Attic Floor Loading

If you don t need additional storage think of flooring an area less than the entire attic such as a small section around the attic door opening.
Attic floor loading. However if the attic is intended for storage the attic live load or some portion should also be considered for the design of. Bedrooms and habitable attic floors l 360 30 psf. Adding a floor to an attic can increase storage space or create a new room. Storage space dead load of partitions 20 lbs.
The dead load on a floor is determined by the materials used in the floor s construction. 1 x 6 3 spruce is a step up from pallet quality wood but makes a fine usable floor in an unfinished attic space. Buy attic dek flooring walking deck boards for attic easy installation floor system for garage roof and more instant organizer new 4 panel pack black. Flooring for dead loads may not be sufficient for live loads the loads created by people and the features of living space.
Then you ll need to build a grid like structure that can hold up the plywood flooring. Unlike stiffness live loads and dead loads are added together to determine minimum design values for strength. Strength of a material is obviously important. First floor live loads have higher requirements than second floor live loads 40 pounds per square foot vs.
Dead load of attic floor when floored 20 lbs. Of floor area dead load of partitions 20 lbs. Joists and rafters must be strong enough not to break when loaded. A typical wood frame floor covered with carpet or vinyl flooring has a dead load of about 8 pounds per square foot.
Attic floors with limited storage l 240 10 psf. The headroom in the attic will determine how much usable floor space you have. Of floor area dead load on second floor 20 lbs. Loads should be determined in accordance with this chapter.
An inaccessible attic space on the other hand might have a live load of only 20 psf. Dead load of attic floor not floored 10 lbs. A room used solely for sleeping might need to carry only 30 psf whereas a garage floor over a basement would need 50 psf or higher. While local codes vary many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished.
Considering usable floor space. Attic joists for live loads attic joists that are made from 2x8s may be acceptable for building your attic floor but because every room is variable there are no absolutes.