UNIVERSITY OF MAGALLANES

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGICAL SCHOOL

TECHNICAL IN CONSTRUCTION MENTION IN WORKS
CIVILES

CONSTRUCTION 2
Roof Construction Systems

Felipe Andrades Fuentes

Alejandro Oyarzun Burnes
René Martínez
December 12, 2018
 Index

1. Introduction
2. Definition of roofing
3. Architecture and structuring
3.1 Architecture
3.2 Structuring
4. Types of roofing
5. Roof encounters
6. Terminology
7. Stages of construction
8. General criterion in structural design
9. Truss
9.1 Elements that make up a truss
9.2 Trusses by shape
9.3 Trusses for piece distribution
9.4 Types of structures
Wood structures
Metal structure
Concrete structure
10. Conclusion
11. Bibliography
 1. Introduction

It is important to know that within the construction area

you will often encounter different situations where certain will be required
specific elements for a common circumstance. The union of these
elements will allow the formation of a specific function, which will access
to shape a construction system based on structures of various types and
different characteristics, which ultimately converge based on materiality and
function for which they are required.
Within this broad framework offered, it will focus on the 'SYSTEMS'
CONSTRUCTIVES OF ROOFS.” Where the word roof comes from Latin
tectum (covered), participle of the verb tegere (to cover, to hide, to protect). This
the verb also gave us: protect, slum, and detective. It comes from the root
Indo-European *(s) teg- (to cover)1.

On the other hand, the correct system for constructing a roof.

it depends on the application required regarding what environment, to what
weather or daylight is exposed, which will have a great influence on the
benefit and application that will result from the construction, determining the function

to cover and insulate the home, protecting it from adversities

environmental2.
Finally, the objective of this report is to learn and understand in a way
more practical and expands on the different types of construction systems based on
roofs, and also determine the necessary requirements for a
optimal construction.
 2. Definition of roof

The term roofing refers to the entire structural system of a

building located on the sky of the top floor that covers and closes the
construction. It usually consists of a system of beams or structure
main beams and joists or secondary structure that supports a type of
"board", of slope and various materials, a cover to channel the
rainwater (water that runs off surfaces, not soil, buildings, streets, etc.)
They are generally made of wood and metal profiles, but in
larger span constructions (sheds, gyms, etc.) use a
different steel lattice structure (bar structure, shape
triangles)2-3.
The main mission that is the basic requirement that a roof should fulfill.
or a constructive system of this same is to provide protection to all agents
environmental (cold, heat, wind, rain or snow) independent of the type of
construction, housing, building, gym, warehouses, etc.3
The roof must meet certain requirements:
Resistant to the environment (rain, wind, snow).
Contain appropriate insulation, both thermal and acoustic.
It should not allow moisture to pass into the interior of the
housing.
Ensure fire resistance.
It must be lightweight so as not to deform the structure that will support it.
 3. Architecture and Structuring

When analyzing the rooftops, it is possible to separate them into two main areas:

one of them is the Architecture (water and roof intersection) and for another
part, the area called Structuring (Tijeral: structure on which goes the
roof3.

3.1 Architecture

The waters are referred to in architecture as flat surfaces and

inclined their main objective is to withstand environmental conditions in
this case water and/or snow. The roofs can be designed with 2 or 4 slopes already
either in a traditional form or in "duck tail", with or without a skylight where it can

to be one or two waters.

Two-slope roof: This means it will have two slopes
or waters united in the middle, this roof is required or chosen in
places where the weather is rainy or has a lot of snow because of their

prominent slope helps with the quick drainage of water or

snow by means of gravity.
Four-sided roof: It means it has 4 slopes.
united by a medium, having 4 skirts, which does not generate so much
wind resistance like that of two waters. The disadvantage
The main thing is that it could have a much higher value.
 The slope of the waters is the inclination with which they are conducted.
roofs to easily drain water or snow. This is defined in the stage
when the project is being designed and it is warned about the conditions
climatic conditions of the area, this combined with the architecture of the house. It
It could be expressed in degrees or percentages.

Degrees: It refers to the angle formed between the plane of the

waters and the horizontal plane.

Percentage: Set a number of units that must be increased.

vertically for every 100 horizontally.

Figure 1: Relationship between degrees and percentages for

determine the slope of a roof2.

