficient, safe and economical method for supporting roofs since their introduction into the UK in 1964, and Ireland in 1968. With the increasing power of computer technology, Trussed Rafters are now revolutionising the greater construction industry providing engineered solutions for ever larger and more complex building projects.
Only specialised timber engineering companies can manufacture and CE mark Trussed Rafters, and must be independently monitored by a recognised ‘Notified Body’, such as the NSAI.
Increasingly – RiR – Room in the Roof or Attic trusses are being specified on projects of all sizes, providing an extremely cost effective way of enlarging the overall floor area of a property, while maintaining the original footprint of the building. While there are some limitations as to what can be achieved, this method of utilising the space in the roof is some 5 times faster to construct than using the traditional cut method, (see “Attic Do’s and Don’ts” – Note:- the rules outlined here would also refer to roofs utilising Raised Tie trussed rafters). If this additional space is not to be used immediately, the requirements of SR 70 Clause 13.2 Design for future alterations and changes of use, should be taken into account. In addition, where this option is considered in a roof over a two storey dwelling, the Building Regulations Part B Fire and Part K Stairways in particular, should be consulted to ensure compliance.
Our team at Magtruss Ltd are experienced specialists in roof and floor component design and manufacture, and are therefore ideally placed to assist in achieving affordable, precisely engineered solutions throughout all sectors of the building industry.
Practical Benefits
- A flexible, practical and fully engineered solution to your roofing requirements, catering for the wide range of services required in the modern building
- The pitch range of trusses is generally 22.5° to 45°, however lower and higher pitches can be achieved*.
- Due to trusses being pre-fabricated components, there are substantial on-site time and labour cost savings
- Economy of materials, as trussed rafters can use up to 40% less timber than a traditionally formed roof
- Delivered to site in complete package with full installation instruction drawings and details
- Reduced need for site storage with Just In Time (JIT) purchasing, having your trusses delivered only as they are needed
- Quick erection of the roof structure enabling other trades to commence quickly
- Reduction in site waste, loss and pilferage of valuable materials
- No need for internal load bearing walls to support the roof unless extremely long spans or Attic truss options are called for
- Competitive value for money pricing
- Proven efficiency, safety & economy
- Designed to suit each customer’s own specifications
- Fully certified and monitored by N.S.A.I. Quality Control Standards and CE marked
* It should be noted however, that both low pitch and high pitch roofs are more susceptible to the effects of wind forces and may have a marked effect on the superstructure.
Easi-Joists®
Metal web (or Open web) joists, Easi-Joists® are a relatively new product to the Irish and UK markets which utilise the combined strength properties of timber and steel to produce an extremely strong and very light weight engineered solution for floor joists.
Magtruss Ltd were at the forefront of bringing this technology to market and were the first manufacturer in Ireland to produce Easi-Joists®. Working with our engineering partners Wolf Systems Ltd and the Irish Agrément Board (IAB) in developing this product for the Irish market, achieving certification in 2007, IAB cert No 07/0280. Easi-Joist® has since gone on to attain European Technical Approval and holds an ETA-07/0032.
Our Easi-Joist® production is fully certified by the NSAI and CE marked to comply with the latest Building Regulations.
The use of Easi-Joist® has significantly increased in popularity in Ireland since their introduction. Clients who have switched to Easi-Joist®, would not now go back to using traditional solid timber joists.
Not only does Easi-Joist® outperform solid sawn timber in span and dimensional stability, the added benefits of a greater bearing area and the open web system, make them easier to install for the carpenter. The follow-on trades like plumbers’ and electricians’ work and time on site is reduced considerably, due to the ease with which their pipes and wiring can be installed in the voids in the joists, reducing valuable time and cost and eliminating the need for notching or drilling.
Practical Benefits
- Its open metal web system makes for simplified installation of services and a reduction or elimination of surface-run pipework
- Eliminates notching and drilling for services
- With the introduction of the latest Building Regulations and the requirements of air-tightness, Heat Recovery and Ventilation systems are becoming more prevalent. Easi-Joist® is the perfect solution to accommodate the ducting and pipework needed in these situations
- Open metal web joists deliver outstanding acoustic performance to comfortably pass stringent regulations without additional insulation, plasterboard or resilient bars
- The minimum 72mm wide flanges provide an excellent surface for the fixing of floor decking and plasterboard ceilings
- Available in a variety of depths from 219mm up to 417mm and can be designed to be installed at centres up to 600mm
- By using kiln-dried stress graded timber, shrinkage is virtually eliminated
- Easi-Joist® are made to measure, thereby reducing site wastage
- Lightweight construction dramatically reduces the installation time required
- Easi-Joist® can be top chord supported, which is particularly useful in timber frame construction, as the potential for shrinkage in the floor zone is all but eliminated
- Evidence from builders has indicated that the maintenance/call back items normally associated with solid timber joist floors are not evident when using Easi-Joist®
- Easi-Joist® are also suitable for use in roofs, such as flat roofs, lean-tos and pitched roofs
- Reduced need for site storage with Just In Time (JIT) purchasing, having your Joists delivered only as they are needed
- Can be designed to take a liquid screed with underfloor heating
- Can be designed for a variety of loadings including offices, pubs, hotels and gyms
- Easi-Joist® can be designed in lengths of up to 11.5 metres using multiple internal supports, greatly speeding up the installation of the floor and reducing time and costs
- Easi-Joist® can be designed with trimmable ends of up to 50mm each end, facilitating a tight fit where the blockwork varies