The pitched or common truss is characterized by it’s triangular shape. It is most often used for roof construction. Some common trusses are named according according to their web configuration, such as the King Post, Fan, Fink or Howe truss. The chord size and web configuration are determined by span, load and spacing. All truss designs are optimized to provide the most economical application.
The parallel chord or flat truss gets its name from having parallel top and bottom chords. This type is often used for floor construction.