×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Safe Loading for Wood Truss

Safe Loading for Wood Truss

Safe Loading for Wood Truss

(OP)
I have 2x4 wood trusses 2'-0" O.C. spaning my garage that support the garage roof. The span is approx. 21 feet. The ceiling of the garage is finsihed with 1/2 drywall. The truss manufacture said that the bottom cord was designed for 10psf DL and 0psf LL. The top cord is designed for 10 psf DL and 35psf LL. I would like to use this area for some storage. What I would like to know is what loading (psf) can I safely put in this space, and if I needed to add some additional support....what would be the best way to do it. I was thinking of getting some 2x8's @ 12' long and spaning  the garage walls between the trusses and lap-splicing them together.

Thanks,

DMX

RE: Safe Loading for Wood Truss

I have use very light (~10 PSF) loading with no problem before (loading increases reflection=nail pops).  For 10-20 PSF loadings double up the bottom cord with 2x4 on both sides or one 2x6 attach to cord.  Ensure the joint is not at center span, where bending moment is highest.  

RE: Safe Loading for Wood Truss

Truss suppliers make money by putting the minimum amount of material into the truss as needed to support the design load. The metal connector plates may or may not be adequate to support more load, even if you reinforce the wood to carry it. I would think that on a short truss such as yours, the plate size is determined by the smallest size available, rather than by the design load, giving you a little bit of excess capacity in the connection.

If you install a larger dimension bottom chord reinforcement with an adequate splice, you could consider the bottom chord as acting as a beam or joist, and the connection issue becomes moot.

RE: Safe Loading for Wood Truss

(OP)
Thanks for the help.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources