Non Load Bearing Roof Truss

It can take various forms and often used for aesthetic purposes adding height and focal interest to the ceiling.

Non load bearing roof truss.

An example of a non load bearing partition wall can be seen on the left. For example a gable end truss may be designed with support members that transmit the roof weight load outward to the side walls allowing the end wall directly below it to have breaks or openings in it that would otherwise be impossible. I always use details to show separation and clips between non load bearing walls and trusses. This type of truss is perfect for the dining room living room great room and kitchen.

Most simple construction truss roof home s roof and trusses are supported by the exterior walls perpendicular to the trusses. If the wall in question is parallel to the joists trusses it will likely not be load bearing. An example of a load bearing wall call be seen on the right. Roof trusses support a roof s weight by transferring the weight load downward and outward to the building s bearing walls.

Non loadbearing walls as designated shall not carry any truss loading and shall not be packed to touch the underside of trusses see figure below. They do this by means of top chords which are sloping members that extend from the peak of the roof to the top of the exterior walls at the eaves. Actually a quick way to determine if the wall is bearing is to cut hole at the top to see if it has one or two top plates. Engineered roof truss systems may be designed to eliminate the need for load bearing walls or change where the bearing walls are located.

Chances are this is a non bearing wall. One way to ensure non loadbearing is to set the non loadbearing walls at a lower level than the loadbearing walls. We usually build on the exterior walls set the trusses and do all of the chord blocking and truss bracing before buildin. One top plate and a space between the bottom chord of the truss and the top of the wall non load bearing.

A pitch truss with a sloping or non sloping vertical interior ceiling detail. If there are two plates refer to an engineer.