Ceiling Joist Support Beam Span

For example the highlighted cell below shows that a 2 x 6 southern yellow pine joist with a grade of 2 and spaced 24 apart can have a maximum span of 10 feet 0 inches 10 0 if you are designing your structure to support a plaster ceiling.

Ceiling joist support beam span.

Simplified maximum span tables for selected visual and mechanical grades of southern pine lumber in sizes 2 4 thru 2 12. This will support a room ceiling that is 10 feet long on one side as in 10 foot by 15 foot or 10 foot by 17 foot rooms which is a standard dimension for many rooms in residential construction. View joist rafter tables. Sixteen inch oc spacing of ceiling joists made from 2 southern pine allows for a maximum 13 inch span length.

Although 2 x 4 s are included in the official table they are not listed because it is never advised to use them. Ceiling joist span use this table to determine the maximum lengths of ceiling joists based on species of lumber joist spacing and joist size. 2 x 12 s are not listed because you can span pretty much whatever you want. Listed are 46 tables based on common loading conditions for floor joists ceiling joists and rafters.

Rafter spans can be extended slightly beyond what the rafter tables suggest when there is a cantelever extending beyond the supporting wall. It covers 2 common lumber species and sizes at 20 pounds per square foot load.