Use span tables for progressively heavier loads until you find the limits of your floor.
Attic storage live load.
Of floor area dead load of partitions 20 lbs.
The previous homeowner may have simply covered the joists with plywood to use the space for storage.
Storage space dead load of partitions 20 lbs.
However if the attic is intended for storage the attic live load or some portion should also be considered for the design of other elements in the load path.
Other residential rooms 40 psf.
Dead load of first floor ceiling plastered 20 lbs.
In this case your joists are adequate to support a 30 psf live load and 10 psf dead load.
If your attic joists won t bear the weight necessary to finish out a living space but the engineer cleared them to support floor decking for light storage you can install inch plywood or.
While this is not the optimal setup it is acceptable to have ceiling joists covered with plywood or osb to use for light attic storage of dead loads.
Dead load of first floor ceiling not plastered 10 lbs.
Unlike stiffness live loads and dead loads are added together to determine minimum design values for strength.
Basically if the space is large enough to accommodate storage of various items the user will use the space as such.
D w provides an adequate and.
In attics built purely for storage purposes you may find 2x6 ceiling joists or in some cases even 2x4 joists.
Of floor area dead load on second floor 20 lbs.
Joists and rafters must be strong enough not to break when loaded.
In sleeping only areas a 30 psf live load is required.
Dead load of attic floor when floored 20 lbs.
Other uses for attics and lofts include a live load plus a 10 psf dead load for the weight of the floor support system floor sheathing sheetrock on the underside and any insulation.
Offices require 50 psf.
Live load on second floor local requirements.
Attic floors with limited storage l 240 10 psf strength of a material is obviously important.
3the transverse wind load for stud design is based on a localized component and cladding wind pressure.