Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 321.22

Current through November 25, 2024
Section SPS 321.22 - Wood frame floors

Unless designed through structural analysis, wood frame floors shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) FLOOR JOISTS.
(a)General.
1. Floor joists shall comply with the structural requirements and live load determination under s. SPS 321.02.

Note: See ch. SPS 325 Appendix A for design information.

2. Where the joists of a floor system are parallel to, and located between bearing walls above and below, the joists shall be doubled.
(b)Floor joists on concrete walls. Where a sill plate is provided for floor joists on poured concrete, the sill plates shall be fastened to the foundation.

Note: Section SPS 321.18(1) (d) requires the floor joists to also be fastened to the sill plate.

(c)Floor joists on masonry walls with a solid top course. Where a sill plate is provided for floor joists on solid block top course masonry, the sill plate shall be fastened to the foundation.
(d)Floor joists on masonry walls with open top course.
1. Where the masonry wall has an open top course, a sill plate at least as wide as the foundation wall shall be fastened to the foundation.
2. Where anchor bolts are used on masonry walls with an open top course, the minimum width of an individual piece making up the sill plate shall be at least 5.5 inches.

Note: A sill plate can be made of multiple pieces to achieve the full width.

(2) FLOOR TRUSSES. Metal plate connected wood floor trusses shall be designed in accordance with the Design Specifications for Metal Plate Connected Parallel Chord Wood Trusses and the National Design Specification for Wood Construction. Truss members shall not be cut, bored or notched.
(3) GIRDERS AND BEAMS.
(a) Girders and beams shall be selected from Table 321.22-A1 or Table 321.22-A2 or shall be designed through structural analysis.
(b) Wood girders and beams shall be fitted at the post or column. Adjoining ends shall be fastened to each other to transfer horizontal loads across the joint. Beams shall also be fastened to the posts with framing anchors, angle clips, or equivalent.
(c) Where intermediate beams are used, they shall rest on top of the girders; or shall be supported by ledgers or blocks fastened to the sides of the girders; or they may be supported by approved metal hangers into which the ends of the beams shall be fitted.
(d) Lateral restraint for all wood beams shall be provided at all columns using a saddle or other approved connection where the beam meets one of the following conditions:
1. The beam is not restrained at both ends.
2. The beam is more than 11.25 inches deep using actual measurement.

Note: A saddle supports the beam on the bottom and allows for the through-connection of fasteners into the side of the beam.

(4) BEARING AND END CONFIGURATION.
(a)Sawn lumber.
1. 'Joists.' Wood joists made of sawn lumber shall meet the following bearing requirements:
a. Wood joists supported on wood or metal shall have a bearing surface of at least 11/2-inches measured from the end of the joist.
b. Wood joists supported on masonry or concrete shall have a bearing surface of at least 3 inches measured from the end of the joist.
c. The tail end of a floor joist may not extend past the edge of a beam by more than the depth of the floor joist.
d. Wood floor joists with ends that intersect over a beam shall have the ends overlap at least 3 inches and be securely fastened together with at least two 12d common nails or the ends shall be butt-jointed or face-jointed and fastened with ties, straps, plates or solid blocking.
2. 'Beams and girders.' Beams and girders made of sawn lumber shall have a bearing surface on their supports of at least 3 inches parallel to the beam or girder and be at least as wide as the beam or girder.
(b)Engineered wood products. Bearing surface for engineered wood products shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions provided those instructions were developed through structural analysis or product testing and are applicable to the configuration.
(5) NOTCHING AND BORING. Notching and boring of beams or girders is prohibited unless determined through structural analysis.
(a)Notching of floor joists.
1. Notches located in the top or bottom of floor joists shall not have a depth exceeding 1/6 the depth of the joist, shall not have a length exceeding 1/3 the joist depth nor be located in the middle 1/3 of the span of the joist.
2. Where floor joists are notched on the ends, the notch shall not exceed 1/4 the depth of the joist. Notches over supports may extend the full bearing width of the support.
(b)Boring of floor joists.
1. 'General.' A hole may not be bored in a floor joist within 2 inches of a notch or another hole. In no case shall the distance between adjacent holes be less than the diameter of the larger hole.
2. 'Holes near the edge.' Holes bored in the top or bottom 2 inches of a joist shall follow the limitations for notching under par. (a).
3. 'Other holes.' Holes bored in floor joists that are not within 2 inches of the top or bottom of the joist shall have their diameter limited to 1/3 the depth of the joist.
(c)Engineered wood products. Notching or boring of engineered wood products shall be done in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions provided those instructions were developed through structural analysis or product testing.
(6) OVERHANG OF FLOORS.
(a)General. Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), a floor joist overhang shall be cantilevered beyond the outer edge of the supporting wall below it by no more than the actual depth of the joist or shall be designed through structural analysis in accordance with s. SPS 321.02(3).
(b)Joist overhangs parallel to the main floor framing system. Joist overhangs that are extensions of, and parallel to, the main floor framing system may extend beyond the depth of the joist without structural analysis provided they meet all of the following conditions:
1. The overhang is cantilevered no more than 2 feet beyond the outer edge of the supporting wall below it.
2.
a. The overhang supports a uniform load limited to the weight of the bearing wall and the tributary roof area above it.
b. The tributary length of the roof area, excluding the eave overhang, is no more than 2 feet greater than the actual length of the joist directly below.
c. The eave overhang is no more than 2 feet.

