3.

6 ROOF SYSTEM

• Building Systems
• - Foundation System
• - Structural System
• - Floor System
• - Wall System
• - Opening System
• - Roof System
• - Finishing System
- Wall Finish
- Floor Finish
- Ceiling Finish
- Roof Finish

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 ROOF SYSTEMS
1. INTRODUCTION
 A roof is defined as the upper most part of the building, provided as
a structural covering, to protect the building from weather.
 A roof consists of structural elements, which support roof coverings.
The structural elements may be trusses, beams, slabs, shells or
domes.
 The roof coverings may be corrugated metal sheets, RC slabs, tiles,
etc.
Requirements of a roof
 The requirements of a good roof are summarised as follow:
i. It should have adequate strength and stability to carry the
super-imposed dead and live loads.
ii. It should effectively protect the building against rain,
sun, wind, etc and it should be durable against the
adverse effects of these agencies.
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 ROOF SYSTEMS
1. INTRODUCTION
Requirements of a roof
iii. It should be water proof and should have efficient
drainage arrangements.
iv. It should provide adequate thermal insulation.
v. It should be fire resistant.
vi. It should provide adequate insulation against sound.
2. TYPES OF ROOFS
 The general types of roofs are:
• Pitched or Slopping roofs,
• Flat roofs or terraced roofs, and
• Curved roofs.

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2. TYPES OF ROOFS
 The selection of the type of roof depends upon:
• Shape or plan of the building,
• Climatic conditions of the area,
• Type of construction materials available.
 Flat roofs:
roofs
• Considered suitable for buildings in plains or in hot
regions where rainfall is moderate and snow fall is not
there.
• Are equally applicable to buildings of any shape and
size.

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2. TYPES OF ROOFS
 Curved roofs:
roofs
• Have their top surface curved.
• Such roofs are provided to give architectural effects.
• Such roofs include cylindrical and parabolic shells and
domes
2.1 Slopping (pitched) roofs
 Pitched roof is the most common form of roof and is generally
regarded as the cheapest alternative for covering a structure.
 Pitched roof is almost always constructed in wood or steel.
 In pitched roofs a slope of less than l in 3 is generally not
considered satisfactory from drainage point of view.
 in areas of heavy snowfall, steeper slopes( 1:1.5 or1:1) are
provided to reduce the incidence of snow load on the roof.

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2. TYPES OF ROOFS
2.1 Slopping (pitched) roofs
2.1.1 Forms of sloping roofs
 Slopping roofs are basically of the following forms:
a) Shed roof: it is the simplest type and slopes only in one direction.
It is used for smaller span and is also known as lean to
roof.
At the upper ends, the rafters are nailed to the wooden
wall plate, which may be of stone, brick or steel.
At the lower end the rafters are notched and nailed to the
wooden post plate.

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 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.1 Forms of sloping roofs
b) Gable roof: it slopes in two directions and is commonly used.
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.
c) Hip roof: It slopes in four directions such that the end formed by
intersection of slopes results in triangular and/ or trapezoidal
form.
d) Butterfly roof: It slopes in two directions and intersect at the
centre of the span and will have common drainage system.
e) Pyramid roof: It is similar to hip roofs, slopes in four directions
and the intersections of slopes make a pyramid.
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 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.1 Forms of sloping roofs

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 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.1 Forms of sloping roofs

Shed roof Gable roof

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Gambrel roof Hip roof
 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.1 Forms of sloping roofs

Gazebo roof Mansard roof

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Gable dormer roof Shed dormer roof
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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
 Pitched roofs are basically categorised under three
categories.
• Single roof,
• Double or purlin roofs, and
• Tripled-member or framed or trussed roofs.
a) single roof:
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:
i. Lean to roof:
roof Is a roof, which covers the verandas of
a building and projects from the main wall of the
building.
• It is suitable for spaces up to 2.5m and is
generally used for sheds, out-houses attached
to the main buildings, verandas, etc.
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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
ii. Couple roof: 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.
The lower ends of the common rafters are fixed to
the wall plates embedded in the masonry on the top
of the walls.
iii. 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.
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.
Under normal loading conditions, this type of roof can
be used for maximum span of 4.5m.
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 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.2Types of slopping roofs

