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// CODE SNIPPET

R507.5 Deck Beams

Residential Code 2021 of Colorado > 5 Floors > R507 Exterior Decks > R507.5 Deck Beams
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Maximum allowable spans for wood deck beams, as shown in Figure R507.5, shall be in accordance with Tables R507.5(1) through R507.5(4). Beam plies shall be fastened together with two rows of 10d (3-inch × 0.128-inch) nails minimum at 16 inches (406 mm) on center along each edge. Beams shall be permitted to cantilever at each end up to one-fourth of the actual  beam span. Deck beams of other materials shall be permitted where designed in accordance with accepted engineering practices.



FIGURE R507.5
TYPICAL DECK JOIST SPANS


TABLE R507.5(1)
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN—40 PSF LIVE LOADc
BEAM SPECIESd BEAM SIZEe EFFECTIVE DECK JOIST SPAN LENGTHa, i, j(feet)
6 8 10 12 14 16 18
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN LENGTH (feet-inches)a, b, f
Southern pine 1 — 2 × 6 4-7 4-0 3-7 3-3 3-0 2-10 2-8
1 — 2 × 8 5-11 5-1 4-7 4-2 3-10 3-7 3-5
1 — 2 × 10 7-0 6-0 5-5 4-11 4-7 4-3 4-0
1 — 2 × 12 8-3 7-1 6-4 5-10 5-5 5-0 4-9
2 — 2 × 6 6-11 5-11 5-4 4-10 4-6 4-3 4-0
2 — 2 × 8 8-9 7-7 6-9 6-2 5-9 5-4 5-0
2 — 2 × 10 10-4 9-0 8-0 7-4 6-9 6-4 6-0
2 — 2 × 12 12-2 10-7 9-5 8-7 8-0 7-5 7-0
3 — 2 × 6 8-6 7-5 6-8 6-1 5-8 5-3 4-11
3 — 2 × 8 10-11 9-6 8-6 7-9 7-2 6-8 6-4
3 — 2 × 10 13-0 11-2 10-0 9-2 8-6 7-11 7-6
3 — 2 × 12 15-3 13-3 11-10 10-9 10-0 9-4 8-10
Douglas fir-larchg

Hem-firg

Spruce-pine-fir
1 — 2 x 6 4-1 3-6 3-0 2-8 2-5 2-3 2-1
1 — 2 × 8 5-6 4-8 4-0 3-6 3-2 2-11 2-9
1 — 2 × 10 6-8 5-10 5-1 4-6 4-1 3-9 3-6
1 — 2 × 12 7-9 6-9 6-0 5-6 5-0 3-9 3-6
2 — 2 × 6 6-1 5-3 4-9 4-4 3-11 3-7 3-3
2 — 2 × 8 8-2 7-1 6-4 5-9 5-2 4-8 4-4
2 — 2 × 10 10-0 8-7 7-9 7-0 6-6 6-0 5-6
2 — 2 × 12 11-7 10-0 8-11 8-2 7-7 7-1 6-8
3 — 2 × 6 7-8 6-8 6-0 5-6 5-1 4-9 4-6
3 — 2 × 8 10-3 8-10 7-11 7-3 6-8 6-3 5-11
3 — 2 × 10 12-6 10-10 9-8 8-10 8-2 7-8 7-2
3 — 2 × 12 14-6 12-7 11-3 10-3 9-6 8-11 8-5
Redwoodh

