Any engineers in the house?

[RossJarvis]

Ross I knew I had pic somewhere so I went looking for them,I had to resize them to get them on the forum. You can see that I practically finish one side before starting the other this is imposable with a ridge plate because the the spars would push the plate way over one way.With the beam the weight, as I`v said comes plumb down and every thing is steady.

I`v used genies in shop fitting and their good for what they do But as Heimlager has said the beam could weigh about 1.5 tonnes so putting it on the genies and wind it up 5mtrs in the air while standing underneath it Emmm just not for me thanks.

Thanks a lot Billy. We're in "discussions" over this. I'm helping a friend, who's the architect and owner and this bit's outside both our experience. As I said the engineer hasn't specified a lot of the detail so people like you are wonderful and I appreciate the help you're giving. Personally I think a crane's the safest option to get the beam up, but there are both budget and access concerns! I might book a holiday to Israel the week the beam goes up to keep me out of harms way!!

 

[RossJarvis]

One idea so far is the possibility of joist hangers strapped over the top of the beam supporting birds-mouths in the top of the spars. Would this give support to the spars and keep the load on top of the beam?

 

[heimlaga]

In my oppinion you are more or less forced to support the rafters on top of the ridge beam. I am pretty sure that the only way you could fasten the rafters to the sides of the ridge beam would be usingh some pretty complicated custom made steel parts.....and anyway that would be a too risky design for my taste.

I have seen too many architect induced weaknesses in building frames to like this idea of his.

 

[Billy Flitch]

Ross I have to agree with Heimlarger, I`v never seen the spars fastened to the side of a ridge beam it just defeats the whole idea of the thing. If you look at the fist pic you will see that I`m standing on the beam as I nail the spar and all though they can be massive beams if you have a long one only supported on the ends you can not walk along it, its not your weight that is coming plumb down on the beam that is the problem its your movement the beam starts to snake, Because it is not designed to take stress from the side.
Once the spars are fastened to the wall plate and the top of the beam everything is rock solid.

The one thing to keep in mind is you have a structural engineer on the job and a respectful question should be met with a respectful answer.

The way of the world is that all architects no matter what country you are in or what language is spoken will always have on the drawing " All measurements to be checked on site" and Engineers insist in " all works and fastenings to be carried out in a carpentry like manner". They are get out clauses, if you are not happy with the engineer its him you should be speaking to.

Many architects that I have worked for have not even given me plans for a roof when there was nothing unusual about it just given me the pitch and engineers a list with sizes of material and spacings.

One architect told me " I don't have to know every thing Billy I just have to know where to look".

Architects don't invent every building new may I suggest that your Architect goes back to her books and finds a design using a ridge beam and then finds the information that is relative to her objectives.