Module 3 - Roofs
Module 3 - Roofs
Module 3 - Roofs
Roof may be defined as the uppermost part of the building provided as a structural
covering to protect the building from weather .
1. It should have adequate strength and stability to carry the superimposed dead
and live loads.
2. It should effectively protect the building against rain, sun , wind etc and it should
be durable against the adverse effects of these agencies.
3. It should be waterproof, and should have efficient drainage arrangements.
4. It should provide adequate thermal insulation.
5. It should be fire resistant.
6. It should provide adequate insulation against sound.
Types of roofs
When the span of the roof exceeds 5m and where there are no inside walls to support
the purlins, framed structures known as trusses are provided at suitable interval along
the length of the room. Spacing is generally limited to 3mmteres for wooden trusses. In
this system the roof consists of three elements i) rafters to support the roofing material
ii) purlins to provide intermediate support to rafters iii) trusses to provide support to the
ends of purlins.
The trusses span in the same direction in which the couple of rafters run. The trusses
also support the ridge piece or ridge beam. The various types of trusses in use are
a. King post truss
b. Queen post truss
c. Combination of king post and queen post trusses
d. Mansard truss
e. Truncated truss
f. Steel truss
g. Composite truss
h. Bel fast truss
The joint is strengthened by a wrought iron heel strap around the joint.
The head of the queen post is wider and the head of the principal rafter and the end of
straining beam are tenoned into it. The joint is further strengthened by fixing a 3way
strap of wrought iron or steel on each face.
Steel Roof truss
When the span exceeds 10m, timber trusses become heavy and uneconomical. Steel
trusses are more economical for larger spans. They are
a. More economical
b. Easy to construct
c. Fire proof
d. More rigid
e. Permanent
f. Resist tension and compression
g. Jointing is easy
h. Practically less costly than timber trusses
i. Readily available in required dimensions
j. Light in weight
k. Leads to minimum wastage of material
Roof covering
Roof covering is an essential component of pitched roof to be placed over the
framework
Function:
Disadvantages
• Highly combustible
• Unstable against high winds
• Absorbs moisture
• Liable to decay
• Harbors burrowing animals