Rafter Span Roof Joist Span Table
Surveyors and structural engineers utilise data from tables below to help calculate the correct size strength and centres of roof timbers for the required spans and loadings.
Rafter span roof joist span table. These span tables assume installation of at least three joists or rafters that are spaced not more than 24 on center. Rafter spans can be extended slightly beyond what the rafter tables suggest when there is a cantelever extending beyond the supporting wall. Surveyors span tables for designing roof rafters. Straight line interpolation shall be permitted for intermediate spans and design values.
The calculated spans assume fully supported members properly sheathed and nailed on the top edge of the joist or rafter. For pitched roofs flat roofs and ceiling joists. The calculated spans assume fully supported members properly sheathed and nailed on the top edge of the joist or rafter. For example in the rafter span table below the highlighted cell in the 40 live load table indicates that 2 x 8 southern yellow pine joists that have a grade of 2 that are spaced 24 apart can have a maximum span of 10 feet 3 inches 10 3 if designing for a live load of 40 lbs ft 2.
Tables listing maximum spans for southern pine joists and rafters are detailed below. For each application a pdf download is available. These span tables assume installation of at least three joists or rafters that are spaced not more than 24 on center.