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Text
Notebook
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1/8 = 1 print of foundation (basement)
plan
With dimensions

Calculating Building Loads

pages 173-177

Types of structure loads

Live loads
loads that move or change
furniture, appliance, people, wind, snow, etc.

Dead loads
loads that are constant
The weight of the structure
construction materials & plumbing fixtures, etc.

Beams and Girders

Beams or girders support floor joists over
long spans.
May be wood or metal.
Wood beams may be built-up or solid. (p.291)
Two types of steel beams
Standard or Wide

Beam size based upon weight of the

structure and the span.

Typical Steel Beams

Loads on the beam

1/2 of the buildings
weight rests on the beam
1/2 of the buildings
weight rests on the
foundation walls

Weight Supported by Beam

Values for residential buildings

1st floor
live load + dead load = 50 lbs/ft2

2nd floor
live load + dead load = 50 lbs/ft2

Ceiling
live load + dead load = 30 lbs/ft2

Walls
dead load = 10 lbs/ft2

Roof has no load on the beam

Heres what you need

Calcualtor
NOTEBOOK!
Copy of floor plan or foundation plan
Architects Scale
Determine where your beam(s) will go

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How much weight does your beam need

to support? Time to do the math . . .
A) AREA = L x W = xxxx sq. ft.
B) Floor sq. ft. x 50 lbs./ft =
C) Ceiling sq. ft. x 30 lbs./ft =
D)Subtotal
C+B=
E) total
D2=
F) Wall weight length x 8 x 10 lbs./ft. =
G) Weight on Beam F + E =

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Now what?

Convert to Kips
Refer to tables
S-Beam or W-Beam
Determine size & spacing of posts
Refer to your textbook pp. 175-177

Load Assumptions
First Floor and Second Floor
Live + dead load = 50 pounds per square foot.

Ceiling
Live + dead load = 30 pounds per square foot.

Walls
Dead load = 10 pounds per square foot.

Roof
No load on beam.

Weight Calculations Example

Two Story Frame Structure
28' x 40'.

Area of the House

1120 square feet per floor.

Wall Area
320 square foot per wall.

Assumes a bearing wall on each floor.

Weight Calculations Example

Foundation of the house.

Weight Calculations Example

Weight of first floor = 56,000 lbs.

Weight of second floor = 56,000 lbs.
Weight of ceiling = 33,600 lbs.
Total weight = 145,600 lbs.
Half bears on the beam = 72,800 lbs.
First and second floor wall weight total =
6,400 lbs.
Weight bearing on the beam = 79,200 lbs.

Beam capacity tables

S-Beam (p.249)
standard I-beam

W-Beam (p.249)
wide flange I beam

Wood beams
Microllam

Weight Calculations Example

W-beam span and load table.

(American Institute of Steel Construction)

Typical Steel Beams

Weight Calculations Example

Length of beam = 40 feet.
Three columns reduce span to 10'-0" and 19.8
kips(1 kip = 1000 pounds).
An 8" x 6 1/2" WF beam will support 23 kips,
but an 8 x 4 SF beam will also work and is
cheaper

Weight Calculations Example

Three supporting posts are added.

Weight Calculations Example

Post Selection
Size is determined by weight to be supported
and length of post.
Post must support 19.8 kips.
Post length is 8 feet.
Chart (Figure 11-32 in text) shows that a 3"
post will support 34 kips.

Weight Calculations Example

Weight supported by each post.

Weight Calculations Example

Steep pipe columns load table.

(American Institute of Steel Construction)