I saw something today in a 17-year old custom home that I don’t think I ever seen. For lack of a better description, I’ll call them long angle steel brackets attached to some of the web members of the roof trusses in the attic. I don’t see a defect with them, but I don’t see a benefit. I first thought they might be reinforcement for the 2X4 members, but they seem inadequate for that purpose.
So I am wondering if any of youse guys have seen anything like this and/or know what the purpose is.
Engineered truss and rafters. Additional support for transportation maybe? IDK?
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It kind of looks like RC channel. Not sure what it would be used for in that application though.
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Not an acceptable substitution for lateral bracing or web stiffener in case they claim that.
Never seen anything like it, myself.
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Perhaps they were intended to provide additional support when the truss was lifted into place by the crane.
Not a bad guess, but I only see one nail head in the last picture. I don’t think the metal would support the truss load.
Thanks for the input. This kind of stuff makes our job interesting. I also briefly theorized that they were some sort of elaborate lightening protection system, but quickly dismissed that. It may forever be a mystery.
WAG… Might have been used as temporary spacers during construction.
5G protection to save on cost of Tin Foil hats?.. 
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Tall Trusses.
T-Stiffeners or web braces on long compression webs
USES: Stiffens long slender webs under compression against buckling out of plane
The engineer says:
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I’m still going with additional transportation and lifting bracing…
Lon. You have any images of the roof truss web bracing from a front profile. Typically web stiffeners have specific profiles. Eliminator MkIII are open box channel.
Looks like factory manufactured, Larry. Appears to be a factory fastening flange for wood webs.
For the bottom of the stack that always gets damaged.
I stand corrected. Mitek makes this product called the Eliminator that replaces the T-Brace like in the OP’s photo. However, it’s applied at the truss factory and designed not to interfere with the normal truss stacking used for shipment. It does not replace the standard wooden T-brace in all situations.
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They install those at the factory…they put them on longer webs for additional strength…
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Morning, Randy.
Hope this post finds you well.
You did not make a mistake. Inconclusive results so far.
From what I have on file, related to additional manufactured wood roof or floor truss web support/s, design is usually/typically/normally hemmed sheet metal open box, extruded close box, T’s or a series of T’s referring filleted.
I will try to download and PM you files or links when I get a chance. I am trouble shooting both my OS’s. Hard to jog files.
What struck me about the OP’s image, I had never seen this web support profile before, nor do I have it on file.
We are not paid to examine every component, and it is certainly not SoP But, I would have taken a representative sampling or a majority of roof trusses to approximate if they were Site or Factory installed. Clearance. Tolerance/s would need further evaluation.
If there was evidence to support further action required, I would, A: Recommend disclosure from the truss manufacture. B: Further evaluation and repairs, where required, by a licensed wood/timber framing contactor with inhouse structural.
IMO; those additional roof truss web supports were signed of by the manufacturer’s inhouse structural engineer, limiting liability.
Best regards.
Robert Young
When I was onsite I didn’t think they were stiffeners because they appeared inadequately nailed and not sufficiently substantial for that purpose and seemed randomly installed. After your inputs, I am re-evaluating that. Their random placement with a few nails might be from onsite installation. In any case, the trusses were performing and in their 17 years they have seen some 60+ mph winds and a couple of 2’ snows. It’s possible that the county inspector told them to add some stiffeners and the builder slapped some in to satisfy the AHJ.