Patent ID: 8156706

Claim:
A metal frame building system including a frame comprising a plurality of wall frames, each of the wall frames having a top end, the building system comprising: a plurality of metal trusses, each of the trusses comprising a pair of elongated top chord members each having a first end and a second end, the top chord members connected to each other at the first end; a first elongated bottom chord member; means for connecting the first bottom chord member to the top chord members adjacent the second ends of the top chord members; a second elongated bottom chord member; means for connecting the second bottom chord member to the first bottom chord member such that the second bottom chord member is spaced from and below the first bottom chord member; and at least one web member positioned between and interconnecting at least one top chord member and the first bottom chord member, one end of the web member connected to the at least one top chord member and the other end of the web member connected to the first bottom chord member; wherein the means for connecting the second bottom chord member comprises at least one tensile element connected between the first bottom chord member and the second bottom chord member; wherein the at least one tensile element serves as the only structural connection between the second bottom chord member and the first bottom chord member; such that there is no direct thermal bridging to the oak of elongated top chord members and the at least one web member; and wherein the plurality of trusses are adapted to be erected upon the building system frame such that the first bottom chord member spans at least two of the wall frames and is operatively connected to the top ends of the respective wall frames, and wherein the ends of the second bottom chord member extend between the inner surfaces of the wall frames.