Chapter 5 - Building
Elements
1
Course: Building Construction
Course Code: CEng-3207
Program: Civil Engineering (regular)
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture: 2hrs/wk
Lab: 3hr/wk
Course Instructor: Zerihun M.
2
5.6 Roof and Roof
Coverings
3 Presentation Outline
q Introduction q Flat roofs
q Types of roofs q Types of flat roof coverings
q Sloping (pitched) roofs q Dome and shell roofs
q Forms of sloping roofs
q Types of sloping roofs
q Roof coverings for sloping roofs
4 Introduction
q A roof is defined as the upper most part of the building, provided as a structural
covering, to protect the building from weather.
q A roof consists of structural elements, which support roof coverings.
q The structural elements may be trusses, beams, slabs, shells or domes.
q The roof coverings may be corrugated metal sheets, RC slabs, tiles, etc
Requirements of a roof
q The requirements of a good roof are summarised as follow:
Ø It should have adequate strength and stability to carry the super imposed
dead and live loads.
5 Introduction (CoNT...)
Ø It should effectively protect the building against rain, sun, wind etc and it
should be durable against the adverse effects of these agencies.
Ø It should be water proof and should have efficient drainage arrangements.
Ø It should provide adequate thermal insulation.
Ø It should be fire resistant.
Ø It should provide adequate insulation against sound.
Types of Roof
q The general types of roofs are:
Ø Pitched or Slopping roofs,
Ø Flat roofs or terraced roofs, and
Ø Curved roofs.
6 Types of Roof
q The selection of the type of roof depends upon:
Ø Shape or plan of the building,
Ø Climatic conditions of the area,
Ø Type of construction materials available
Pitched roofs:
Ø Have slopping top surfaces.
Ø Are suitable in those areas where rainfall/snow fall is very heavy
Ø Use to cover satisfactorily those buildings with limited width and simple
shape.
7 Types of Roof (CoNT...)
Flat roofs:
Ø Considered suitable for buildings in plains or in hot regions where rainfall is
moderate and snow fall is not there.
Ø Are equally applicable to buildings of any shape and size.
Curved roofs:
Ø Have their top surface curved.
Ø Such roofs are provided to give architectural effects.
Ø Such roofs include cylindrical and parabolic shells and domes
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Types of Roof (CoNT...)
Slopping (pitched) roofs
Ø Pitched roof is the most common form of roof and is generally
regarded as the cheapest alternative for covering a structure.
Ø Pitched roof is almost always constructed in wood or steel.
Ø In pitched roofs a slope of less than l in 3 is generally not considered
satisfactory from drainage point of view.
Ø in areas of heavy snowfall, steeper slopes( 1:1.5 or1:1) are provided
to reduce the incidence of snow load on the roof.
9 Types of Roof (CoNT...)
Slopping (pitched) roof
q The various shapes of pitched roof depend on
Ø The area covered
Ø Materials available
Ø Type of lighting and ventilation needed inside
Ø Available appliance, etc.
10 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
q Slopping roofs are basically of the following forms:
Shed roof: it is the simplest type and slopes only in one direction.
Ø It is used for smaller span and is also known as lean to roof.
Ø At the upper ends, the rafters are nailed to the wooden wall plate, which may
be of stone, brick or steel.
Ø At the lower end the rafters are notched and nailed to the wooden post plate.
Gable roof: it slopes in two directions and is commonly used.
Ø It is formed by a pair of inclined rafters with their upper ends nailed to a
common ridge piece and their low ends, notched and nailed to the wooden
wall plates embedded in masonry on the top of the wall on either end.
11 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Hip roof:
q It slopes in four directions such that the end formed by intersection of
slopes results in triangular and/ or trapezoidal form.
Butterfly roof:
q It slopes in two directions and intersect at the centre of the span and will
have common drainage system.
Pyramid roof:
q It is similar to hip roofs, slopes in four directions and the intersections
of slopes make a pyramid.
12 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
13 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
14 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Elements of slopping roofs
q Some of the important elements of pitched roofs are:
Span: It is the clear distance between the supports of an arch, beam or roof truss.
Rise: It is the vertical distance between the top of the ridge and the wall plate.
Pitch: It is the inclination of the sides of a roof to the horizontal plane. Either it is
expressed in terms of angles (degrees) or as ratio of rise to span.