Most commonly used pendants in the construction industry:

Between 20 and 27% for zinc roofs and fiber-cement tiles.
Between 30 and 60% for the different types of clay tiles.
Between 50 and 80% for thatched or palm roofs.

When it is said that a roof has a slope of 20%, it means that for
for every linear meter of ceiling, we rise 20 centimeters. If it is 2 meters, we

we raise 40 centimeters and so on.

 3.2 Structuring

In moderation or truss (framework that supports the roof of a)

building), it is a structure made up of different pieces either of
wood or steel and supported at its ends holds the cover of the
roof. The sturdy pieces allow for the distribution of the loads of
tension, compression and bending. All this is transmitted to the walls
supporting this, the elements that constitute or form this are
structural3.

How to assemble a roofing structure:

Align and plumb (check that the wall is 100% vertical) the
structure about the supports.
Install a brace to keep the structure fixed.
Continue with the scissors in the same way until forming a
set.
Place the diagonal joining straps to secure the structure.
Installation of curb and flooring.
Installation of insulating material.
Covered installation.
4. Types of roofing

Galvanized steel covers: It has high mechanical resistance. To

being coated with Zinc and Aluminum provides resistance to the
corrosion, the sheet when coated is easy to form, cut and
drill with common tools, its high adhesion of
coating based on steel, allows bending at 180°
about itself. It shows no signs of porosity and is
completely waterproof3.

Clay tiles: They are waterproof due to their dosage in their

mixture, presents high corrosion resistance, its application
it is quite simple, it has a high level of reflectance, a
a special characteristic is that it has a great resistance to the
biological agents9.

Asphalt shingles: They are made based on asphalt, fiberglass

and minerals. They require no maintenance, characterized by
due to its weight so convenient for the workability of this, it has a
great resistance to wind and fire. One of its most notable features
striking is its easy installation4.

Polycarbonate sheets: Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic.

hard, resistant, lightweight, durable and easily moldable. Its
features make it unique, as it has a UV filter for the
sun rays, their impact resistance is a guarantee of
security, help the environment by being recyclable, can
able to withstand temperatures of -40°C–100°C5.

Concrete tiles: They were designed to be able to withstand

very cold climates, heavy snowfall, and intense heat, and not
necessarily special insulations, in conclusion, are
excellent for extreme environmental conditions, both cold and
heat. Its mechanical strength is incredibly high.6.

Fiber cement sheets: The fiber cement roofs are

some plates made with a base of cement and fibers of
asbestos, they are resistant to impacts and weather conditions.
It mainly stands out for being very lightweight, which entails this.
considerable manageability, can be screwed in
perforated, it is widely used outdoors (farms, homes,
garages) where waterproofing and control works very well
external agents, is a good sound insulator. The big but
it is a particle that contains asbestos fibers (harmful to the
health)7.

Gravel tile: What characterizes it is its ideal cover for the

acoustic insulation adding to that it is waterproof and
insulating, resistant to seismic movements, the durability it has
 and its low maintenance in relation to time is a good
an alternative to choose it since its workability is very simple8.

5. Roof meetings

The meetings are defined in the layout design of a first and

second level of the construction, this gives rise to a diversity of
The most commonly used shapes are rectangular H, L, T, or rectangular.

Figure 2: Some types of encounters between roofs2.

 6. Terminology

In order to correctly understand about the construction systems of

we must handle certain nomenclature regarding the topic in the roofing
issue in order to have a better command when expressing an idea
clear and concise.

Ridge: The highest horizontal upper edge that separates two waters.
a construction system for a roof.
Limaton or Limatesa: Narrow element that goes over the edges
inclined that is generated by the intersection of two waters, thus being able to

separate the rainwater runoff.

