This week at Ecobuild ITW Industry previewed a new opportunity for trussed rafter fabricators – its room-in-the-roof (RiR) solution called SpaceRafter.
“SpaceRafter is based on the metal-web SpaceJoist floor system so it’s ideal for trussed rafter and floor joist manufacturers,” said ITW Industry marketing manager Tim Widdershoven.
There are already RiR products available, but ITW’s cassette system has a new twist, or joint to be precise – it is hinged on the ridge.
The aim is to make installation on site even quicker and more straightforward. The cassettes are transported to site on a lorry, lifted into position by crane, opened out and anchored at the eaves, enabling the roof to be watertight in a matter of hours rather than days.
“Other cassette roofs have to be joined on site but SpaceRafter reduces health and safety issues further because the ridge doesn’t have to be fastened at height,” said Mr Widdershoven. “Once the upper floor is in place it provides a safe platform to do work on the roof. Also, with SpaceRafter, the scaffolding and crane are not needed for as long, so the housebuilder’s hire costs and labour costs are reduced. And the overall development time comes down too.”
Ridge beam not required
The hinge, which is a specially designed Cullen connector, also eliminates the need for a ridge beam – providing another time and cost saving – and the tight tolerances of factory production, says the company, can provide better airtightness.
ITW adds that using the metal-web SpaceJoist in the roof has three advantages over solid timber joists: the finished product is lightweight; longer spans can be achieved; and voids allow for deeper insulation.
And while it’s ideal for housing, the fact it can be used for flat and low-pitch roofs makes it suitable for light commercial buildings too.
While SpaceRafter is not the first roof system on the market, ITW says the hinge makes it a pioneering product. “The room in the roof market is hotting up, with 2.5-storey houses become more prevalent as builders aim to make the best use of land by building up, rather than out, and a lot of major housebuilders are looking for quick solutions. We’ve developed a unique product that will give benefits to fabricators and housebuilders,” said Mr Widdershoven.
It could also provide benefits for the British timber industry as the smaller timber sizes required suit home-grown product.
