Header design information needed
Header design information needed
(OP)
As an architectural technician for an Architect firm I am not as familiar with design criteria as the Architects are. Sometimes it is necessary to formulate specific notes on drawings in relation to the building structural system when an Architect is not available nor a structural engineer. This specific instance requires me to formulate a specific note regarding the sizing of headers in interior walls. Surely there must be a rule of thumb for sizing interior door & window header members per a given span. For example our Architectural Graphic Standards indicates for rough openings less than 3'-0" to use 2x4's on edge w/ plywood spacers and for rough openings greater than 3'-0" to use 2x6's on edge w/ plywood spacers. That is all it says regarding header design. How about rule of thumb for rough openings greater than 4', 5', 6' 8' etc. and also whether or not the header is in a bearing wall or not? Or if the building has only one story with pre-maufactured trusses for the roof system?





RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
I suggest that each header be calculated for the load it supports. If you are unable to do this then have a structural engineer or an architect do it for you.
RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
This link will provide with the techniques to analyze and design solid-sawn or glued laminated beams. The analysis and design techniques are there but you must also understand load paths, loading, connecting and foundations. For interior non-load bearing cases typically we use 2 x 2x4 w 1/2 spacer for 3' C.O., 2 x 2x6 up to 6' CO , 2 x 2x8 up to 8' and 2 x 2x12 up to 12'. For the exterior loads check the truss sheets with typical loading use the code prescriptive method, for highly load cases and spans outside the code see the Engineer...
RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
see http://www.awc.org/Standards/wsdd.html
Chap 2D
RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
Im just wondering is the market your in big on truss headers?
JP
Truss Designer
RE: Header design information needed
RE: Header design information needed
Below is what I have used in the past. Go to the row for the span bigger than actual header span that you need. Keep going to the right to an allowable span that is larger than actual "tributary area”. Finally, move up to the header number and read the size of header listed further down. Hope it would the job for you. Avoid rules of thumbs in general. What you see bellow is not a rule of thumb. Every beam listed below is specifically designed and has passed the usual design checks. Given all that is said above you should do your own due diligence and ensure that these beams are appropriate for the your intended use.
Good lock
Amir Zamanian
MonoSpaced Text
Header 1 2 3 4 5
SPAN 1 2 3 4 5
4.0 ----- ----- ----- ----- 25.00
5.5 ----- ----- ----- 22.00 16.33
6.0 ----- ----- ----- 20.00 14.20
7.0 ----- ----- 21.00 15.50 10.40
8.0 ----- ----- 15.00 12.00 7.80
9.0 ----- 34.00 12.50 9.40 6.25
10. 43.00 29.00 10.00 7.50 5.00
11. 38.00 24.00 8.50 6.25 4.00
12. 30.00 20.00 7.00 5.00
13. 25.00 16.50 5.75
14. 20.00 14.00
15. 17.00 11.75
16. 14.25 10.00
17. 12.00 8.50
18. 10.00
19. 8.75
MonoSpaced Text
Header size
1 GLB 3 1/8 x 18
2 GLB 3 1/8 x 13 1/2
3 4X12 DF#2
4 4X10 DF#2
5 4X8 DF#2
Designed for DL=21psf, LL=20psf, and no slope (0 degrees)