Limahoyas: narrow element that goes over the inclined edge that
generates at the intersection of two waters receiving and channeling them
rainwater.
Fronton: Supporting wall, typically triangular, with which it
roofs are finished.
Duck tail roofing: Extension of the ridge and the waters
that divides, which forms a special eave as protection of a
parament (in which a window or a lattice is located for
roof ventilation of the roof.
 7. Stages of construction

When starting the structuring of a roofing, one must consider

some important aspects that involve the whole process, which are,
structural solution, its manufacturing and assembly.
Everything starts with the requirements of the client or project owner,
the style you choose and your consideration regarding the climate, in this one of the

initial stages, everything looks according to the plans presented by the

constructor or architect.
The plan of the roof shows the number of slopes that it has.
Housing is going to have the different types of meetings that it will have in
different levels of the roof.
The elevation plans will help us to have the different views.
of the housing, characteristics of the ridges, gutters, valley gutters, skylights
with its location and shape of the frontons, generally all of this is done in
a scale of 1:100
In the sectional drawings of the roof, we can see the spaces
interiors of the roof to be able to identify the characteristics of the
elements that will form the tie beam and skylight, among others.
The detail plan is different from the other plans already mentioned, this
different scales are worked on (1:50, 1:25) here you can see the details of the
specific solutions for the unions and meetings in different areas that
they will form the roof.
 The technical specifications is a document that establishes the type and
quality of the roofing that will give rise to its construction respecting
always the constructive standards and project plans.
We have a style of how to build a roof structure
always respecting certain parameters, an example would be that the lemon and

limahoyas are considered at angles of 45° with respect to the anchoring base,
That is to say, the corner of the roof is considered to be 90° angles.

8. General criterion in structural design

To form an opinion on how the roof will be made, it requires

the final structure for the project, in order to obtain the distances
between supports, ridge heights, widths, types of eaves and roofs.
It is important to always know where the exact place will be to have
pertinent considerations in the project with wind and snow.

Considerations for the structural design of the elements of a

roof
Model their properties, joints, loads, supports, and geometry of the
structure, in order to apply the analytical procedures.
Strictly adhere to the specifications of the calculation standard
NCh1198 Of 91, considering the permanent loads and of
service according to the standard NCh1537 Of 86, which varies depending on the

slope of the plane and the area of the roof10.

 Comply with the conditions specified in Article 5.6.12 of the
law and General Ordinance of Urban Planning and Constructions that indicate what

next.

Its own weight must be less than 0.8 kPa (80 Kgf/m2).
- Its structure must be braced in both horizontal planes.
as in the verticals and inclined, Through diagonal squaring
minimum of 19 mm X 95 mm.
In areas of frequent snowfall occurrence, the minimum slope with
regarding the horizontal plane it will be 60%. The design must prevent that it
they form snowballs.

9. Truss

Etymology: A truss is a lattice; a reticular structure of

straight bars interconnected at nodes forming flat triangles (in
flat lattices) or three-dimensional pyramids (in spatial lattices).
The advantage of a truss is that it is easy and quick to assemble.
It can be prefabricated or assembled on site. Its use in housing avoids
overloading the structure of the lower floors, and the need for partitions
internal structural.
9.1 Elements that make up a truss

By or leg: Each of the two inclined pieces of a scissors that

they shape the waters of a roof.
Tie: Horizontal piece of a truss that connects the lower end of
the pairs and prevents them from separating.

Diagonals: Inclined piece that connects a pair with the brace.

Tornapunta: Element that decreases the light of the pairs and therefore
his squad.
Pendulum: Vertical element that connects a point of the ridge with another
of the strap.
Pendulum or strut: Vertical element that connects a point of the pair with
another of the strap.

9.2 Trusses by Shape

Triangular: It is the most used and allows to cover all types of lights.
slope generally ranges between 12° to 45°. If it has a slope
mayor generates great height interior of difficult utilization. The having
a steep slope (30° to 60° with respect to a horizontal plane),
allows for rapid drainage of rainwater and/or snow, to
rainy climates.
Scissors: It is characterized by having both its lower and upper cord.
inclined, fluctuating the angle of the upper pair between 15º and 35º. The
the advantage of this type of structure is that a greater height is achieved in

the central part of the space it covers.

Curve: This truss gets its name because the top chord is curved,
characteristic that statically makes them very suitable in case of
uniformly distributed loads, since the loads induce stresses
small ones in the bars.

Figure 3: Trusses by shape3.

9.3 Trusses by piece distribution

Howe: It is composed of verticals that work in tension and

diagonals that make it suitable for compression. It is suitable for being worked on

one same material.

Pratt: vertical members that work in compression and diagonals in
the tension. The diagonal elements responsible for resisting the effort
Tensile members are longer than those subjected to compression.
it is recommended for slopes between 25° and 45° and lights of up to 30
m.
Fink: It is the most used for homes or lightweight structures. It allows
save lights from 12 to 18 m as long as the slope is greater than
45°.

