Steel Beam Load Charts

Understanding how loads are transferred through a structure and act on structural members is the first step to sizing headers and beams. The beam must be strong enough so it doesn't break (Fb value) and stiff enough so that it doesn't deflect excessively under the load (E value). However, the process for sizing these structural elements can be complicated if you are not an engineer. Here is a simplified approach that will help you specify the appropriate material for many applications. To begin, for sawn- and engineered wood materials: add all the loads acting on the header or beam, translate this load into terms of how much load each lineal foot of header or beam will be (i.e., this header must carry X-pounds per lineal foot.) This translation is the key to structural sizing problems. Using this information you can determine the minimum size, span or strength of the beam. Wood components are sized by span tables that match various spans to pounds per foot of beam. Sawn-lumber requires mathematical calculations. For a chart, use this link: http://www.richmond.ky.us/codes/References/Refs/Chart%20for%20steel%20beams.pdf