VersaTube Help Center

Installing a Type 6 Truss Brace

08/27/2016 · HT015

Truss braces are installed in a structure to hold the trusses in place.  This prevents the structure from buckling under the pressure of high winds and heavy snowfall.  Some structures require no truss bracing at all.  The VersaTube Building System uses 9 different truss brace configurations to ensure structural integrity and local building code requirements are always met.

 

The design of truss braces is determined by the size of the structure and the local building codes.  Please refer to the engineered drawings that came with your kit for the dimensions, sizes, location and quantity of parts.  If your engineered drawings include Type 6 - 2 x 3 (or 2 x 4) Web Truss with Mid-Length  Knee Braces as a truss brace application, the procedure below will describe how to install the bracing in your structure.  

 

  •  Only two frames in your structure will have NO truss braces.  One of these frames will be positioned at the front gable end of your structure and the other one will be at the back.  All intermediate frames in your structure will have truss bracing.

 

  •  Please place the two frames that have no truss bracing aside.  They will be used at a later stage.

 

  •  Begin by referring to the truss bracing diagrams that came in your kit and gathering the following parts: 1 intermediate frame, 1 center collar tie tube, 1 pair of end collar tie tubes, 1 pair of inside web braces (the longer pair), 1 pair of outside web braces (the shorter pair), 1 pair of mid-length knee braces, 1 pair of collar tie brackets, 9 brace brackets, 44 screws, 27 self-drilling screws, 9 hex bolts, 9 lock washers, 9 nuts.

 

  •  The collar tie assembly for your structure is made up of 3 parts joined together: 1 center collar tie tube (reduced at both ends) and a pair of end collar tie tubes.

 

  •  Slip in the left side of the collar tie tube into one of the end collar tie tubes.  Use a straight edge to make sure the assembly is straight.  Fasten the joint with 6 screws.

 

  •  Repeat this process on the right side of the center collar tie tube. You have now completed a collar tie assembly.

 

  •  Attach the left collar tie bracket on the left end of the collar tie assembly making sure that the two edges are flush.  Fasten the joint with 8 screws.

 

  •  Repeat this process on the right end of the collar tie tube.

 

  •  Now, slide the collar tie assembly into place in the roof truss frame and attach the two brackets to the rafter.  The assembly must be centered on the frame.  To achieve this, measure the distance between each bracket and the joint in the roof truss frame, making sure the distance is equal on both sides.

 

  •  Fasten the joints with 8 screws in each of the two brackets.

 

We will now install the web braces.  These are square tubes with flattened ends.  Each flattened end has one hole through which bolts are passed.  There are two main types of web braces in your structure - inside web braces and outside web braces.  These two have the same configuration and look similar.  It is important to note that both types come in pairs of different lengths.

 

  •  Next you will install the web braces between the collar tie assembly and the rafters.  We will work on one half of the intermediate frame and begin the process at the roof peak.  Please remember to leave all bolted joints loose until the very end of assembly.

 

  •  Attach a web bracket at the peak of the structure with 3 self-drilling screws.

 

  •  Place the flattened end of one of the inside web braces on top of the bracket and align the two holes.  Pass a hex bolt through the top of the holes and secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  You now have two web braces attached at the peak with two of their ends dangling free.  Proceed by placing a web bracket below the free end and align the two holes.  Pass a hex bolt through the top of the aligned holes and secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  Attach the web bracket to the collar tie assembly with 3 self-drilling screws.

 

  •  At this juncture, you will remove the hex bolt; the lock washer and the nut from the web bracket you have just attached.  You will then place the flattened end of an outside web brace below the bracket and align the three holes.  Now pass the hex bolt - the same one you removed earlier - through the top of the aligned holes and secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  You now have one end of the outside web brace dangling free.  Set a web bracket below the free end and align the two holes.  Pass a hex bolt through the top of the holes and secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  Attach the web bracket to the rafter with 3 self drilling screws.

 

You have successfully completed the installation of web braces on one half of the intermediate frame.  You can now move on to the next stage.  Please Note: You will tighten the bolted joints at a later stage.

 

We will now move on to attaching knee braces.  Knee braces have the same configuration as web braces and are installed diagonally at the two corners of intermediate frames.  One pair of knee braces is therefore fitted into one frame.  If VersaTube has specified mid-length knee braces for your structure, please follow the procedure below.

 

  •  Place a web bracket 1” from the joint between the collar tie and the roof truss frame.  Secure the bracket with 3 self-drilling screws.

 

  •  Place the flattened end of one knee brace on the web bracket and then pass a hex bolt through the holes in the two parts.  Secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  Check the outside to outside dimension across the bottom of the two side posts in the frame.  This dimension should be the same as the width of your building.

 

  •  Place a web bracket below the free end of the knee brace and align the two holes.  Pass a hex bolt through the aligned holes and secure the joint with a lock washer and a nut.  Do not tighten the joint.

 

  •  Set the web bracket in position against the side post and attach with 3 self-drilling screws.

 

You have completed the installation of web and knee braces on one half of the intermediate frame.  You can now complete the assembly.

 

  •  Repeat the process of attaching web and knee braces on the remaining half of the frame until all braces are in place.

 

  •  Go back and place any remaining screws into each of the bracket plates.

 

  •  Tighten all bolts and nuts with a ratchet and a pair of pliers or a wrench.  This is the last step in the assembly process for one intermediate frame.

 

  •  Repeat the process for the rest of the intermediate frames to complete installation.


Your structure is taking shape!

Helpful? Yes No