Western cedarsh

Ponderosa pineh

Red pineh
1 — 2 × 6 4-2 3-7 3-1 2-9 2-6 2-3 2-2
1 — 2 × 8 5-4 4-7 4-1 3-7 3-3 3-0 2-10
1 — 2 × 10 6-6 5-7 5-0 4-7 4-2 3-10 3-7
1 — 2 × 12 7-6 6-6 5-10 5-4 4-11 4-7 4-4
2 — 2 × 6 6-2 5-4 4-10 4-5 4-0 3-8 3-4
2 — 2 × 8 7-10 6-10 6-1 5-7 5-2 4-10 4-5
2 — 2 × 10 9-7 8-4 7-5 6-9 6-3 5-10 5-6
2 — 2 × 12 11-1 9-8 8-7 7-10 7-3 6-10 6-5
3 — 2 × 6 7-8 6-9 6-0 5-6 5-1 4-9 4-6
3 — 2 × 8 9-10 8-6 7-7 6-11 6-5 6-0 5-8
3 — 2 × 10 12-0 10-5 9-4 8-6 7-10 7-4 6-11
3 — 2 × 12 13-11 12-1 10-9 9-10 9-1 8-6 8-1
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
  1. Interpolation permitted. Extrapolation not permitted.
  2. Beams supporting a single span of joists with or without cantilever.
  3. Dead load = 10 psf, L/Δ = 360 at main span, L/Δ = 180 at cantilever. Snow load is not assumed to be concurrent with live load.
  4. No. 2 grade, wet service factor included.
  5. Beam depth shall be equal to or greater than the depth of intersecting joist for a flush beam connection.
  6. Beam cantilevers are limited to the adjacent beam's span divided by 4.
  7. Includes incising factor.
  8. Incising factor not included.
  9. Deck joist span as shown in Figure R507.5.
  10. For calculation of effective deck joist span, the actual joist span length shall be multiplied by the joist span factor in accordance with Table R507.5(5).
TABLE R507.5(2)
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN—50 PSF GROUND SNOW LOADc
BEAM SPECIESd BEAM SIZEe EFFECTIVE DECK JOIST SPAN LENGTH (feet)a, i, j
6 8 10 12 14 16 18
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN LENGTH (feet-inches)a, b, f
Southern pine 1 — 2 × 6 4-6 3-11 3-6 3-2 2-11 2-9 2-7
1 — 2 × 8 5-9 4-11 4-5 4-0 3-9 3-6 3-3
1 — 2 × 10 6-9 5-10 5-3 4-9 4-5 4-2 3-11
1 — 2 × 12 8-0 6-11 6-2 5-8 5-3 4-11 4-7
2 — 2 × 6 6-8 5-9 5-2 4-9 4-4 4-1 3-10
2 — 2 × 8 8-6 7-4 6-7 6-0 5-7 5-2 4-11
2 — 2 × 10 10-1 8-9 7-10 7-1 6-7 6-2 5-10
2 — 2 × 12 11-11 10-3 9-2 8-5 7-9 7-3 6-10
3 — 2 × 6 7-11 7-2 6-6 5-11 5-6 5-1 4-10
3 — 2 × 8 10-5 9-3 8-3 7-6 6-11 6-6 6-2
3 — 2 × 10 12-8 10-11 9-9 8-11 8-3 7-9 7-3
3 — 2 × 12 14-11 12-11 11-6 10-6 9-9 9-1 8-7
Douglas fir-larchg

Hem-firg

Spruce-pine-firg
1 — 2 × 6 4-0 3-5 2-11 2-7 2-4 2-2 2-0
1 — 2 × 8 5-4 4-7 3-11 3-5 3-1 2-10 2-8
1 — 2 × 10 6-7 5-8 4-11 4-5 4-0 3-8 3-5
1 — 2 × 12 7-7 6-7 5-11 5-4 4-10 4-6 4-2
2 — 2 × 6 6-0 5-2 4-7 4-2 3-10 3-5 3-2
2 — 2 × 8 8-0 6-11 6-2 5-8 5-0 4-7 4-2
2 — 2 × 10 9-9 8-5 7-7 6-11 6-4 5-10 5-4
2 — 2 × 12 11-4 9-10 8-9 8-0 7-5 6-11 6-6
3 — 2 × 6 7-6 6-6 5-9 5-3 4-11 4-7 4-4
3 — 2 × 8 10-0 8-8 7-9 7-1 6-6 6-1 5-8
3 — 2 × 10 12-3 10-7 9-6 8-8 8-0 7-6 7-0
3 — 2 × 12 14-3 12-4 11-0 10-1 9-4 8-9 8-3
Redwoodh