Figure 4: Trusses according to piece distribution3.

 9.4 Types of structure

The types of roof structures can be classified.

in 3 main groups that define them, which are the roofing structures of
wooden, metal and reinforced concrete.

Wooden structure
In the vast majority of our constructions, we can find the
wood (recyclable material) as the predominant material in construction of
housing, what has changed recently with technology in the
manufacturing of new materials for construction.
But wood, as we already said, was and will be one of the most important materials.

used, as in the case of the roofing structure, in this,

wood thanks to its excellent structural performance and easy handling for
working allows us to create various types of structures such as trusses,
tijeras, envigados, etc.

The roof structure made of wood consists of a

framework of different cuts of wood or beams, which shape our
structure, within these we can find:

By or leg: inclined piece of a shear that forms the waters of a

roof
Tie rod: horizontal piece of a truss that connects the lower ends
of the pairs that prevent them from opening.
 Diagonals: Inclined piece that connects a pair with the brace.
Tornapunta: Element that decreases the light of the pairs and therefore
your squad.
Pendulum: Vertical element that connects one point of the ridge with another.

of the strap.
Pendulum or strut: Vertical element that connects a point of the pair with
another of the strap.

Figure 5: Elements that make up a truss12.

Metal structure

This type of structure is preferably used in buildings.

large industrial or structural designs such as warehouses, gyms, etc.
although nowadays we can also find them in homes with the
incorporation of lightweight galvanized steel.
In order to support the cover, we can find beams, arches,
gables or porticos.
 These can be either truss beams or solid web, made of steel sheets.
or iron, the structure of these main elements will be fixed upon
load distribution called belts. These will also be reticulated.
of round iron, of rolled iron profiles, of tubes of section
rectangular, profiles of bent sheet metal or eventually wood.

Figure 6: Types of metal structures.

Concrete structure

These types of structures are generally used in buildings of

height, on which low wooden structures are installed and then on top
a metal cover or a waterproof one. These can be shaped
by columns, precast or cast-in-place reinforced concrete slabs and beams
situated, which can be flat or sloped.
 This type of reinforced concrete structure is used as such.
It must have a minimum slope and waterproofing that ensure
the runoff of rainwater in order to prevent possible infiltration or
water absorption.

Figure 7: Example of concrete structures.

10. Conclusion

Once the report is finished, it can be said that the "SYSTEMS

"ROOF CONSTRUCTIVES" have an apparently correct logic.
if you can see from the most basic terms that it would be 2 waters. It will happen.

It is worth noting that behind this very simple term, there is a system.
different for each situation or place.
It is also necessary to know the correct material for the different types.
such climates have rains, winds and/or snow and how it can affect the
system, in order to be able to get the most performance and efficiency out of it
material like the structure.
We can find out that it can already be determined where
start any type of roofing system with knowledge
about previous plans, to determine which parameters to base ourselves on
as for environmental conditions on how to take advantage of it and prevent it. And

finally, select the materials to consider for different types of

means of action to provide proper sustainability both
energy as structurally.
11. Bibliography

1.- ROOF, [Link] 8

2018.
2.- ROOF [Link] provided text is a URL and does not contain translatable content.
[Link] 8, 2018.

3.- ROOF STRUCTURE.

The provided text is a URL and cannot be [Link] 6, 2018

4.- ASPHALTIC ROOFS, [Link] URL. Please provide text for translation.
asphalt_tejas.

5.- POLYCARBONATE SHEETS, STRENGTH AND LUMINOSITY.

The provided link cannot be translated as it requires access to external content.

6.- CEMENT TILE [Link] to access external links.

drawing-of-the-construction-presentationV

7.- WHAT ARE FIBER CEMENT COVERS AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR.
What are fiber cement sheets and what are they used for?

8.- GRAVEL [Link] tile.

9.- CLAY [Link] to access the provided URL for translation.

colonial tiles.

[Link] not translatable. Please provide the text directly.

11.- [Link] provided text is a URL and does not contain translatable content.

12.- ROOF [Link] to access content from the provided link.

roof structure 1
[Link]://[Link]/opensite_det_20150323131053.aspx.