Roof Truss With Energy Heel

Standard heel typical truss heel height is about 4.

Roof truss with energy heel.

The extra height of a raised heel truss roof provides additional space for uncompressed attic insulation and the full depth of insulation to be extended right to the outside of the top plate. There are a couple of options for designing energy heels. The solution for roofs framed with trusses is something called the raised heel truss also called an energy heel truss or energy truss. Framing with raised heel trusses and continuously sheathing exterior walls improves structural and energy performance and offers many savings that benefit both the builder and the homeowner.

This is created by designing the truss with a heel height tall enough to meet the r value requirements. Using the select objects tool select the roof truss and then use the open object edit button. To create a truss with an energy heel a vertical member is added over the supporting wall and the bottom chord stops there rather than extending into the overhang. Energy trusses are designed to allow greater insulation depths at the heel.

More importantly the raised heel provides the opportunity to increase energy efficiency to meet new energy code requirements. Most standard residential trusses can achieve r values r value referring to a rating that represents the insulation s capacity to resist heat transference from heated to non heated areas and vice versa of 11 or 13 near the sidewall. Raised energy heel typical truss heel height is about 12 but may be designed to most any height per the building designer specification. An energy heel has a taller heel height which allows for the adequate amount of insulation to reach the outside wall and eliminate the cold spot.

Raised heel trusses also known as energy heel trusses deliver cost effective energy performance especially when used with continuous plywood or osb sheathing. Better insulation drier walls lower hers scores and labor savings raised heel trusses also known as energy heel trusses deliver cost effective energy performance especially when used with continuous plywood or osb sheathing. Combined with a properly designed attic ventilation system and some well placed air sealing a roof framed with raised heel aka high heel or energy trusses reduces the temperature and pressure differences between the conditioned living space below and the unconditioned attic area thereby reducing thermal transfer or heat loss between those spaces. The option 1 figure to the right shows a raised energy heel.

But be sure to see the name i propose below the diagram below comes from a paper by apa the engineered wood association titled raised heel trusses for efficient cost effective comfortable homes. If prompted that the layer framing roof trusses is not displayed click yes to turn on the display of this layer in the current view. To build the energy heel truss click build framing roof truss from the menu. Click and drag to draw a roof truss.