A horizontal engineered structural component, assembled from structural wood members and metal connector plates or other wood joining methods, designed to carry its own weight and superimposed design loads. Truss web elements are assembled such that they form triangles. Floor trusses have top and bottom chord members that are parallel. Web members are placed both vertically and diagonally between chord members.
Trusses in buildings are easily identified by a triangulated framework of structural elements. Open triangles are what distinguish a truss from other structural products. Their inherent structural efficiency makes them a cost- effective solution for many bridges, towers, and buildings. Metal-plate-connected wood trusses are the predominant type of truss used in residential construction. Parallel chord trusses can also be used to form roof assemblies, but they are more commonly used to form floor assemblies.
Parallel chord finger-jointed trusses are connected with finger joints and adhesives where webs and chords meet.