Note: The tributary length is usually half the span of the joist or rafter.

3. The joist overhang does not support any concentrated loads. For the purposes of this subsection, a framed opening in the wall with a rough opening of 4 feet or less shall be considered uniform loading.
4.
a. The cantilevered joist is doubled at the supporting wall.
b. The doubled joist length extends inward beyond the inner edge of the supporting wall by the same distance as the cantilever.
c. The added joist member is secured to the main joist as stated in the nailing schedule in ch. SPS 325 Appendix A, under the heading for "floor framing, built-up girder and beams, top loaded".
(c)Joist overhangs perpendicular to the main floor framing system. Joist overhangs that are perpendicular to the main floor framing system, or lookout joists, may extend beyond the depth of the joist without structural analysis provided they meet all of the following conditions:
1. The joist overhang is cantilevered no more than 2 feet beyond the outer edge of the supporting wall below it.
2.
a. A double floor joist is used to support the lookout joist.
b. The double floor joist is located a distance of at least 2 times the cantilever length inward from the outer edge of the supporting wall below.
c. The lookout joists are fastened to the double joist with metal hangers.
3. The joist overhang supports no more than either a non-bearing wall or a wall that supports only a roof which spans no more than the floor overhang cantilever length plus the eave overhang.
(d) All overhangs longer than the depth of the supporting joist that do not meet all of the conditions under par. (b) or (c) shall be designed through structural analysis.
(7) FLOOR OPENINGS. Trimmers and headers shall be doubled when the span of the header exceeds 4 feet. Headers which span more than 6 feet shall have the ends supported by joist hangers or framing anchors, unless the ends are supported on a partition or beam. Tail joists (joists which frame into headers) more than 8 feet long shall be supported on metal framing anchors or on ledger strips of at least 2 inches by 2 inches nominal.

TABLE 321.22-A1

MINIMUM SIZES FOR BEAMS AND GIRDERS OF STEEL OR WOOD

Column Spacing

One Floor Only

Roof/Ceiling and One Floor

Roof/Ceiling+ One Floor/Ceiling + One Floor

Wood Beams1 (in., nominal)

A 36 Steel Beams2

Wood Beams1,3 Zone 2

(in., nominal) Zone 1

Zone 2

A 36 Steel Beams2 Zone 1

Wood Beams Zone 2

1,3 (in., nominal) Zone 1

Zone2

A 36 Steel Beams2 Zone 1

24 ft. wide house:

8 ft.

8x8

-

8x10

10x10

-

-

8x12

10x12

-

-

6x12

6x12

-

-

6x14

8x14

-

-

10 ft.

8x10

-

8x12

10x12

M 10x9

M 10x9

10x14

10x14

M 12x11.8

M 12x11.8

6x14

8x14

W 6x12

W 8x10

8x16

8x16

W 8x15

W 8x15

12 ft.

