Wood Beam Span Length

The distance over which a wood beam bears a load when used for support is its span.

Wood beam span length.

Tables providing size selections for various beam spans and loading combinations for southern pine dimension lumber and southern pine glued laminated timber are available for the following applications. Anything 5 and above we always at least double cripple. Bci joists are specially constructed i joists with flanges made from strong versa lam laminated veneer lumber with oriented stranded board webs and approved waterproof structural adhesives providing outstanding strength and durability. This means that some values are slightly more conservative than span tables from other sources if those do not include the amended guidance.

Window door garage door headers supporting roof wall floor loads. Also available for the android os. Span tables for domestic floor joists to bs 5268 7 1 note. Window door garage door headers supporting roof loads only.

Beams of more than one ply must be fastened together with either nails or bolts. According to the 2012 irc codes any beam joist or header shall never have a bearing of less than 1 1 2. Engineered wood products ewp span and size charts for bci joists. The span of any wood beam depends on many factors such as type of wood weight of the load and overall size of the beam.

These nine beam spans are for built up beams made up of either 2x8 2x10 or 2x12 dimensional lumber nailed together as either 3 4 or 5 ply beams. On longer spans the beam may require much more bearing space as indicated by this table. Simplified maximum span tables for selected visual and mechanical grades of southern pine lumber in sizes 2 4 thru 2 12. Listed are 46 tables based on common loading conditions for floor joists ceiling joists and rafters.

You can also use the wood beam calculator from the american wood council website to determine maximum rafter and joist lengths. For example a 3 ply 2x8 beam would use three 2x8s nailed together side by side. Use the span tables below to determine allowable lengths of joists and rafters based on size and standard design loads. View joist rafter tables.

Calculating the span of a beam requires using various factors that you need to first determine for a structure where the beam is being used. Span calculator for wood joists and rafters also available for the android os.