Joist Span Table for 2" by 6" LVL joist

[DIYBuilder]

thanks again!

 

[e hilton]

I wanted 20 psf just to be on the safe side. I don't know what it means really.

That’s a scary statement. Honest, to be sure, but disturbing.

You mentioned showing this discussion to the plan examiner. Don’t. Most people on this forum are actually girl scouts pretending to know the code. Ok, that was sarcasm, but really … getting structural information off a faceless website is not going to hold much authority.

 

[jar546]

I wanted 20 psf just to be on the safe side. I don't know what it means really.

Erring on the side of safety is a good idea. Furniture and floor coverings in a house are the biggest factor in what you need. 10psf is adequate for almost all applications, however, when you want exotic 1-1/2" thick Terrazzo on the floor, that is about 19psf by itself. By the time you add the sheathing, and everything else, the 20psf dead load is inadequate.

3/4" plywood is about 2.2 psf as a comparison. Hardwood flooring is about 4 psf and linoleum is about 1.5psf.

 

[DIYBuilder]

I know what psf means, but don't have a feel for what weighs what as I am not a contractor.
Thanks for the examples.

The tables show only 10 psi and 20 psf dead weight. So it makes sense use the the tables for 20 psf.
If 20 pdf is so easily reached, the table should go to 30 psf.
(Dont forget point loads like frig and stacked washer dryer)

Although the span table says 2x6 at 16' is good for 10' 4" and 20 psf, it looks a bit tweak to me.
But I will have two sistered 2x6's at 16" and will add a few more at critical places (under frig), so I think the town inspector will approve.

 

[jar546]

I know what psf means, but don't have a feel for what weighs what as I am not a contractor.
Thanks for the examples.

The tables show only 10 psi and 20 psf dead weight. So it makes sense use the the tables for 20 psf.
If 20 pdf is so easily reached, the table should go to 30 psf.
(Dont forget point loads like frig and stacked washer dryer)

Although the span table says 2x6 at 16' is good for 10' 4" and 20 psf, it looks a bit tweak to me.
But I will have two sistered 2x6's at 16" and will add a few more at critical places (under frig), so I think the town inspector will approve.

I would just do whatever you want and deal with the plan review on your own. Just submit what you want to do and see how it goes.

 

[e hilton]

add a few more at critical places (under frig), so I think the town inspector will approve.

The inspector will approve A: what’s in the code tables or B: engineered drawings.

 

[bill1952]

Dont forget point loads like frig and stacked washer dryer

I believe these are included in the live load, along with furniture, cabinets, people, cars, etc. Dead loads are just the building materials - flooring, sub floor, joists, and basement ceiling if any in your case. 10 PSF is often more than a typical floor, structure, ceiling sandwich weighs.

Usually, deflection rules, especially if you have a plaster or gwb ceiling attached to joists.