8x12

-

12x12

10x14

W 12x10

M 12x11.8

14x14

14x14

W 12x16

W 12x16

10x14

8x16

W 10x11.5

W 8x15

10x16

12x16

W10x17

W 8x21

15 ft.

12x12

-

-

-

W 12x16

W 12x16

-

-

W 12x22

W 14x22

-

-

W 10x17

W 6x25

-

-

W 8x28

W 8x31

26 ft. wide house:

8 ft.

6x10

-

10x10

10x10

-

-

10x12

10x12

-

-

6x12

8x12

-

-

8x14

8x14

-

-

10 ft.

10x10

-

10x12

10x12

M 10x9

M 12x10

10x14

12x14

M 12x11.8

W 12x14

8x14

8x14

W 8x10

W 8x13

8x16

8x16

W 8x15

W 8x17

12 ft.

8x12

-

10x14

10x14

M 12x11.8

M 12x11.8

14x14

12x16

W 12x16

W 10x19

8x16

8x16

W 8x15

W 6x20

12x16

10x18

W 8x21

W 8x24

15 ft.

10x14

-

-

-

W 12x16

W 10x19

-

-

W 14x22

W 14x22

-

-

W 8x21

W 8x24

-

-

W 8x31

W 8x35

28 ft. wide house:

8 ft.

6x10

-

10x10

8x12

-

-

10x12

10x12

-

-

8x12

4x16

-

-

8x14

8x14

-

-

10 ft.

10x10

M 10x7.5

10x12

12x12

M 12x10

W 10x12

12x14

12x14

W 12x14

W 12x14

W 6x9

8x14

8x14

W 8x13

W 8x13

8x16

10x16

W 8x17

W 10x15

12 ft.

10x12

M 10x9

10x14

12x14

M 12x11.8

W 12x14

12x16

12x16

W 10x19

M 14x18

W 6x12

8x16

10x16

W 8x15

W 8x18

10x18

10x18

W 8x24

W 8x24

15 ft.

10x14

M 12x10

-

-

W 10x19

M 14x18

-

-

W 14x22

W 14x26

W 8x13

-

-

W 8x24

W 8x24

-

-

W 8x35

W 8x35

30 ft. wide house:

8 ft.

8x10

-

10x10

8x12

-

-

10x12

12x12

-

-

8x12

6x14

-

-

8x14

8x14

-

-

10 ft.

10x10

M 10x7.5

10x12

12x12

M 12x10

M 12x10

12x14

12x14

W 12x14

W 12x14

W 6x9

8x14

10x14

W 8x13

W 8x13

10x16

10x16

W 10x15

W 10x15

12 ft.

10x12

M 10x9

12x14

12x14

W 12x14

W 12x14

12x16

14x16

M 14x18

M 14x18

W 6x12

8x16

10x16

W 8x18

W 8x18

10x18

12x18

W 8x24

W 8x24

15 ft.

12x14

M 12x11.8

-

-

M 14x18

W 10x21

-

-

W 14x26

W 14x26

W 8x15

-

-

W 8x24

W 8x28

-

-

W 8x35

W 10x33

32 ft. wide house:

8 ft.

8x10

-

8x12

8x12

-

-

12x12

12x12

-

-

6x14

6x14

-

-

8x14

10x14

-

-

10 ft.

10x10

M 10x7.5

12x12

12x12

W 10x12

W 10x12

12x14

14x14

W 12x14

W 12x16

W 6x9

8x14

10x14

W 8x13

W 6x16

10x16

10x16

W 10x15

W 10x17

12 ft.

10x12

M 10x9

12x14

14x14

W 12x14

W 12x14

14x16

14x16

M 14x18

W 12x22

W 6x12

10x16

10x16

W 10x15

W 10x17

12x18

12x18

W 8x24

W 8x28

15 ft.

12x14

M 12x11.8

-

-

M 14x18

W 12x22

-

-

W 14x26

W 14x26

W 8x15

-

-

W 8x24

W 8x28

-

-

W 10x33

W 10x33

1This table is based upon wood with a fiber bending stress of 1,000 psi. Two acceptable wood beam selections are listed for each loading condition.

