CEmonkee
Structural
- Mar 8, 2008
- 111
I have a deck ledger question. The IRC supplement (R502.2.2.1.1) has the following:
"Placement of lag screws or bolts in deck ledgers. The lag screws or bolts shall be placed 2 inches in from the bottom or top of the deck ledgers and between 2 and 5 inches in from the ends. The lag screws or bolts shall be staggered from the top to the bottom along the horizontal run of the deck ledger."
In the plans for a deck design I did, I specified 1/2" lag screws at 16" o.c. staggered, with a 2" edge spacing. However, the contractor installed (2) 1/2" lag screws every 16" o.c. There is 2" between the edge and the top lag screw, and 1-1/2" between the edge and the bottom lag screw (see attached photo).
I think this connection detail meets the spacing requirements in the NDS (unless I'm not interpreting the requirements correctly). Table 11.5.1A (Edge Distance Requirements) for loading perpendicular to the grain, lists a minimum edge distance of 4D for the loaded edge (2" for a 1/2" lag screw) and 1.5D for the unloaded edge (3/4" for a 1/2" lag screw). I also ran a calc for the loading on the screws and I can show them good.
Am I missing something? If my calcs are ok and the contractor provides them to the building inspector, will he still have a problem with the connection since it is not per the IRC?
"Placement of lag screws or bolts in deck ledgers. The lag screws or bolts shall be placed 2 inches in from the bottom or top of the deck ledgers and between 2 and 5 inches in from the ends. The lag screws or bolts shall be staggered from the top to the bottom along the horizontal run of the deck ledger."
In the plans for a deck design I did, I specified 1/2" lag screws at 16" o.c. staggered, with a 2" edge spacing. However, the contractor installed (2) 1/2" lag screws every 16" o.c. There is 2" between the edge and the top lag screw, and 1-1/2" between the edge and the bottom lag screw (see attached photo).
I think this connection detail meets the spacing requirements in the NDS (unless I'm not interpreting the requirements correctly). Table 11.5.1A (Edge Distance Requirements) for loading perpendicular to the grain, lists a minimum edge distance of 4D for the loaded edge (2" for a 1/2" lag screw) and 1.5D for the unloaded edge (3/4" for a 1/2" lag screw). I also ran a calc for the loading on the screws and I can show them good.
Am I missing something? If my calcs are ok and the contractor provides them to the building inspector, will he still have a problem with the connection since it is not per the IRC?
