Timber iQ October - November 2018 // Issue: 40 | Page 25

COVER STORY Pre-fabricated timber roof trusses are in vogue, believes MiTek Industries South Africa. connectors are made from galvanised steel, varying in thickness from 1mm to 1.2mm dependant on the application. Stainless steel products can also be supplied on request. “In order to provide the safest solution, MiTek’s sophisticated design and engineering software package analyses the forces that pass through each connection based on the load cases submitted. Globally, MiTek’s 1mm galvanised M20 connector plate is widely used in the manufacture of the majority of the roof trusses,” explains Viljoen. The appropriate sized plate is specified by MiTek’s design and engineering software and is then pressed into the timber chords of the truss in factory-controlled conditions with state-of-the-art machinery used by licensed MiTek fabricators. All MiTek connector plates are manufactured under ISO9001:2015 guidelines. HEIGHTENED VERSATILITY FOR ALL SECTORS Ideal for all types of residential roof structure applications from small to large spans, timber roof trusses are also well-suited for attics, creating extra living space at a lower overall building cost, a benefit still underutilised in South Africa. In the commercial environment, timber roof trusses are suitable for most of commercial roof structure applications up to about 17m clear span, thereafter transportation can become challenging (site splicing is however an option). All MiTek structural connectors are made from galvanised steel. They are also ideal for steep pitched roof structures. For the industrial sector, it’s possible to use timber in some scenarios, depending on truss span, roof pitch and so on but MiTek’s Ultra-Span light gauge steel framing option is generally better suited for industrial roof structures, low pitch scenarios and low-cost housing roof structures. With special engineering input from MiTek’s professional team of engineers it is possible to create very large and unusual timber roof structures (within limitations), notes Viljoen. // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 23