2Two acceptable steel beam selections are listed for each loading condition. The first entry is the most economical selection based upon beam weight.

3Wood main beams or girders may be built up from nominal 2-inch members. The 2-inch members shall be laid on edge and fastened together with a double row of common nails not less than 31/2-inches in length. Nails shall be spaced not more than 18 inches apart in each row with the end nails placed 4 inches to 6 inches from the end of each piece. Where built-up beams are employed over a single span, the length of each individual piece used to fabricate the beam shall equal the length of the beam.

TABLE 321.22-A2

MINIMUM SIZES FOR BUILT-UP WOOD BEAMS IN BASEMENTS AND CRAWL SPACES SUPPORTING ONE FLOOR ONLY

HOUSE WIDTH

Fb=800 psi

Fb=1000 psi

Fb=1200 psi

Fb=1400 psi

Col. Spacing ft-in

Beam size

Col. Spacing ft-in

Beam size

Col. Spacing ft-in

Beam size

Col. Spacing ft-in

Beam size

16 ft.

7-8

3-2x8

8-7

3-2x8

9-4

3-2x8

10-2

3-2x8

8-11

4-2x8

9-11

4-2x8

10-11

4-2x8

11-10

4-2x8

9-11

3-2x10

11-1

3-2x10

12-1

3-2x10

13-1

3-2x10

11-4

4-2x10

12-8

4-2x10

13-1

4-2x10

15-0

4-2x10

12-0

3-2x12

13-5

3-2x12

14-8

3-2x12

15-10

3-2x12

13-10

4-2x12

15-7

4-2x12

17-0

4-2x12

18-4

4-2x12

20 ft.

6-11

3-2x8

7-8

3-2x8

8-5

3-2x8

9-1

3-2x8

7-11

4-2x8

8-11

4-2x8

9-9

4-2x8

10-7

4-2x8

8-10

3-2x10

9-11

3-2x10

10-10

3-2x10

11-8

3-2x10

10-2

4-2x10

11-4

4-2x10

12-6

4-2x10

13-6

4-2x10

10-9

3-2x12

12-0

3-2x12

13-2

3-2x12

14-3

3-2x12

11-5

4-2x12

13-11

4-2x12

15-2

4-2x12

16-5

4-2x12

24 ft.

6-3

3-2x8

7-1

3-2x8

7-8

3-2x8

8-4

3-2x8

7-3

4-2x8

8-2

4-2x8

8-11

4-2x8

9-8

4-2x8

8-1

3-2x10

9-0

3-2x10

9-11

3-2x10

10-8

3-2x10

9-4

4-2x10

10-4

4-2x10

11-5

4-2x10

12-4

4-2x10

9-9

3-2x12

10-11

3-2x12

12-0

3-2x12

12-11

3-2x12

11-3

4-2x12

12-7

4-2x12

13-11

4-2x12

15-0

4-2x12

28 ft.

5-10

3-2x8

6-6

3-2x8

7-2

3-2x8

7-8

3-2x8

6-8

4-2x8

7-6

4-2x8

8-3

4-2x8

8-11

4-2x8

7-5

3-2x10

8-4

3-2x10

9-1

3-2x10

9-11

3-2x10

8-7

4-2x10

9-8

4-2x10

10-6

4-2x10

11-4

4-2x10

9-0

3-2x12

10-1

3-2x12

11-1

3-2x12

10-11

3-2x12

10-5

4-2x12

11-8

4-2x12

12-10

4-2x12

13-10

4-2x12

32 ft.

5-4

3-2x8

6-1

3-2x8

6-8

3-2x8

7-3

3-2x8

6-3

4-2x8

7-1

4-2x8

7-8

4-2x8

8-4

4-2x8

7-0

3-2x10

7-9

3-2x10

8-7

3-2x10

9-2

3-2x10

8-1

4-2x10

8-11

4-2x10

9-10

4-2x10

10-8

4-2x10

8-5

3-2x12

9-6

3-2x12

10-4

3-2x12

11-1

3-2x12

9-9

4-2x12

11-0

4-2x12

12-0

4-2x12

12-11

4-2x12

36 ft.

