Looking for lb/sq ft rating

[JTDunn1]

I have a 12' x 12' loft made of 3/4" thick plywood. There are 2" x 4" studs spaced with a center to center distance of 16". I need to put up warning signs for maximum load per sq foot on this loft but cannot remember or find the proper calculation. Thanks.

 

[boo1]

depends on the floor joist size, species, spacing, bearing and floor covering

see link at:

http://www.awc.org/technical/spantables/tutorial.htm

 

[msquared48]

Yes. I agree with boo1. We would have to know the joist size, spacing, and species to help you with that, assuming that the joists frame directly to the 2X4 bearing walls with no beams in the 2X4 walls.

Addidionally, what the walls frame to below would have to be checked as this could also limit the capacity of the loft in the bigger picture.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[Ron]

Assuming the 2x4 studs are placed vertically around the perimeter from your plywood floor upward, they have little to do with anything. As Boo1 and Mike said...we need more info.

What supports the 3/4" plywood floor? Do you have truss joists? Lumber joists? What is the spacing? What is the span?

 

[JAE]

If you need to put up warning signs about the loft capacity, you should go hire a structural engineer to do this for you if you can't.

 

[hokie66]

I get the uneasy feeling that the OP meant 2x4 joists when he said 2x4 studs.

 

[boo1]

If the joists are 2x4 then consider the load rating as: "no loading allowed/not for storage"

 

[msquared48]

Seconded.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Thirded

 

[JTDunn1]

Ok, thanks everybody. No storage.