Purlin Spacing

There are three typical methods used to fasten purlins to the top chord of trusses. In the ordain shown above, purlins laying flat ( use 2 20D ring cannon nails per connection ) for trusses with minimal space, hang purlins for wide span trusses ( LU26 hangers for 2×6, LU28 hangers for 2×8 etc ), and purlins on edge ( overlapped not butted ) for mid range to wide cross trusses ( 8′ or 9′ spacings ), installed with 1 60D galvanize ring shank nail .
The most common method acting employed is laying the purlin flat ( typically a 2×4 ) and nailing to the truss with two 20D galvanized resound shank nails. This method is used for trusses designed to be closer together, from 2′ on center astir to a utmost of 5′ on plaza .
We suggest 5′ on center trusses with flat purlins to be restricted to 30 # crunch snow loads or less in most instances. The higher the coke load the closer the purlin spacing required. Too high a snow load means the purlins fail regardless of how close in concert you put them because a 2×4 or 2×6 directly can lone span a sealed distance between trusses as coke loads addition.

The common 4′ on center design is suitable for snow loads up to 60 # for most applications. Higher coke loads and larger spans will require purlins to be spaced closer together than 24″ on focus on in the drift area. Engineers calculate this on a job web site footing.

For coke loads exceeding 60 # trusses are recommended to be closer together. A 3′ on center truss spacing for 9′ on center post spacings will handle most bamboozle loads. 2′ on center trusses with 8′ on center posts are even stronger designs. With a 2′ on center truss spacing 7/16″ osb or plywood sheathe can be used to strengthen the social organization ( replacing purlins ), provide excellent audio deadening when it rains or hails, and simplifies walking around on the ceiling, specially higher slope ceiling.

My Purlins Don’t Fit

If you build a 64′ retentive build with no overhang then four 16′ purlins are the demand length needed to make a purlin play. however, when you actually lay them out things change a little but on you due to the fact that the gable trusses are nailed to the outside of the posts, while the commons are notched into the post for full bearing in between .
The manner this works out you end up abruptly a couple of inches ( depending on the post width you use ) at the end, scratching your heading wondering what to do. The solution is elementary enough. Simply cut a 16′ duration to fit the inaugural 8′ couple, say with a 6×6 you would cut it down to 7′ 10″. then run 16′ lengths from truss to truss until you get to the other end. The 8′ + end will line up with the other slope of the 16′ duration you cut to start the tend, in this case 8′ 2″ hanker .
Staggering Splice Locations
Staggering purlin row marry locations by halving the dimensional baseball bat on every other row is good exercise. therefore for a 16′ 2×4 purlin you would cut one of the 16 ’ ers in half every early row.

Related
Pole Barn Bracing
Squaring Up Your Pole Building
Post Embedment Techniques
Truss Supports for Pole Buildings