A king post truss may be chosen simply for aesthetic reasons, to act as a feature in a new building, but there is no reason why it can't be used as a structural truss to provide support to the roof structure and allow an open interior to be created.

This type of truss has been in common use in the UK since the early 18th Century. The truss has a central vertical post, called the king post (variants with two vertical posts are called queen post trusses), with struts from near the base of the post to the middle of the principal rafters. The connection between the king post and the tie is made with a long steel bolt. If the truss is decorative then you will not need any structural calculations for it. If the truss is loadbearing then it will need to be designed properly.

Our king post truss design includes a detailed structural analysis of the truss. Our structural design also includes preparing the calculations for the joint connections.

We need the following information to design a king post truss: .

The span of the truss (the distance between the supporting walls)

The height of the truss.

The centre to centre distance of the trusses (if there are more than one) or the distance between the centre line of the truss and the supporting walls on either side of it. This is needed if the truss is to be a structural truss

Design information

All design work is carried out in accordance with BS5268 (The structural use of timber).

The calculations provided will be suitable for Building Regulation approval.

Generic details of the connections will be provided. Please contact us for more information if specific connection details are required.