Wood Framing Beam Spans

Beam span maximums are based on a maximum anticipated live load.
Wood framing beam spans. On longer spans the beam may require much more bearing space as indicated by this table. Use the span tables below to determine allowable lengths of joists and rafters based on size and standard design loads. Allowable load tables 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. Wood framing tables can contain a lot of information in one table.
Size selection tables headers beams. Learn how with this residential structural design tutorial. Beams of more than one ply must be fastened together with either nails or bolts. How to read floor beam span tables page includes a span calculator.
You can also use the wood beam calculator from the american wood council website to determine maximum rafter and joist lengths. Learning how to design with them becomes straight forward with a few pointers. Wood header beam span calculator posted on april 8 2020 by sandra versa lam lvl beams headers boise single ply beam solution professional 4101 8 6 01 wall construction wood i beam span chart trinity rosboro big beam df high strength. According to the 2012 irc codes any beam joist or header shall never have a bearing of less than 1 1 2.
Anything 5 and above we always at least double cripple. 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.