5-1

3-2x8

5-9

3-2x8

6-3

3-2x8

6-9

3-2x8

5-11

4-2x8

6-7

4-2x8

6-9

4-2x8

7-10

4-2x8

6-6

3-2x10

7-4

3-2x10

8-1

3-2x10

8-8

3-2x10

7-6

4-2x10

8-6

4-2x10

9-4

4-2x10

10-0

4-2x10

7-11

3-2x12

8-11

3-2x12

9-9

3-2x12

10-7

3-2x12

9-2

4-2x12

10-4

4-2x12

11-4

4-2x12

12-4

4-2x12

1This table provides maximum allowable spans in feet and inches for main beams or girders which are built-up from nominal 2-inch members.

2Fiber bending stress for various species and grades of wood is given in Appendix A321.

3The 2-inch members shall be laid on edge and fastened together with a double row of common nails not less than 31/2-inches in length. Nails shall be spaced not more than 18 inches apart in each row with the end nails placed 4 inches to 6 inches from the end of each piece.

4Where built-up wood beams are employed over a single span, the length of each individual piece used to fabricate the beam shall equal the length of the beam.

5Where built-up wood beams are continued over more than one span and where lengths of individual pieces are less than the total length of the complete beam, butt joints shall be located over supports or within 6 inches of the quarter points of the clear span. Where located near the quarter points, the joints in built-up beams shall be separated by at least one lamination and shall not exceed the beam width.

(8) FLOOR SHATHING, BOARDS AND PLANKS.
(a)Plywood sheathing. Plywood sheathing used for floors shall be limited to the allowable loads and spans shown in Table 321.22-B.
(c)Combination subfloor-underlayment. Combination subfloor-underlayment shall be installed in accordance with Table 321.22-D.
(d)Floor boards. Where wood boards are used for floor sheathing, the boards shall comply with the minimum thicknesses shown in Table 321.22-E.
(e)Planks. Planks shall be tongue and groove or splined and at least 2 inches, nominal, in thickness. Planks shall terminate over beams unless the joints are end matched. The planks shall be laid so that no continuous line of joints will occur except at points of support. Planks shall be nailed to each beam.
(9) BRIDGING.
(a)Sawn lumber. Bridging shall be provided for sawn lumber framing at intervals not exceeding 8 feet where the nominal depth to thickness ratio is greater than 4 to 1.

Note: This 4:1 ratio means bridging is required for wood-framed floors having nominal 2X10 or deeper solid-sawn-lumber joists, to provide restraint against rotation or lateral displacement.

(b)Engineered products. Bridging shall be provided for engineered framing products in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Note: See s. SPS 321.18(1) (d) for further requirements relating to floor framing, including for bridging or blocking of floor framing to provide lateral support to the top of foundation walls.

(10) SILL PLATES. All of the following requirements apply to a sawn-lumber sill plate with uniform loading that is partially extended beyond the load-bearing surface of a foundation wall in order to put the exterior surface of an upper-lying wall flush with or beyond the exterior surface of insulation that is placed on the outside of the foundation wall:
(a) The center of any anchor bolt shall be set back from the side edge of the sill plate by a distance of at least 4 times the diameter of the bolt.
(b) The thickness of the concrete or mortar cover around any anchor bolt shall comply with ACI 318 Section 7.7.

Note: Under ACI 318 Section 7.7, the minimum cover for a 5/8-inch-diameter or smaller bolt is 1 1/2 inches.

(c) With wood floor joists that are parallel to the foundation wall, the sill plate may not extend beyond the load-bearing surface of the wall by more than one-half of the nominal thickness of the joist that bears on the sill plate.

Note: As used throughout this chapter and in the standards that the chapter incorporates by reference, the shorter side of the cross-sectional area of a wood member is the thickness of the member. The longer side of the cross-sectional area is the depth, when the longer side is vertical; and it is the width when the longer side is horizontal.

Note: Under sub. (6), wood floor joists that are perpendicular to the foundation wall can extend beyond the foundation wall by a distance of up to the depth of the joist.

Note: Subsection (1) (d) requires a full-width sill plate for floor joists over open-core masonry units.

