APEX (Peak): The highest point on a joist where the sloping top chords meet.
BATTEN: Roofing battens or ceiling battens. Usually, timber members fixed at right angles to the joist chords to support roof tiles or ceiling material. Also provides lateral restraint to the truss.
BOTTOM CHORD (BC) or TIE BEAM: the Horizontal or sloping member that establishes the lower edge of a truss and usually carries combined bending and tension stresses.
BRANDERING: Timber member fixed to the bottom of the joist to support the ceiling.
CLEAR SPAN: The horizontal distance between interior edges of supports.
HEEL: The point on a joist at which the top chord and bottom chord intersect.
JOINT (NODE): Point of the intersection of one or more web(s) with a chord.
NAIL PLATE: A galvanized steel plate punched to form a nail pattern integral with the plate and used to connect timber members.
NODE-POINT/JOINT: A point of intersection of two or more members that make up the panels of a joist.
NOMINAL SPAN: The horizontal distance between the outside edges of the supports (wall plates) – usually the tie beam length.
OVERHANG: The extension of the top chord of a truss beyond the bearing support.
PLUMB CUT: A vertical cut to the end of the top chord to provide for vertical (plumb) installation of the fascia or gutter
SPLICE JOINT: The point at which two chord members are joined together to form a single member
TOP CHORD (RAFTER): Truss member forming top edge of a truss.
WALL PLATE (BEARING): Structural support of trusses (usually walls), normally with a timber wall plate.
WEB: The internal members of a truss. Usually, only subject to axial loads due to truss action.
