Flat Roof Joist Design

On a basic level flat roof construction comes in the form of roofing timbers or joists as they are more commonly known or steels that are laid across two uprights walls in most cases.

Flat roof joist design.

Joists are placed on edge spaced at 400 600mm centres supported by external and internal load bearing walls. Flat roofs create long horizontal planes reminiscent of the broad horizon line seen often in nature. Trada and approved document part a give guidance on sizes of joists for flat roofs relating to spans and loading. There are two types of flat roof system and they differ according to whether the insulation is above or below the structural roof deck.

A flat roof truss is also known simply as a flat truss and is not completely flat but rather slightly sloped in order to allow water to run off of the roof. Flat roofs can cantilever into daring overhangs for shade protection and solar gain control. They re simple in form and function and are a good example of the modernist principle of clean lines. Continue reading below our video of the day.

This includes structural joists to hold up a roof deck usually of timber boarding a suitable membrane to reduce the risk of condensation and a layer of insulation to keep the warmth in. In order to make this correctly you will have to work out exactly what you need to do with your truss in order to create a flat roof. The steels or rsj s rolled steel joists are often built into one or both walls to give added stability to the roof structure.