Trussed rafters meet the demands of modern construction

Today's construction industry is increasingly required to meet stringent environmental standards. Local planning guidelines are being tightened to meet new climate change criteria while environmental performance targets such as zero carbon are increasingly demanded by clients.

Timber's inherent sustainability makes it the ideal material to address these agendas and the fact that trussed rafters and metal-web joists are always custom designed for each project means that manufacturers can ensure the roof and floor structures meet all the client's requirements by effectively balancing cost with environmental factors.

Simple energy-saving measures such as optimum levels of thermal insulation can be designed into a roof by TRA members in keeping with the 'fabric first' approach.

Efficient design means achieving the highest levels of insulation in the building envelope while maximising the usable space. Many developers are still not fully aware of the potential of room-in-the-roof options. This is where TRA members can help to add value at the design stage.

Having achieved the optimum level of thermal insulation, designers can further reduce a building's energy requirements by incorporating more complex technologies, such as solar PV and other micro-renewables.

Here too, TRA members can contribute. Roof trusses can be designed to accept the additional loadings imposed by roofmounted PV panels even if solar energy is not specifically included in the specification. This effectively means that, at the specification stage, developers can offer their customers a 'solar-ready roof' that can carry the weight of roof-mounted equipment either during the build or as a retro-fit.

Choosing trussed rafters can help a developer demonstrate a commitment to sustainable construction, especially if the timber used in their manufacture carries a PEFC or FSC chain of custody certificate. Most TRA members can now offer this guarantee that the timber they use is from sustainably-managed European forests and that's something that few other building materials can offer.