Floor Truss Guide

Truss Components of Washington, Inc.

5232 Joppa St Tumwater, WA 98512
360-753-0057
800-860-8980
360-956-3109 Fax

Truss Components of Oregon, Inc.

825 N 4th Avenue Cornelius, OR 97113
503-357-2118
800-446-4430
503-359-5242 Fax

Truss Components of Central Oregon, Inc.

1409 SW Lake Rd Redmond, OR 97756
541-316-2155
541-316-2159 fax

Typical Bearing/ Heel Conditions for Floor Trusses

Exterior Bearing Conditions
! Bottom chord bearing trusses can sit on a wall, or in a floor truss hanger.

Floor Systems
Another popular application for truss systems is in floor systems. Floor systems can be trussed, conventionally
framed, or built with engineered wood products such as I-Joists. Both trusses and engineered wood products are
engineered, and have wider nailing surfaces for the floor decking. Trusses are built with open chases for ductwork
and have natural open spaces for plumbing and electrical wiring. Some engineered wood products have
specified or marked notches that can be removed to allow for the same.
Floor truss systems are sometimes called System 42's, because to build them manufacturers turn the 2x4's on their
side. This allows for shallow depths as well as a 3 1/2" nailing surface. Some floors are built from 3x2's, others from
2x4's.
Floor trusses can be manufactured with many different possible end conditions to accommodate different
installation needs; around raised walls, pocketed beams, headers around stairways, etc. In addition, some
manufacturers are taking advantage of adding an I-Joist to the end of a truss to make it a trim-able end. Then the
truss can be manufactured just a bit long, and easily trimmed back as needed in the field. Two of the most
common web patterns for floor trusses appear below:

Fan Configuration Web Style

! Top chord bearing When the bearing is raised under the top chord, the end can be built with or
without an end vertical, and with or without an additional slider for extra strength.

Warren Configuration Web Style

Is it OK to move a floor truss? Typical floor trusses are engineered to be spaced evenly, and the truss design
drawing will tell you how far apart the trusses are designed to be. Occasionally the need will arise to shift one of the
floor trusses from where it was designed to be. When this happens, please contact the truss manufacturer to be
sure it works. Sliding a floor truss even a few inches puts more load on the truss you're moving it away from, as
shown in the drawing below.

Check with
the truss
manufacturer before
shifting a truss !

! Mid-Height bearing When the bearing is raised between the top chord height and the bottom
chord elevation, the end will use either a solid 4x block of wood, or multiple 4x2 verticals at the heel.
It can also be built with or without an end vertical, and with or without an additional slider for extra
strength.

If you shift it:

24"
3"
on center
6"
trusses
9"

Then the overstressed truss carries:

6.2% more load than it was designed for
12.5% "
18.7% "

B
27"
30"
33"

16"
on center

9.3% more load than it was designed for

18.7% "

19"
22"

3"
6"

Framing With Trusses: Floors

Typical Bearing/ Heel Conditions for Floor Trusses

Interior Bearing Conditions
! This truss is supported by an interior load bearing wall.

Bottom chord bearing on a stud wall.

Top chord bearing on stud wall.

Cantilever with an exterior wall on the end.

Floor truss designed to carry an interior header.

Overhang on a floor truss used on a roof.

Interior top chord bearing with

a variable end height.

Multiple ply floor trusses

may require special connection details between plys.
Special connectors will
be specified on the
design.

Dropped cantilever for

use on exterior balconies.

Top chord bearing with

a variable end height.

Bottom chord bearing with short

cantilever and exterior wall.

Interior bearing on wall

! Cut chord condition Over an interior load bearing wall, a truss can also be built with a cut chord
condition. This truss is designed to be cut into two separate trusses in the field.

Trimmable end condition

with I-Joist insert.

Top chord bearing on stud wall

with variable end height.

! Beam Pocket This truss has a "pocket" built into it so the support can be recessed up into the
truss.