Western cedarsh

Ponderosa pineh

Red pineh
1 — 2 × 6 4-1 3-6 3-0 2-8 2-5 2-3 2-1
1 — 2 × 8 5-2 4-6 4-0 3-6 3-2 2-11 2-9
1 — 2 × 10 6-4 5-6 4-11 4-6 4-1 3-9 3-6
1 — 2 × 12 7-4 6-4 5-8 5-2 4-10 4-6 4-3
2 — 2 × 6 6-1 5-3 4-8 4-4 3-11 3-6 3-3
2 — 2 × 8 7-8 6-8 5-11 5-5 5-0 4-8 4-3
2 — 2 × 10 9-5 8-2 7-3 6-8 6-2 5-9 5-5
2 — 2 × 12 10-11 9-5 8-5 7-8 7-2 6-8 6-3
3 — 2 × 6 7-1 6-5 5-11 5-5 5-0 4-8 4-5
3 — 2 × 8 9-4 8-4 7-5 6-10 604 5-11 5-7
3 — 2 × 10 11-9 10-2 9-1 8-4 7-8 7-2 6-9
3 — 2 × 12 13-8 11-10 10-7 9-8 8-11 8-4 7-10
For SI: 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
  1. Interpolation allowed. Extrapolation is not allowed.
  2. Beams supporting a single span of joists with or without cantilever.
  3. Dead load = 10 psf, L/Δ = 360 at main span, L/Δ = 180 at cantilever. Snow load not assumed to be concurrent with live load.
  4. No. 2 grade, wet service factor included.
  5. Beam depth shall be equal to or greater than the depth of intersecting joist for a flush beam connection.
  6. Beam cantilevers are limited to the adjacent beam's span divided by 4.
  7. Includes incising factor.
  8. Incising factor not included.
  9. Deck joist span as shown in Figure R507.5.
  10. For calculation of effective deck joist span, the actual joist span length shall be multiplied by the joist span factor in accordance with Table R507.5(5).
TABLE R507.5(3)
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN—60 PSF GROUND SNOW LOADc
BEAM SPECIESd BEAM SIZEe EFFECTIVE DECK JOIST SPAN LENGTHa, i, j (feet)
6 8 10 12 14 16 18
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN LENGTH (feet-inches)a, b, f
Southern pine 1 — 2 × 6 4-2 3-7 3-3 2-11 2-9 2-6 2-5
1 — 2 × 8 5-3 4-7 4-1 3-9 3-5 3-3 3-0
1 — 2 × 10 6-3 5-5 4-10 4-5 4-1 3-10 3-7
1 — 2 × 12 7-5 6-5 5-9 5-3 4-10 4-6 4-3
2 — 2 × 6 6-2 5-4 4-9 4-4 4-0 3-9 3-7
2 — 2 × 8 7-10 6-10 6-1 5-7 5-2 4-10 4-6
2 — 2 × 10 9-4 8-1 7-3 6-7 6-1 5-8 5-4
2 — 2 × 12 11-0 9-6 8-6 7-9 7-2 6-9 6-4
3 — 2 × 6 7-5 6-9 6-0 5-6 5-1 4-9 4-6
3 — 2 × 8 9-9 8-6 7-8 6-11 6-5 6-0 5-8
3 — 2 × 10 11-8 10-2 9-1 8-3 7-8 7-2 6-9
3 — 2 × 12 13-9 11-11 10-8 9-9 9-0 8-5 7-11
Douglas fir-larchg

Hem-firg

Spuce-pine-firg
1 — 2 × 6 3-8 3-1 2-8 2-4 2-2 2-0 1-10
1 — 2 × 8 5-0 4-1 3-6 3-1 2-10 2-7 2-5
1 — 2 × 10 6-1 5-2 4-6 4-0 3-7 3-4 3-2
1 — 2 × 12 7-1 6-1 5-5 4-10 4-5 4-1 3-10
2 — 2 × 6 5-6 4-9 4-3 3-10 3-5 3-1 2-10
2 — 2 × 8 7-5 6-5 5-9 5-0 4-6 4-1 3-9
2 — 2 × 10 9-0 7-10 7-0 6-4 5-9 5-2 4-10
2 — 2 × 12 10-6 9-1 8-1 7-5 6-10 6-4 5-10
3 — 2 × 6 6-11 6-0 5-4 4-11 4-6 4-2 3-10
3 — 2 × 8 9-3 8-0 7-2 6-6 6-1 5-6 5-0
3 — 2 × 10 11-4 9-10 8-9 8-0 7-5 6-11 6-5
3 — 2 × 12 13-2 11-5 10-2 9-4 8-7 8-1 7-7
Redwoodh

