Batten

Batten has multiple meanings in construction and shipbuilding but is generally a strip of solid material, historically made from wood but can also be made from plastic, metal, or fiberglass. In a sense used in flooring a batten may be relatively large, up to 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) thick by 7 inches (18 cm) wide and more than 6 feet (1.8 m) long.

In the steel industry, battens used as furring may also be referred to as "top hats", in reference to the profile of the metal.

Roofing battens

Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. The spacing of the battens on the trusses or rafters depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally like purlins.

Battens are also used in metal roofing to secure the sheets called a batten-seam roof and are covered with a batten roll joint.

Some roofs may use a grid of battens in both directions, known as a counter-batten system, which improves ventilation.