Ridge: It is defined as the apex line of the sloping roof. It is thus the apex of the
angle formed by the termination of the inclined surfaces at the top of a slope.
Eaves: The lower edge of the inclined roof surface. From the lower edge (eaves),
the rainwater from the roof surface drops down.
15 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Elements of slopping roofs
Hip: It is the ridge formed by the intersection of two sloping surfaces, where the
exterior angle is greater than 1800.
Valley: It is a reverse of a hip. It is formed by the intersection of two roof surfaces,
making an external angle less than 1800.
Hipped end: It is the sloped triangular surface formed at the end of a roof.
Verge: The edge of a gable, running between the eaves and ridge, is known as a
verge.
Rafters: These are horizontal wooden or steel members, used to support common
rafters of a roof when span is large. Purlins are supported on trusses or walls.
16 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Elements of slopping roofs
Purlins: They are inclined wooden members on which roof coverings rest.
Eaves board: Also known as Fascia board. It is a wooden plank or board fixed to
the feet of the common rafters at the eaves.
Ø It is usually 25mm thick and 20cm wide. The ends of lower most roof
covering material rest upon it.
Ø The eaves gutter, if any, can also be secured against it.
Battens: These are thin strips of wood, called scantlings, which are nailed to the
rafters for laying roof material above.
Truss: A roof truss is a framework, usually of triangles, designed to support the roof
covering or ceiling over rooms.
17 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Elements of slopping roofs
18 Forms of Sloping Roofs (CoNT...)
Elements of slopping roofs
19 Types of Slopping Roof
q Pitched roofs are basically categorised under three categories.
Ø Single roof,
Ø Double or purlin roofs, and
Ø Tripled-member or framed or trussed roofs.
Single roof: This roof consists of common rafters that are secured at the ridge and wall
plates. The various forms of this types are as follows:
Lean to roof: Is a roof, which covers the verandas of a building and projects from the
main wall of the building.
Ø It is suitable for spaces up to 2.5m and is generally used for sheds, out-houses
attached to the main buildings, verandas, etc.
20 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Couple roof: each couple or pair of common rafters is made to slope upwards
from the opposite walls and they are supported at the upper ends at the ridge piece or
ridge board in the middle.
Ø The lower ends of the common rafters are fixed to the wall plates embedded
in the masonry on the top of the walls.
Couple-close roof: It is similar to a couple roof except that the legs of the common
rafters are closed by a horizontal tie known as tie beam.
Ø This tie beam is connected at the feet of the common rafters to check their
tendency of spreading out wards and hence save the walls from the danger of
overturning.
Ø Under normal loading conditions, this type of roof can be used for maximum
span of 4.5m.
21 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
22 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Collar-beam roof: This is similar to the couple-close roof, except that the
horizontal tie is now raised up form the feet of the rafters to almost the middle of the
rafters.
Ø It is considered to be suitable for spans varying 4-5.5m.
23 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Double or purlin roof: Additional members called Purlins are introduced to support
the common rafter at intermediate point.
Ø The purlins are used to tie the rafters together and act as intermediate support
24 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Trussed roof: Trussed roofs are usually used when the span exceeds
5m and where there are no inside walls to support purlins.
q The spacing of trusses depends upon the various factors, such as loads
on roof, position of cross walls, span, material of truss, etc. and are
spaced not more than 3m centre to centre.
q There are three elements in a trussed roof system:
Ø Rafters which support the roofing materials,
Ø Purlins to provide intermediate support to rafters, and
Ø Trusses to provide support to the ends of purlins.
25 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
q The various types of trusses include:
♠ King-post ♠ Queen-post ♠ Combination of king and queen
♠ Mansard ♠ Truncated ♠ Bel-fast
♠ Steel ♠ Composite
King-post truss: Consists of i) lower tie beam ii) two inclined principal rafters iii)
two struts, and iv) a king post
Ø The spacing of king post is limited to 3m.
Ø The truss is suitable for spans varying b/n 5-8m
26 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
King-post truss
27 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Queen-post truss: differs from a king-post truss in having two vertical posts , rather
than one. The vertical posts are known as queen posts.
Ø The tops of queen post are connected by a horizontal piece known as
straining beam.
