Roof Energy Heel

There are a couple of options for designing energy heels.

Roof energy heel.

Raised heel trusses also known as energy heel trusses deliver cost effective energy performance especially when used with continuous plywood or osb sheathing. 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. This is created by designing the truss with a heel height tall enough to meet the r value requirements.

Standard heel typical truss heel height is about 4. Open this truss s specification dialog check energy heel and force truss rebuild then click ok and use the multiple copy edit tool to replicate the truss as needed. More importantly the raised heel provides the opportunity to increase energy efficiency to meet new energy code requirements. The option 1 figure to the right shows a raised energy heel.

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. 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. Truss heel height the vertical depth of the truss at the outside face of the bearing. 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.