Gable end truss drag loads 1

[reverbz]

Hey Guys,

If you have a gable end truss on a single story house with a window or garage opening below, would you call for a drag truss on the plans? I don't really see a reason to do so but I've seen drawings with this done. I'd love to hear some thoughts on why this is done and if it's necessary.

Thank you!

 

[KootK]

If the gable end truss would be over a line

 

[KootK]

If the gable end truss is over a line of lateral resistance then it would be a drag truss. Most garage front walls will be such conditions unless the designer is doing a three sided building lateral scheme.

 

[lexpatrie]

FAQ: https://www.eng-tips.com/forums/337/faqs/2886

(Side note, these seem to disappear when I try to edit them, which I just did, so it may not work). I may have destroyed three FAQs because I tried to fix the " thing on two of the FAQs.

 

[reverbz]

@lexpatrie ?

 

[phamENG]

Is the gable end sheathed? If so, I'd be detailing the sheathing to take the lateral load, not a bunch of studs connected with truss nail plates.

 

[XR250]

Hey Guys,

If you have a gable end truss on a single story house with a window or garage opening below, would you call for a drag truss on the plans? I don't really see a reason to do so but I've seen drawings with this done. I'd love to hear some thoughts on why this is done and if it's necessary.

Thank you!

Um, you're the EOR (I assume). It is up to you to determine the lateral load path.

 

[KootK]

Is the gable end sheathed? If so, I'd be detailing the sheathing to take the lateral load, not a bunch of studs connected with truss nail plates.

The sheathing path works for me and is, of course, more natural in many cases. That said the truss solution works fine too. The fabricator will just do structural gable end truss as shown below. The ostensible reason for doing that is just to take load off of any headers below. Shear capability is just a bonus.

 

[driftLimiter]

I specify gable end trusses with a default minimum drag load. I don't think it takes much to make a gable end truss resist say 200 plf as a drag truss.

From a load path perspective, I like the truss action from top chord to bottom chord better than a triangular chunk of plywood.

That being said, I also show sheathing and boundary nails on a typical gable end detail.