Truss spacing

[Daddydavesr86]

20x24x10 pole barn style.
Is 5' truss spacing ok?
How do verify that truss spacing is sufficient for area being built? Lexington Kentucky
Im trying not to bug the building inspector on ever little thing.

Thank you

 

[finn]

Call the truss manufacturer. He needs to know the snow load requirements for your area, among other things.

Your county typically would have code information online.

 

[Daddydavesr86]

Building code just says 15 psf snow load.
Im not sure how to take that number to determine truss spacing?

 

[cvairwerks]

Truss spacing will depend on roof load, span and truss design. Larger spans require bigger truss members and at the same time the spacing will change to meet the design requirements.

 

[mitusa]

are you using 2x4 for sheeting???

We used to use 40" spacing for pole barns with 2x4 sheeting and a metal roof.

I would think your roof slope would play into the correct answer.....

 

[readhead]

Truss design will vary depending on tributary loads such as sheeting vs purlins or metal vs shingles. Wind load will also play a part. Will there be any collateral loads? Don’t you
have plans that already lay all of this out?

 

[Daddydavesr86]

4/12 roof pitch.
Perlins 2 foot center 2x4.
Metal roof.
Not sure about wind loads. But the code pdf does have a section for wind load i noticed when i was looking up snow load.
No plans. Friend of a friend builds them.
He is Coming by house to discuss in a few days.
He mention truss were 5 foot apart in messeage back and forth.
I thought odd measurement.
Maybe 4' assume 2' spacing.

 

[finn]

4/12 roof pitch.
Perlins 2 foot center 2x4.
Metal roof.
Not sure about wind loads. But the code pdf does have a section for wind load i noticed when i was looking up snow load.
No plans. Friend of a friend builds them.
He is Coming by house to discuss in a few days.
He mention truss were 5 foot apart in messeage back and forth.
I thought odd measurement.
Maybe 4' assume 2' spacing.

Residential trusses are designed differently than pole barn trusses. Go to the truss manufacturer’s web site if for some reason you don’t want to call them.

For example, the Menards site will have a pdf link that shows at least some of the design specs. I believe there is also a design link where you input span, Snow loads, etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Is the friend of a friend, a truss builder or just happens to build them in his shop ?

If he's a truss builder, he should have an engineer designing them or a program to design them.

The other guy, a hack with a hammer ? Winging it ?

 

[NUTTSGT]

For example, the Menards site will have a pdf link that shows at least some of the design specs. I believe there is also a design link where you input span, Snow loads, etc.

Yes, Menard's website has that. I used that and it gave me a print of the specs for the trusses. Both center and end trusses. I built mine per their spec for my addition.

 

[joe_padavano]

Truss spacing can be whatever the trusses, the supporting walls, the foundation, and the roof deck is designed for. I've seen Ag buildings with 8 ft truss spacing. The trusses need to be designed for that. The poles need to be designed for that. The purlins need to be designed for that. The fact that you are asking this question without having that info means that you need to consult an engineer and/or the truss manufacturer, not the interwebs.

 

[Augus7us]

My pole barn truses are 4' on center. Don't do it if you plan on insulating and putting up ceiling tiles. Makes it a pain in the ***, wish they were 2' on center...

 

[Bert_]

My pole barn truses are 4' on center. Don't do it if you plan on insulating and putting up ceiling tiles. Makes it a pain in the ***, wish they were 2' on center...

4' is fine for a ceiling and insulation. Tin will span 4' no problem. I know guys with trusses on 2 ft centers that only screwed the ceiling to every other truss.

 

[renloy]

I just installed a ceiling and insulation in a building with 4ft oc trusses and can confirm that the 3' ribbed metal panels are plenty strong enough.

 

[Daddydavesr86]

Thank you all for your post.
I will just ask if he is ordering pre built truss or building his self.
I guess i was more or less looking for a way to verify truss spacing is ok.

 

[manwithtools]

Trusses in my last homes pole building were 10' on center. Only 5 of them on a 30' x 40' Purlins were 2 - 2x4's assembled into a tee shape. They were pretty heavily built trusses. Truss design is very application specific.

 

[rburke65]

4’ on center for pole barns is fine.....ac+or ding to who? Where? Ceiling? I had a bid and 5he builder wanted a post and a truss every 12’!!! I couldn’t hang up on him fast enough. Go with 2’ on center .....you won’t be sorry

 

[Augus7us]

Yeah, I never said it wasn't possible. I'm putting tin and blown in on my 4' oc ceiling now. I'm just saying its a pain in the *** and I don't want to get up there on rat runs. I'll hire out the blown in for that reason.

Plus all trusses are not equal. In the OP's case he can specify 4' oc and get proper live/dead loads for his ceiling and insulation. Per the folks here if you do not have paperwork, then your trusses could be rated at 0 ll/dd.

So if you are hiring it out and you're going to button up the ceiling never to go up there again. 4' oc is probably fine. All depends on what you expect. If you're in Alaska and need 6 feet of blown in, I wouldn't do 4' trusses. My take anyway.

 

[jkuro]

Skip the trusses and stick build.

 

[greg13]

Truss manufacturer has all the specs and engineering data. Mine came with a 6 page data & placement manual and load data.

 

[rburke65]

Well I know it all comes down to money, but I’m a firm believer in trusses.