Ø These trusses are suitable for
spans b/n 8-12 meters.
28 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Combination of King-post and queen-post trusses:
Ø For greater spans, the queen-post truss can be strengthened by one or more
upright member, called princess-post to each side.
Ø They are suitable for spans up to 18m.
29 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Mansard roof truss:
Ø It is a combination of king-post and queen post trusses.
Ø It is a two-storey truss, with upper portion consisting of King-post truss and
the lower portion of queen post-truss.
Ø The entire truss has two pitches. The upper pitch varies from 30-
Ø 40° while the lower pitches varies from 60 to 70°.
30 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Truncated roof truss:
Ø It is similar to mansard truss except that its top is formed flat, with a gentle
slope to one side.
Ø It is used when it is required to provide a
room in the roof, b/n the two queen posts.
Bel-fast roof truss (Bow string truss):
Ø This truss, in the form of a bow, consists
of thin sections of timber, with its top curved.
Ø If the roof covering is light, this roof truss
can be used up to 30m span.
31 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Composite roof truss:
Ø Roof truss made of two materials are known as composite roof trusses.
Ø In a composite truss, the tension members are made of steel, while compression
members are made of timber
32 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Steel roof trusses:
q When the span exceeds 10m, timber trusses become heavy and uneconomical. Steel
trusses are commonly used for the following reasons:
Ø More economical
Ø Easy to construct or fabricate
Ø Fire proof
Ø More rigid and permanent.
q Steel trusses are fabricated from rolled steel structural members such as channel,
angles, RHS, T-sections and plates.
q Steel trusses may be grouped in the following categories:
♦ Open trusses ♦ North light trusses
♦ Bow string trusses ♦ Arched rib trusses
33 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Steel roof trusses:
34 Types of Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Steel roof trusses:
q Steel trusses have the following advantages over timber trusses:
i. The sections comprising of a steel truss are readily available in the required
dimension, resulting in minimum wastage.
ii. Steel trusses are light in weight, and can be fabricated in any shape depending
upon structural and architectural requirement.
iii. Steel trusses are stronger and more rigid in comparison to timber trusses.
iv. Steel truss can be used over any span.
v. Steel trusses are fire proof and termite proof.
vi. Steel trusses are most resistant to other environmental agencies.
vii. The fabrication of steel truss is easier and quicker.
35 Roof Coverings for Slopping Roof
o Roof covering is a material, which gives a protective surface to the roofing
structure.
o The function of the covering is only to prevent ingress or egress of heat and
moisture into the building.
o It does not withstand structural loads, which are directly taken by the roofing
elements.
o There are various types of coverings and the selection depends on:
ü The character of the building, ü Fabrication facilities,
ü The type of roofing structure, ü Fabrication and special features of the
locality,
ü Initial cost,
ü Durability, availability of the material
ü Maintenance requirement,
and climate of the locality
36 Roof Coverings for Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
q Some of the different types of coverings which are used for slopping roofs are:
ü Thatch roof covering ü Fiber Cement Profiled
sheets
ü Galvanized corrugated iron/steel sheet
ü Aluminum sheeting
ü Corrugated Asbestos cement Sheets
ü Decra roof tiles
ü Harvey roof tile coverings
q The various types of roof coverings materials commonly used are: thatch, wood,
tiles, asbestos cement sheet, galvanised corrugated iron sheets, aluminium
sheeting, etc
37 Roof Coverings for Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Thatch roof coverings
Ø It is one of the most ancient types of roof covering and is mainly used in village
areas.
Ø Thatch roof cover is suitable for rural buildings mainly because the cost is very
low and thatch is abundantly available in those regions.
38 Roof Coverings for Slopping Roof (CoNT...)
Galvanised corrugated iron/steel sheet
q Galvanization means that the iron/steel sheet is covered with a thin
q layer of zinc to protect it from rusting.
q The corrugation means that the
sheet is made more resistant to
bending stresses lengthwise.
39 Roof Coverings for Slopping Roof
q The gauge indicates the thickness G-24=0.549mm, G-26=0.457mm,
q G-28=0.376mm, G-30=0.315mm, G-32=0.274mm and G-35=0.2mm .
q It is required that a sheet should be strong enough to carry, without
buckling, the load of full grown man.
Go to Chapter-5.7
Finishing
