COLLEGE OF MILITARY ENGINEERING
DIPLOMA WING
INSTRUCTOR’S LESSON PLAN
Code No: CD –I 3CE1DR05 & 2AA1DR02
Subject: Construction Drawing -I
Title of Lesson: Roofs and Trusses
Time Period(Total): 18 (L4, P-14)
Types of Lesson: Lecture & Practical Drawing work
Place: Class room
Training Aids: Sketches on Black board and OHP
Instructor: Mrs RR Jadhav, ([Link])
Course: DCE III, DAA II Semester
Objective of the Lesson: To understand about various types of Roofs,
Truss, Materials used for roofs, trusses &
points for contract/Working Drawing
Student Reference: Text Book Bldg Construction By SC
Rangwala & E-IN-C’s Standard Drawing
Prepared by: Approved by:
Mrs RR Jadhav, ([Link]) Shri S G Choudhari
Asst,Prof (Arch)
Date :
Modified by : Date:
Approved by: Date:
LESSON PLAN NO 6
ROOFS AND TRUSSES
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Roofs are coverings, which are provided on the tops of buildings for the
purpose of protection from weather i. e. sun, rain, wind etc and for safety
and security. A well-designed roof is as important as a safe foundation.
Roofs must be well designed and constructed to meet the requirement of
different climates. Pitched roofs or sloping roofs are found most suitable in
coastal regions where rainfall is heavy as these drains off rain water
quickly. Flat roofs are suitable for plain areas where rainfall is meagre and
climate is hot and dry.
6.2 CLASSIFICATION OF ROOFS
There are two main classifications of roofs.
1. Pitched roofs or sloping roofs
a) Lean to roof
b) Couple roof
c) Couple close roof
d) Collar roof
e) King post roof
f) Queen post roof
g) Built up roof
2. Flat roofs or terrace roofs
a) RCC flat roof
b) Wooden flat roof
In pitched roof, the roofing surface has considerable slope. They are
generally lighter as compared to flat roofs.
6.3 TECHNICAL TERMS
a) Roof Truss
Roof truss is a framework placed at interval across a wall to support
roof coverings and ceiling if provided thus avoiding intermediate
supports or columns.
b) Span
Clear span is a clear horizontal distance between to cross walls or
supports that support the roof truss. The effective span is centre to
centre distance between the two walls/supports.
c) Rise
Rise is a vertical distance measured from lowest point (tie height) to
the top most point (ridge) of the roof truss.
d) Pitch of roof
The pitch of the roof is ratio between the rise and the span of the
roof. The pitch of the roof depends on the climatic condition /rainfall
of the area and the type of materials used for the roof covering.
e) Gabled roof
When end walls that are parallel to the trusses have triangular shape
at top, it is called gable ends.
f) Hipped roof
In this type roof has slopes in four directions and there is no
triangular shaped end walls. A hip is formed when two slopes
perpendicular intersects each other to form an angle, which is more
than 1800.
g) Valley
Valley is reverse of the hip. The angle formed by the two slopes is
less than 1800 .
h) Common rafter
These are inclined wooden members supporting the battens or
boarding which support roof covering. They run from ridge to the
eaves board and placed at 300 to 450 mm centres. The distance
depends on the type of roof covering used.
i) Ridge & Ridge piece
This is a wooden board/plank, which runs along the apex of the
roof/truss. The common rafters abut the ridge and fixed to it.
j) Eaves
The eaves is the bottom most edge the pitched roof from where rain
water fall down.
k) Eaves board
It is a wooden fascia or board, which is fixed at the bottom end of the
rafters. It adds beauty to the building. Eaves board is generally 25 mm
thick and 175 to 225 mm wide
l) Barge board
These are similar to the eaves board and consist of wooden fascia or
board, which are fixed to the purlins on the gable end. Barge board is
generally 25 mm thick and 175 to 225 mm wide
m) Purlins
These are made of either wooden members or angle iron and are aid
across the trusses/cross walls to support common rafters. When the
span is large. Generally size of purlin vary from 125 x75 mm to 150 x
100mm.
n) Cleats
These are wooden or angle iron pieces fixed to the trusses to hold the
purlins in place. They are fixed to the principal rafter of the truss at
appropriate levels.
o) Hip rafter
These rafters run from ridge to the corner of the walls and support the
common rafters. End of common rafters and jack rafters are fixed to it.
p) Jack rafter
These are short common rafters, which run from hip to eaves or from
ridge to valley. A hip or valley is formed at the meeting point of the jack
rafters.
q) Wall plate
These are long wooden members who are embedded into masonry at
top level and at the centre of their thickness. The common rafters are
fixed to it by means of simple notching and nailed to it.
r) Valley rafter
These rafters slope down towards eaves to support valley gutter. They
receive ends of purlins and jack rafters.
s) Battens
These are pieces of wood, which are directly nailed to the rafters or the
ceiling. Slates, tiles etc are laid over it .the battens are usually 12 to 25
mm thick and 25 to 50 mm wide.
t) Template
This is 100 to 150 mm thick a square or rectangular block, which is
placed below beam or a truss, so as to spread the load over a large
area. Templates can be made of stone, PCC of RCC.
6.4 CLASSIFICATION OF PITCHED ROOFS
Some of the wooden pitched roofs are described below
1. LEAN TO ROOF
This is a simplest type of pitched roof. It is also known as shed or
veranda roof. Lean to roof has slope in one direction only. It consists of
common rafters, which are placed at 300 slope against the wall. The
common rafters are fixed at top end on the wooden wall plate and the
lower end is fixed to the wooden posts. Top ends are notched and
nailed to the wall plate. The span for the lean to roof is restricted up to
2.5 metres only.
2. COUPLE ROOF
This roof has slope on both directions. The common rafters in the
opposite direction are pitched against each other to form a pair. They
are supported at the top against the wooden ridge board. The lower
ends of them are notched and nailed to the wall plate embedded in the
wall. This roof is suitable for spans up to 3.5 metres.
3. COUPLE CLOSE ROOF
This roof is improvement and modification of the couple roof. The pair of
the common rafters are tied or closed with a horizontal tie at the tie
level of the roof i. e. ends of the common rafters.
The tie prevents the rafters from spreading out due to loads. This roof is
suitable for spans up to 5 metres.
4. COLLAR ROOF
This roof is similar to the couple roof. Only difference is that the tie is
fixed at 1/3 to 1/2 height of the rise. The horizontal tie is called collar or
collar beam.
5. KING POST ROOF
King post roof consists of two principal rafters, a tie beam, a king post
and two struts. The principal rafters support the framework of the roof.
Tie beam is fixed to the bottom ends of the principal rafters and
supported at the end on walls or columns over PCC beds with nut and
bolts. The king post prevents the tie from sagging at its centre. The
struts support the principal rafters at their centres and prevent them
from sagging. The sizes of the truss members are fixed depending on
the load and span. The trusses are generally placed between 2.5 to 3
metre distances. The truss is suitable for spans ranging between 5 to 9
metre spans.
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