Double truss

Truss
Hanger

Header

Header
pocket

Stairwell openings
parallel to trusses in
floor systems do not
present a problem. By means of
enclosed headers and beams or
girders these conditions can be handled
with ease as illustrated.

At stairwell openings perpendicular to floor

trusses, additional posts or bearing walls may
be required. All loads from stairs and
surrounding walls must be considered for
correct floor truss design.
Trusses may be supported as top chord bearing or by
hanger. Headers may be supported by a hanger.

! Threaded Beam This truss has an opening designed to bear on a beam, which will be
designed and then threaded into the truss to help support it.

Floor Truss Span Tables

Framing With Trusses: Floors

Duct Openings For Fan Style Floor Trusses With 4x2 or 3x2 Chords & Webs

These allowable spans are based on NDS 2001. Maximum

deflection is limited by L/360 or L/4801 under live load. Basic
Lumber Design Values are F(b)=2000 psi F(t)=1100 psi
F(c)=2000 psi E=1,800,000 psi Duration Of Load = 1.00.
Spacing of trusses are center to center (in inches). Top Chord

Dead Load = 10 psf. Bottom Chord Dead Load = 5 psf.

Center Line Chase = 24" max. Trusses must be designed for
any special loading, such as concentrated loads. Other floor
and roof loading conditions, a variety of species and other
lumber grades are available.

Panel Size

Depth
D F
C
E

4x2
Lumber

1 /2"

3x2
Lumber

3 /2"

Deflection
Limit

12"

16" o.c.

L/360
L/480

22'2"
20'2"

24'11" 26'10"
22'7" 24'11"

L/360
L/480

20'9"
18'11"

22'8"
21'3"

19.2" o.c.
24" o.c.

L/360
L/480

18'5"
17'7"

14"

20'1"
19'9"

Truss Depth
16"
18"

24'4"
23'6"
21'7"
21'7"

40 PSF Live Load

55 PSF Total Load
Truss Depth
16"
18"

20"

22"

12"

14"

28'8"
27'2"

30'4"
29'4"

31'11"
31'5"

19'0"
18'0"

20'9"
20'2"

22'4"
22"4'

26'0"
25'7"

27'6"
27'6"

29'0"
29'0"

17'3"
16'11"

18'9"
18'9"

20'3"
20'3"

23'1"
23'1"

24'5"
24'5"

25'9"
25'9"

15'2"
15'2"

60 PSF Live Load

75 PSF Total Load

4 1 /2

16

11

60

51 / 4

5 1 /4

12

5 1 /2

15

11 / 8

60

7 /4

6 /4

10

6 /4

14

5 /2

8 3 /4

12

60

61 / 4

6 1 /4

14

20

13

60

7 /4

7 1 /4

12

181 / 2

10

60

81 / 4

8 1 /4

17

22

11

16'7"
16'7"

17'10"
17'10"

9 /4

8 /2

15

25

12

9 1 /2

14

27

13

19'1"
19'1"

20'2"
20'2"

21'3"
21'3"

60 PSF Live Load

75 PSF Total Load
16"

18"

20"

22"

26'0"
25'8"

27'4"
27'4"

16'3"
15'9"

17'9"
17'8"

19'2"
19'2"

20'5"
20'5"

21'8"
21'8"

22'9"
22'9"

19.2" o.c.

L/360
L/480

17'9"
16'7"

19'4"
18'7"

20'10"
20'6"

22'3"
22'3"

23'7"
23'7"

24'10"
24'10"

14'9"
14'9"

16'1"
16'1"

17'4"
17'4"

18'6"
18'6"

19'7"
19'7"

20'7"
20'7"

24" o.c.