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
iv. Collar-beam roof:
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.
• It is considered to be suitable for spans varying 4-5.5m.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
a) Double or purlin roof:roof Additional members called Purlins are
introduced to support the common rafter at intermediate point.
• The purlins are used to tie the rafters together and act
as intermediate support.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
c) Trussed roof:
roof Trussed roofs are usually used when the span exceeds 5m
and where there are no inside walls to support purlins.
• The spacing of trusses depends upon the various factors, such
as loads on roof,
roof position of cross walls,
walls span,
span material of
truss,
truss etc. and are spaced not more than 3m centre to centre.
• There are three elements in a trussed roof system:
 Rafters which support the roofing materials,
 Purlins to provide intermediate support to rafters, and
 Trusses to provide support to the ends of purlins.
 The various types of trusses include:
♠ King-post ♠ Queen-post ♠ Combination of king and queen
♠ Mansard ♠ Truncated ♠ Bel-fast
♠ Steel ♠ Composite

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
i. King-post truss:
truss Consists of:
i) lower tie beam
ii) two inclined principal rafters
iii) two struts, and
iv) a king post
 The spacing of king post is limited to 3m.
 The truss is suitable for spans varying b/n 5-8m.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
ii. Queen-post truss:
truss differs from a king-post truss in having two vertical
posts , rather than one. The vertical posts are known as queen posts.
• The tops of queen post are connected by a horizontal piece
known as straining beam.
• These trusses are suitable for spans b/n 8-12 meters.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
iii. Combination of King-post and queen-post trusses:
trusses
• For greater spans, the queen-post truss can be strengthened by one
or more upright member, called princess-post to each side.
• They are suitable for spans up to 18m.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
iv. Mansard roof truss:
truss
.It is a combination of king-post and queen post trusses.
• It is a two-storey truss, with upper portion consisting of King-post truss
and the lower portion of queen post-truss.
• The entire truss has two pitches. The upper pitch varies from 30-40° while
the lower pitches varies from 60 to 70°.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
v. Truncated roof truss:
truss
 It is similar to mansard truss except that its top is formed flat, with a gentle
slope to one side.
It is used when it is required to provide a room in the roof, b/n the
two queen posts.
vi. Bel-fast roof truss (Bow string truss):
truss)
This truss, in the form of a bow, consists of thin sections of timber,
with its top curved.
If the roof covering is light, this roof truss can be used up to 30m
span.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
vii. Composite roof truss:
truss
 Roof truss made of two materials are known as composite roof trusses.
In a composite truss, the tension members are made of steel,
while compression members are made of timber.

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
Steel roof trusses:
trusses
 When the span exceeds 10m, timber trusses become heavy and
uneconomical. Steel trusses are commonly used for the following
reasons:
More economical
Easy to construct or fabricate
Fire proof
More rigid and permanent.
 Steel trusses are fabricated from rolled steel structural members such
as channel, angles, RHS, T-sections and plates.
 Steel trusses may be grouped in the following categories:
♦ Open trusses ♦ North light trusses
♦ Bow string trusses ♦ Arched rib trusses
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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
Steel roof trusses:
trusses

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
Steel roof trusses:
trusses

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 ROOF SYSTEMS
2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
Steel roof trusses:
trusses

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2.1.2Types of slopping roofs
Steel roof trusses:
trusses
 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. The members are equally strong in tension and
compression.
iv. Steel truss can be used over any span, while timber trusses are
suitable only up to 15m 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.
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2.1.3 Roof coverings for sloping roof
 Roof covering is a material, which gives a protective surface to the
roofing structure.
 The function of the covering is only to prevent ingress or egress of
heat and moisture into the building.
 It does not withstand structural loads, which are directly taken by
the roofing elements.
 There are various types of coverings and the selection depends on:
 the character of the building,
 the type of roofing structure,
 Initial cost,
 Maintenance requirement,
 Fabrication facilities,
 Fabrication and special features of the locality,
 Durability, availability of the material and climate of the
locality.
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2.1.3 Roof coverings for sloping roof
 The various types of roof coverings materials commonly used are:
thatch, wood, tiles, asbestos cement sheet, galvanised corrugated
iron sheets, aluminium sheeting, etc.
i. Thatch roof coverings
 It is one of the most ancient types of roof covering and is mainly
used in village areas.
 Thatch roof cover is suitable for rural buildings mainly because the
cost is very low and thatch is abundantly available in those regions.

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2.1.3 Roof coverings for sloping roof
ii. Galvanised corrugated iron/steel sheet
 Galvanization means that the iron/steel sheet is covered with a thin
layer of zinc to protect it from rusting.
 The corrugation means that the sheet is made more resistant to
bending stresses lengthwise.
 The gauge indicates the thickness G-24=0.549mm, G-26=0.457mm,
G-28=0.376mm, G-30=0.315mm, G-32=0.274mm and G-35=0.2mm .
 It is required that a sheet should be strong enough to carry, without
buckling, the load of full grown man.

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