Table 321.22-B

ALLOWABLE SPANS FOR PLYWOOD FLOOR SHEATHING CONTINUOUS OVER TWO OR MORE SPANS AND FACE GRAIN PERPENDICULAR TO SUPPORTS1

Span Rating2

Plywood Thickness (in inches)

Maximum span3 (in inches)

32/16

15/32, 1/2, 5/8

165

40/20

19/32, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8

204,5

48/24

23/32, 3/4, 7/8

24

1These values apply to C-D, C-C, and Structural I and II grades only. Spans shall be limited to values shown because of possible effect of concentrated loads.

2Span Rating appears on all panels in the construction grades listed in footnote 1.

3Plywood edges shall have approved tongue and groove joints or shall be supported with blocking, unless 1/4-inch minimum thickness underlayment or 11/2 inches of approved cellular or lightweight concrete is installed or finished floor is 25/32-inch wood strip. Allowable uniform load based on deflection of 1/360 of span is 165 pounds per square foot.

4For joists spaced 24 inches on center, plywood sheathing with Span Rating 40/20 or greater can be used for subfloors when supporting 11/2 inches lightweight concrete.

5May be 24 inches if 25/32-inch wood strip flooring is installed at right angles to joists.

Table 321.22-D

MINIMUM THICKNESS FOR PLYWOOD COMBINATION SUBFLOOR-UNDERLAYMENT. PLYWOOD CONTINUOUS OVER TWO OR MORE SPANS AND FACE GRAIN PERPENDICULAR TO SUPPORTS1,2

Plywood Grade

Plywood Species Group

Maximum Support Spacing3

16" o.c.

20" o.c.

24" o.c.

Panel

Thickness

(inches)

Panel

Thickness

(inches)

Panel

Thickness

(inches)

Sanded exterior type

1

1/2

5/8

3/4

2 & 3

5/8

3/4

7/8

4

3/4

7/8

1

Underlayment C-C Plugged Sturd-I-Floor4

All Groups

APA Rated Sheathing and APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor shall be installed consistent with their rating.

1Spans shall be limited to values shown, based on possible effect of concentrated loads.

2Unsupported edges shall be tongue and groove or blocked except where 1/4-inch underlayment or 25/32-inch finish floor is used.

3Underlayment, C-C Plugged, sanded exterior type: allowable uniform load based on deflection of L/360 span for spans 24 inches or less is 125 psf; and for spans 48 inches, 65 psf.

4The department will accept subfloor underlayment panels such as Sturd-I-Floor which meet the requirements of APA manufacturing specifications for Sturd-I-Floor panels.

Table 321.22-E

MINIMUM THICKNESS OF FLOOR BOARDS

Joist Spacing (inches)

Minimum Net Thickness (inches)

Perpendicular to Joist

Diagonal to Joist

24

1 1/16

3/4

16

5/8

5/8

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 321.22

Cr. Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; am. (1) and cr. (1m), Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85; renum. (8) (c) and (d) to be (8) (d) and (e) and am. (8) (d), renum. Table 21.22-A and D to be Table 21.22 A1 and E, cr. (8) (c), Table 21.22 A2, r. and recr. Tables 21.22 B and C, Register, January, 1989, No. 397, eff. 2-1-89; am. (2), (4), (5), (6) and (9), r. and recr. Table 21.22-A2, Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (5) (b) and cr. (5) (c), Table 21.22-A1, r. Table 21.22-A, Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; r. and recr. (9), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; r. and recr. (1m), (4), and (5) (b), Register, March, 2001, No. 543, eff. 4-1-01; CR 02-077: am. (5) (b) 1., r. and recr. (6) Register May 2003 No. 569, eff. 8-1-03; CR 08-043: r. and recr. (1), r. (1m), (8) (b) and Table 21.22-C, renum. (3) (intro.), (a) and (b) to be (3) (a), (b) and (c), cr. (3) (d) Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09; correction in (1) (a) 1., (3) (a), (6) (a), (8) (a), (c), (d), Table 321.22-A2 made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.
Amended by, CR 15-041: cr. (10) Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16; CR 15-043: am. (6) (b) 4. c. Register December 2015 No. 720, eff.1/1/2016