Why you should choose a TRA member
QUALITY, RELIABILITY & INSURANCE
All manufacturing members must register with an independent quality assurance scheme and carry professional indemnity insurance of at least £1 million.
STANDARDS
The TRA keeps its members ahead of the latest requirements and developments by participating in the drafting of all relevant industry codes and standards.
AUTHORITY
The TRA is involved in all major regulation and decision-making forums including the NHBC, the HSE and trade organisations.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
A multi-disciplined technical group keeps members up-to-date with developments through publications such as the TRA technical handbook.
TRAINING
Regular training sessions and seminars are run to ensure members are conversant with the latest designs and methods.
COMPLETE SERVICE
TRA members offer a complete package, from feasibility to final design and supply service, no matter how simple or how complex the roof design.
PEACE OF MIND
All members are committed to the TRA's stringent standards of quality and service.
The Trussed Rafter Association
TRA: Who we are
The Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) is the respected voice of the trussed rafter industry in the UK. The Association is committed to stringent standards of quality and service and sets a professional benchmark for the industry.
Members include the principal manufacturers of trussed rafters, industry suppliers and professionals involved in roof design and construction.
TRA requires all its manufacturing members to have third-party supervised Quality Assurance and Professional Indemnity insurance so helping to ensure quality and peace of mind for the customer.
TRA: Our objectives
- ENCOURAGE architects, engineers and specifiers to choose trussed rafters as their preferred roofing product
- OFFER expert advice and technical information on trussed rafters
- IMPLEMENT common design and safety standards
- DEVELOP the professional status of members and their employees
- SUPPORT members through a range of services
TRA: What we do
Marketing:
- Promote the benefits of using trussed rafters for both domestic and commercial projects through the trade, technical and consumer press
- Forge links with public and private sectors to ensure the benefits of using trussed rafters are recognised
Technical:
- The TRA is a recognised source of specialist information about trussed rafters for specifiers, contractors and end users. A range of publications including the Technical Handbook Site Installation Guide, widely regarded as the industry 'bible' are produced
- TRA maintains close links with UK and European authorities to ensure that new standards are practical and are implemented across the industry
Health & Safety:
- Safety is a key issue and the TRA produces guidance on safe handling & storage, specimen risk assessments and other useful information
Membership Services:
- The TRA provides its Members with a range of services including technical updates, health & safety guidance and promotional support
Why choose trussed rafters?
Trussed rafters are individually designed components made from kiln-dried, strength-graded timber joined together with steel nailplates. They provide a structural framework to support the roof fabric, ceilings and /or floors.
Trussed rafters can be used on a wide range of building types including timber frame, masonry and steel frame. Although most commonly used for domestic housing they are increasingly chosen for commercial and industrial buildings such as offices, shops, hotels and leisure centres.
Trussed rafters stand out as a sophisticated and highly-engineered product, with superior fabrication underpinned by high production standards. They are more flexible and more cost effective than many other methods of roof construction.
Benefits of Trussed Rafters
- Suitable for a wide range of roof structures and building types
- Speed of construction allows just-in-time delivery to site
- Space saving - no on-site storage area required
- Prefabricated components mean reduced labour costs
- Up to 40% more energy efficient than traditional construction methods
- More thermally efficient than alternative materials such as aluminium, steel or concrete
- Made of timber, the only truly renewable building resource
- Low-tech manufacturing process reduces emissions and pollution
- Minimal environmental impact from installation
Trussed rafters -a versatile solution
Trussed rafters play an increasingly important role in small to medium sizes commercial buildings such as hotels, schools, supermarkets etc. Architectural preference for pitched roofs, the ability to produce long spans, and the fact that they can be used on timber frame, masonry and steel framed buildings increasingly means that trussed rafters provide an ideal solution to roofing commercial buildings.
For more examples of the versatility of trussed rafters and the range of projects they for which they can be used, have a look at the Image Gallery.
