Following a series of successful trials during the last year, the leading house builder will now be using the Safe-Span timber roof truss construction for developments with appropriate house types.
Previously Barratt used a more traditional method of steel beams supporting trusses and infill rafters to construct the roof in new build residences. However, due to health and safety issues, the company began working with Pasquill to find an alternative method that gives house builders a safer working platform during the construction period.
Tim Tasker, design office manager for Pasquill, comments: “The main problem identified with the original method was that the masonry walls were built up to support the steel beams and were unstable during construction. We therefore looked at replacing these walls with timber framed spandrel panels and at the same time replacing the steel beams with Glulam. This produced a system that could be built safely and quickly. The danger of working at height was further reduced as trusses are erected onto the Glulam purlins at ground level and craned onto the spandrel panels as an assembly.”
The Safe-Span system consists of prefabricated and insulated gable wall spandrel panels and party wall spandrel panels which are initially fixed in place with temporary support bracing frames. Trussed rafters fixed to two Glulam beams are then lifted in to position, set into pockets designed within the spandrel panels and secured using framing anchors. Both trusses adjacent to the party walls are then fixed to the spandrel panels using Z clips before infill rafters are installed and secured at either end.
Stuart McKill, managing director of Pasquill comments: “We are very satisfied with the success of the trials. Safe Span is a cost effective system that offers builders a safer alternative to more traditional methods of construction and we are pleased that Barratt Homes has decided to adopt this solution on a wider scale.”
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