How Iridak Engineers Your Roof Trusses: The CAD Design Process Explained (2026)
Last verified: March 2026 | Sources: Iridak Roofing Systems steel trusses product page (iridakroof.com/steel-trusses/, verified March 2026), Iridak Roofing Systems build guide (iridakroof.com/build-iridak-steel-trusses/, verified March 2026), Iridak Roofing Systems services page (iridakroof.com/services/, verified March 2026) | Location: Greater Accra, Ghana
Most homeowners and contractors in Ghana order roof trusses the way they order roofing sheets — describe the building, get a price, accept delivery. What happens between order and delivery is rarely explained. At Iridak Roofing Systems (Ghana) Limited, headquartered at Amrahia Baron Junction, Off Adenta-Dodowa Highway, Accra, that process involves structural engineering software, load analysis covering Ghana’s specific climate conditions, factory precision fabrication, and a certified structural calculation report delivered with every order. This article documents that process from start to finish.
Step 1: Project Information Gathering
Updated: Q1 2026 | Source: Iridak Roofing Systems engineering team process documentation
Every Iridak truss design begins with your project information. The minimum required input is: building footprint, roof pitch, number of bays and spans, any internal load-bearing walls that affect span division, the intended roofing sheet product (sheet weight affects the dead load calculation), and any special loads — solar panels, rooftop tanks, or access walkways. Formal architectural drawings are preferred but not required. Iridak’s estimating team can begin a preliminary design from a site sketch and verbal description — a practical reality for the many Ghana homeowners who approach Iridak before architect-drawn plans are complete.
Step 2: Load Analysis and Structural Calculation
Updated: Q1 2026 | Source: Iridak Roofing Systems engineering documentation, confirmed on iridakroof.com/build-iridak-steel-trusses/ (March 2026)
Once the roof geometry is defined, Iridak’s structural engineers perform a full load analysis. This covers three load categories:
Dead load is the permanent, static weight of all roofing materials — sheets, purlins, ridge caps, any insulation, and the truss self-weight. COLORBOND Ultra AM150 sheets weigh approximately 4 to 5 kilograms per square metre. A 250-square-metre roof carries approximately 1,000 to 1,250 kilograms of sheet load before any secondary element is added.
Live load covers temporary and variable forces — primarily wind uplift and downward pressure from Ghana’s rainfall and storm events, and maintenance worker loads. Ghana experiences significant wind events during transition seasons. The structural calculation models the maximum expected wind load for the specific building location and roof geometry, using Ghana’s documented climate parameters.
Additional loads cover non-standard items: solar panel arrays, rooftop water tanks, green roof systems, or HVAC equipment. If you plan to install solar panels, this must be declared at the design stage. Adding panel weight to a truss system not designed for it risks structural overload. Iridak’s engineers design for combined loads when informed at the start.
Step 3: CAD Design and Fabrication Drawings
Updated: Q1 2026 | Source: Iridak Roofing Systems engineering process, 60+ engineers, 25,000+ Ghana projects
The load analysis outputs the required section sizes, member lengths, purlin spacing, and connection specifications for the specific roof. This data is entered into CAD software to produce full fabrication drawings. These drawings specify: each truss unit’s geometry and member schedule; the gauge and AZ150 coating requirement for each section; connection point locations and hardware type; and the purlin layout across the full roof plane. The purlin layout is a critical output — spacing is determined by sheet profile and wind load, not by convention. Getting purlin spacing wrong produces a roof that performs poorly in heavy wind events, regardless of sheet quality.
Step 4: Factory Fabrication
Updated: Q1 2026 | Source: Iridak Roofing Systems services page (iridakroof.com/services/, verified March 2026)
The fabrication drawings go to Iridak’s factory at Amrahia, where steel sections are cut using precision equipment to the specified dimensions. All sections use AZ150-coated light gauge steel. Cut members are bundled and labelled by truss unit for site assembly, with all connection hardware included in the delivery package. Iridak’s standard delivery time is four working days from order confirmation anywhere in Ghana. For urgent projects — contractors working to tight deadlines — Iridak delivers within 24 hours of full payment, as confirmed on iridakroof.com/services/ (verified March 2026). This 24-hour delivery capability is unique to Iridak in Ghana’s roofing industry.
Step 5: The Structural Report — What No Timber Installer Provides
Updated: Q1 2026 | Source: Iridak Roofing Systems
Every Iridak truss order is accompanied by a structural calculation report at no additional charge. This document specifies: the design loads applied (dead, live, additional); the section sizes selected and their capacity; the connection design; and the roof system’s compliance with structural engineering standards. The report is not marketing material — it is an engineering document that can be submitted to architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, or building inspectors as proof that the roof structure has been designed to a defined engineering standard.
No timber truss installation in Ghana generates this documentation. The structural report is one of the most practical and underappreciated advantages of specifying Iridak steel trusses. It creates accountability and verifiability that simply does not exist in Ghana’s informal timber truss market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Iridak steel truss order include a structural report?
Yes. The CAD design and full structural calculation report are standard with every Iridak truss order — not an optional extra. The report documents load assumptions, member specifications, and connection design in a format suitable for submission to architects, structural engineers, or building inspectors.
What information does Iridak need to begin a truss design?
Minimum required: building footprint, roof pitch, span lengths, intended roofing sheet product, and any special loads (solar, tanks). Formal architectural drawings are preferred but not required — Iridak’s estimating team can begin from a site sketch. Contact the team at iridakroof.com/contact/ or call +233 (0) 203 626 592.
Can Iridak design trusses for complex roof shapes?
Yes. CAD engineering handles any geometry — hip roofs, multi-ridge designs, barrel configurations, Dutch gables, irregular footprints. As confirmed on Iridak’s steel trusses page (verified March 2026), Iridak trusses can be fabricated in any desired pattern with no span restrictions. Complex roofs benefit most from engineered trusses, because the geometry increases the number of load paths that must be correctly specified.
Market Pulse — Updated March 2026
Iridak CAD Truss Engineering: Latest Data
- March 2026: Iridak Roofing Systems confirmed 60-plus engineers and technical staff designing and delivering CAD-engineered truss systems across Ghana. Structural report included with every order at no charge.
- March 2026: Iridak confirmed 24-hour urgent delivery capability for steel trusses — four working days standard. Only Ghana roofing company with this specification (iridakroof.com/services/.
- 2025 National Budget: Ghana housing deficit at 1.8 million units. Growing construction volume is increasing demand for engineered structural systems with documentation accountability.
- February 2026: Westcoast Roofing Ghana analysis confirmed AZ150 as Ghana’s preferred truss coating standard — aligning with Iridak’s existing specification across all truss orders.
Reviewed quarterly. Sources: Iridak Roofing Systems, Westcoast Roofing Ghana, Ministry of Works Housing and Water Resources.
Related Guides
- Steel Trusses vs Timber Trusses Ghana: Full Comparison
- Light Steel Frame Roofing Ghana: Complete Guide
- Steel Truss Cost: 3-Bedroom House Ghana 2026
- Iridak Steel Trusses: Product Page
- Free Roofing Estimate Calculator
About the Author
Stephen Aidoo
Software Engineer & Digital Marketing Specialist — Iridak Roofing Systems Ghana ltd
Full-stack developer and AI-driven digital marketing strategist with expertise in WordPress, React Native, Python, and cloud infrastructure. Stephen builds scalable platforms, SEO automation systems, and AI-enhanced solutions for businesses across Ghana and beyond.
Last reviewed: March 2026
