Trusses

Steel trusses are highly efficient structural forms, able to span considerable distances. They are visually light and services can pass through them.

Trusses may be fabricated from a variety of steel sections including: circular, square and rectangular hollow sections, angles, flats, rods and cold-formed profiles. Circular hollow sections are often used for exposed architectural steelwork, and specialist machinery has been developed to cut the complex tubeto- tube connections that arise at nodes where multiple tubes intersect. Columns are generally Universal Column sections (UCs), or Square or Circular Hollow Sections (RHS or CHS).

Trusses may have flat crosssections (one chord normally above the other), triangular crosssections, or occasionally may have rectangular cross-sections to accommodate walkways or building services.

The components (members) are usually fully welded, however long members can be fabricated in several sections. Trusses are normally connected to columns using bolts. Where trusses are connected to RHS or CHS sections and it is not possible to install conventional nuts onto the end of bolts inside the section, conventional bolts may be used in specially threaded holes. Alternatively proprietary bolts may be used that incorporate an expanding sleeve.