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Snow load

| Posted in Construction Techniques on August 11, 2002 08:45am

Does anyone know or is there a source of information to find out what the snow load – live load would be on 2×10 SPF 2′ on center spanning 14′ would be?

They will have 2×4 purlins over the top running perpendicular on 2’ center to which I will attach steel roofing.

I am attaching this to the back of my woodshop to store lumber and firewood.

Any help will be appreciated, George

 

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  1. MisterT | Aug 11, 2002 09:10pm | #1

    35 lbs/ sq. ft. is a standard, Right Boss Hog?

    Plus with metal roof, snow will slide off after a few inches of accumulation.

    Your configuration sounds plenty strong to me.

    Unless your planning on a flat roof!

    Mr T

    Do not try this at home!

    I am a trained professional!

    1. Geovan3 | Aug 11, 2002 09:14pm | #2

      Thanks, it will have a 5/12 pitch.

      In our area DILHR speck a 45# load. I built the house and shop to 77# trusses.

      George

  2. Piffin | Aug 12, 2002 02:24am | #3

    It varies around the country. In some mountain areas of Colorado, we had a 70#/sq ft requirement. Three zones in one county from 40 -50-70.

    Some places down south used to need only 15# design.

    Roughly speaking, your design sounds OK to me.

    Excellence is its own reward!
  3. cherron | Aug 12, 2002 02:43am | #4

    The source I use for these problems is a small cardboard slide rule called the "Western Lumber Span Computer".  I got it from the Western Wood Products Association, 522 SW 5th Av., Portland OR 97204-9122.

    Using your specs and the numbers for Fb and E provided by the slide rule for SPF #2, and assuming deflection of L/360, I found live load max to be 58 psf and total load (snow) max to be 79 psf.

    You can also get some fancy electronic calculators, but this el cheapo approach has worked for me. Be advised I'm an amateur with limited building experience, but the local building inspector seems to like my approach on problems like this.

    Hope this helps.

  4. User avater
    BossHog | Aug 12, 2002 02:48pm | #5

    You local lumberyard should have a book with span charts for the types of lumber they sell. Try checking with them.

    Or try this span calculator:

    http://www.cwc.ca/design/design_tools/calcs/SpanCalc2002/index.php

    .

    Mr. T - Piffin is right that live loads vary a great deal from one area to the next. I've heard of some being as high as 100 PSF in mountain areas.

    The allowable stress increase is also a factor. I think it's 15% in most of the northern U.S. But it's 25% in areas like Florida.

    .

    Chris - The live load IS the snow load. (As well as other temporary loads) The total load is the combination of the live and dead (Or permenant) loads.

    Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.

    1. Redfly | Aug 12, 2002 10:03pm | #6

      Round these parts, we use the International One-and-Two Family Dwelling Code (IOTDC), which has span tables, snow load tables and design values for dimensional lumber, which makes it pretty much a no-brainer, which is good for me......

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