L/360
L/480

15'9"
15'4"

17'2"
17'2"

18'6"
18'6"

19'9"
19'9"

20'11"
20'11"

22'0"
22'0"

13'0"
13'0"

14'2"
14'2"

15'3"
15'3"

16'4"
16'4"

17'3"
17'3"

18'2"
18'2"

85 PSF Live Load

100 PSF Total Load

85 PSF Live Load

100 PSF Total Load

12"

14"

16"

18"

20"

22"

12"

14"

16"

18"

20"

22"

16'11"
15'8"

18'6"
17'7"

19'11"
19'5"

21'3"
21'2"

22'6"
22'6"

23'8"
23'8"

14'1"
14'0"

15'5"
15'5"

16'7"
16'7"

17'8"
17'8"

18'9"
18'9"

19'9"
19'9"

(1) Vibration Control -- Research by Virginia Tech indicates that

L/480 live load deflection criteria provides a high degree of
resistance to floor vibration (bounce). The building designer

11

10 1 /4

14"

17'1"
17'1"

4 1 /4

60

12"

16'0"
16'0"

41 / 2

60

22"

14'10"
14'10"

60

16

20"

13'8"
13'8"

10

15

24'6"
23'9"

L/360
L/480

24'1"
24'1"

23'0"
21'10"

24" o.c.

22'10"
22'10"

18"

19'3"
19'3"

21'7"
21'7"

16"

18'1"
18'1"

14

14"

16'9"
16'6"

26'7"
26'7"

12"

15'4"
14'9"

25'3"
25'3"

21'4"
19'9"

L/360
L/480

23'10"
23'10"

19'4"
17'7"

19.2" o.c.

Pan el
Siz e

22"

L/360
L/480

L/360
L/480

Depth

20"

16" o.c.

16" o.c.

Typical Duct Opening Sizes For 4x2 Fan Style Floor Trusses

2 /2"

40 PSF Live Load

55 PSF Total Load
Center
Spacing

1 /2"

20'5"
20'5"
18'1"
18'1"

21'6"
21'6"
19'1"
19'1"

12'9"
12'9"
11'3"
11'3"

13'11"
13'11"
12'3"
12'3"

15'0"
15'0"
13'3"
13'3"

16'0"
16'0"
14'1"
14'1"

16'11" 17'10"
16'11" 17'10"
14'11"
14'11"

15'9"
15'9"

desiring this benefit may choose to specify an L/480 live load

deflection criteria to be used for the floor trusses.

18

60

12 /4

10 / 2

14 / 2

10 / 2

26

15

20

60

14

111 / 2

141 / 2

12

26

17

22

60

16

12 / 2

15

13

30

19

24

60

18

131 / 2

16

14

32

21

26

60

19

14 / 2

18

15

34

23

30

60

22

16

20

17

32

10

24

25

22

36

10

24

36

60

17 / 2

19 / 2

All Dimensions In Inches

Typical Duct Opening Sizes For 3x2 Fan Style Floor Trusses
Depth

Pan el
Siz e

9 1 /2

36

51 / 2

4 1 /2

3 1 /2

10

6 1 /2

117 / 8

60

73 / 4

6 3 /4

10

6 1 /4

14

5 1 /2

8 3 /4

11 / 8

54

7 /4

6 /2

10

6 /4

14

5 /2

8 3 /4

12

54

73 / 4

6 3 /4

10

6 1 /2

14

5 3 /4

13

54

8 /4

7 /2

12

16

10

14

54

93 / 4

13

7 1 /4

16

6 3 /4

11

14

7 /4

17

7 1 /4

12

15

54

8 /2

10 /2

16

54

11 /2

9 /4

15

8 /4

18

7 /4

13

18

54

13

101 / 4

16

9 1 /2

20

8 1 /4

15

20

54

14 1 /2

111 / 4

17

101 / 2

22

8 1 /2

17

22

54

16

12

18

11

24

19

24

54

17 1 /2

13

20

12

26

9 1 /2

21

All Dimensions In Inches

Maximum duct dimensions are based on a truss plate width of 4 inches. Larger plate widths may
cause a reduction in duct sizes. Chase sizes are maximum possible for centered openings.