Typical deflection limits referenced in code books are L/360, L/240 or L/180. Drywall attached to the underside of this system is not expected to crack when the floor joist system deflects 1/3″. For example: a floor joist appropriately selected to span 10 feet with an L/360 limit will deflect no more than 120″/360 = 1/3 inches under maximum design loads. They are expressed as a fraction clear span in inches (L) over a given number. Maximum deflection limits are set by building codes. Only live loads are used to calculate design values for stiffness. In other words, how much a joist or rafter bends under the maximum expected load. Stiffness of structural members is limited by maximum allowable deflection. Perhaps the joists were strong enough if they didn’t break! But lack of stiffness leads to costly problems. For example, first-floor ceiling plaster would crack as occupants walked across a second-floor bedroom that was framed with bouncy floor joists. Strength and stiffness are equally important. Beams, studs, joists and rafters act as a structural skeleton and must be strong enough and stiff enough to resist these loads. The house acts as a structural system resisting dead loads (weight of materials), live loads (weights imposed by use and occupancy), like snow loads and wind loads. This article will focus on how simple beams like joists and rafters react to loading. If, when the loads of the house are combined, the house weighs more than the soil can support – the house will sink until it reaches a point at which the soil can support the load. Remember when your science teacher said: every action has an opposite and equal reaction? Well every building load has an equal “reaction load”. The structural goal of a house is to safely transfer building loads (weights) through the foundation to the supporting soil. A complete analysis of wood’s mechanical properties is complex, but understanding a few basics of lumber strength will allow you to size joists and rafters with the use of span tables. Wood is naturally engineered to serve as a structural material: The stem of a tree is fastened to the earth at its base (foundation), supports the weight of its branches (column) and bends as it is loaded by the wind (cantilever beam). 2 Stress grade, and wet service conditions.Using span tables to size joists and rafters is a straight-forward process when you understand the structural principles that govern their use. Note: The span chart below is an example of how spans charts are presented. Because building code and lumber spans are updated from time to time, you should always check to make sure the span chart you are using is up to date. See the applicable code section, or the NDS to confirm the span chart you are using is correct.ĭimensional Lumber Deck Beam Spans Supporting a Single Span of Joists with or without Overhangs:Īssumes 40 psf live load, 10 psf dead load, L/360 simple span beam deflection limit, cantilever length L/180 deflection limit, No. The longer the joist, the more area of deck the joist supports, and thus the beam supports more area as well. In addition, many residents prefer the fell of a deck that is designed for higher loads. Building codes for residential decks only require 40 psf in some areas, but check your local requirements to make sure you are aware of any additional local guidelines. Beam span maximums are based on a maximum anticipated live load as well as other factors. Fewer posts on upper-level decks are typically more desirable to the occupants and this drives the use of larger framing materials for longer spans. The span of a beam is dependent on a few variables: The grade and species of lumber, size of lumber and the load it carries.
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