Western cedarsh

Ponderosa pineh

Red pineh
1 — 2 × 6 3-9 3-2 2-9 2-5 2-2 2-0 1-11
1 — 2 × 8 4-10 4-2 3-7 3-2 2-11 2-8 2-6
1 — 2 × 10 5-10 5-1 4-6 4-1 3-8 3-5 3-3
1 — 2 × 12 6-10 5-11 5-3 4-10 4-5 4-2 3-11
2 — 2 × 6 5-7 4-10 4-4 3-11 3-6 3-2 2-11
2 — 2 × 8 7-1 6-2 5-6 5-0 4-7 4-2 3-10
2 — 2 × 10 8-8 7-6 6-9 6-2 5-8 5-4 4-11
2 — 2 × 12 10-1 8-9 7-10 7-2 6-7 6-2 5-10
3 — 2 × 6 6-8 6-1 5-5 5-0 4-7 4-3 3-11
3 — 2 × 8 8-9 7-9 6-22 6-4 5-20 5-5 5-3
3 — 2 × 10 10-11 9-5 8-5 7-8 7-3 6-8 6-3
3 — 2 × 12 12-8 10-11 9-9 8-11 8-3 7-9 7-3
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
  1. Interpolation allowed. Extrapolation is not allowed.
  2. Beams supporting a single span of joists with or without cantilever.
  3. Dead load = 10 psf, L/Δ = 360 at main span, L/Δ = 180 at cantilever. Snow load not assumed to be concurrent with live load.
  4. No. 2 grade, wet service factor included.
  5. Beam depth shall be equal to or greater than the depth of intersecting joist for a flush beam connection.
  6. Beam cantilevers are limited to the adjacent beam's span divided by 4.
  7. Includes incising factor.
  8. Incising factor not included.
  9. Deck joist span as shown in Figure R507.5.
  10. For calculation of effective deck joist span, the actual joist span length shall be multiplied by the joist span factor in accordance with Table R507.5(5).
TABLE R507.5(4)
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN—70 PSF GROUND SNOW LOADc
BEAM SPECIESd BEAM SIZEe EFFECTIVE DECK JOIST SPAN LENGTH (feet)a, i, j
6 8 10 12 14 16 18
MAXIMUM DECK BEAM SPAN LENGTH (feet-inches)a, b, f
Southern pine 1 — 2 × 6 3-11 3-4 3-0 2-9 2-6 2-4 2-3
1 — 2 × 8 4-11 4-3 3-10 3-6 3-3 3-0 2-10
1 — 2 × 10 5-10 5-1 4-6 4-2 3-10 3-7 3-4
1 — 2 × 12 6-11 6-0 5-4 4-11 4-6 4-3 4-0
2 — 2 × 6 5-9 5-0 4-6 4-1 3-9 3-6 3-4
2 — 2 × 8 7-4 6-4 5-8 5-2 4-10 4-6 4-3
2 — 2 × 10 8-9 7-7 6-9 6-2 5-8 5-4 5-0
2 — 2 × 12 10-3 8-11 8-0 7-3 6-9 6-3 5-11
3 — 2 × 6 7-0 6-3 5-7 5-1 4-9 4-5 4-2
3 — 2 × 8 9-3 8-0 7-2 6-6 6-0 5-8 5-4
3 — 2 × 10 10-11 9-6 8-6 7-9 7-2 6-8 6-4
3 — 2 × 12 12-11 11-2 10-0 9-1 8-5 7-11 7-5
Douglas fir-larchg

Hem-firg

Spruce-pine-firg
1 — 2 × 6 3-5 2-10 2-5 2-2 2-0 1-10 1-9
1 — 2 × 8 4-7 3-8 3-2 2-10 2-7 2-5 2-4
1 — 2 × 10 5-8 4-9 4-1 3-8 3-4 3-1 2-11
1 — 2 × 12 6-7 5-8 5-0 4-6 4-1 3-10 3-7
2 — 2 × 6 5-2 4-6 4-0 3-5 3-1 2-10 2-7
2 — 2 × 8 6-11 6-0 5-3 4-7 4-1 3-8 3-5
2 — 2 × 10 8-5 7-4 6-6 5-10 5-2 4-9 4-5
2 — 2 × 12 9-10 8-6 7-7 6-11 6-4 5-9 5-4
3 — 2 × 6 6-6 5-7 5-0 4-7 4-2 3-9 3-5
3 — 2 × 8 8-8 7-6 6-8 6-1 5-6 5-0 4-7
3 — 2 × 10 10-7 9-2 8-2 7-6 6-11 6-4 5-10
3 — 2 × 12 12-4 10-8 9-7 8-9 8-1 7-7 7-1
Redwoodh

Western cedarsh

Ponderosa pineh

Red pineh
1 — 2 × 6 3-6 2-11 2-6 2-3 2-0 1-11 1-9
1 — 2 × 8 4-6 3-10 3-3 2-11 2-8 2-6 2-4
1 — 2 × 10 5-6 4-9 4-2 3-9 3-5 3-2 3-0
1 — 2 × 12 6-4 5-6 4-11 4-6 4-2 3-11 3-8
2 — 2 × 6 5-3 4-7 4-1 3-6 3-2 2-11 2-8
2 — 2 × 8 6-8 5-9 5-2 4-8 4-2 3-10 3-6
2 — 2 × 10 8-2 7-1 6-4 5-9 5-4 4-10 4-6
2 — 2 × 12 9-5 8-2 7-4 6-8 6-2 5-9 5-5
3 — 2 × 6 6-4 5-8 5-1 4-8 4-3 3-10 3-6
3 — 2 × 8 8-4 7-3 6-5 5-11 5-5 5-1 4-8
3 — 2 × 10 10-2 8-10 7-11 7-2 6-8 6-3 5-11
3 — 2 × 12 11-10 10-3 9-2 8-4 7-9 7-3 6-10
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
  1. Interpolation allowed. Extrapolation is not allowed.
  2. Beams supporting a single span of joists with or without cantilever.
  3. Dead load = 10 psf, L/Δ = 360 at main span, L/Δ = 180 at cantilever. Snow load not assumed to be concurrent with live load.
  4. No. 2 grade, wet service factor included.
  5. Beam depth shall be equal to or greater than the depth of intersecting joist for a flush beam connection.
  6. Beam cantilevers are limited to the adjacent beam's span divided by 4.
  7. Includes incising factor.
  8. Incising factor not included.
  9. Deck joist span as shown in Figure R507.5.
  10. For calculation of effective deck joist span, the actual joist span length shall be multiplied by the joist span factor in accordance with Table R507.5(5).
TABLE R507.5(5)
JOIST SPAN FACTORS FOR CALCULATING EFFECTIVE DECK JOIST SPAN
[for use with Note j in Tables R507.5(1), R507.5(2), R507.5(3) and R507.5(4)]
C/Ja JOIST SPAN FACTOR
0 (no cantilever)
0.66
1/12 (0.87)
0.72
1/10 (0.10)
0.80
1/8 (0.125)
0.84
1/6 (0.167)
0.90
1/4 (0.250)
1.00
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
  1. C = actual joist cantilever length (feet); J = actual joist span length (feet).
SEE MORE

Related Code Sections


R507.5 Floors, Deck Beams
Maximum allowable spans for wood deck beams, as shown in Figure R507.5, shall be in accordance with Tables R507.5(1) through R507.5(4). Beam plies ...
Residential Code 2021 of Colorado > 5 Floors > R507 Exterior Decks > R507.5 Deck Beams
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