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non-load bearing steel studs

Last Post 27 Aug 2008 04:43 PM by cmkavala. 8 Replies.

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hudelhaus

New Member

Posts:9

25 Aug 2008 09:40 AM
Hello, My question of the day is - I keep reading that (most) steel studs are not load bearing. I will be having a single story house built and would like to use signficant attic space for storage, and HVAC mechanicals. Combined with SIP exterior walls, there should be HUGE amounts of space available. If the studs are marked "non load bearing", can I still use the attic space for storage? Can I put down 4x8 plywood and still safely walk "upstairs"? Thanks,

Jelly

Veteran Member

Posts:1017

25 Aug 2008 10:44 AM
Are you talking about using the steel studs for floor joists? Are do you mean the vertical steel studs of the first level interior walls would support the attic floor? I would think normally the attic floor would be a joist system supported by the exterior walls, unless the span is too great. Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more.

hudelhaus

New Member

Posts:9

25 Aug 2008 10:53 AM
I mean the vertical steel studs of the first level interior walls - would they support the attic floor. I hadn't thought about the joist system supported by the exterior walls. We're talking about a 60' span... with the exterior walls being steel-skinned SIPs.

Jelly

Veteran Member

Posts:1017

25 Aug 2008 11:01 AM
Ok, a 60 foot span is really long! That's the short side of the house?

hudelhaus

New Member

Posts:9

25 Aug 2008 11:13 AM
The external house dimensions occupy a square about 63'x62'. Of course there are some corners and cut-ins that reduce that distance but if you measure the longest distance in both directions, it's about 60'.

Alton

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Posts:2157

25 Aug 2008 11:24 AM
A conventionally wood-framed home will support the weight of people walking around in the attic. One normally uses a larger ceiling joist rather than increasing the size or number of the wood studs to carry the weight for storage items. This would lead me to believe that a properly steel-framed home would carry the weight of people walking around in the attic but not necessarily support the extra weight of books, etc. With proper engineering, the attics in steel-framed homes can be used for storage and mechanicals. Even in wood-framed homes we try to locate heavy items in the attic over a load-bearing wall.

Residential Designer & Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period . 334 826-3979

Vermonter

New Member

Posts:79

25 Aug 2008 12:31 PM
You should design the attic to be able to support loads. You never know what it might be used for in the future.

Mark Fleming User is Offline

Basic Member

Posts:112

27 Aug 2008 02:54 PM
Your questions can probably be answered by getting a copy of the International Residential Code and reading the section on steel framing with your house plan in hand. Steel studs come in many styles and grades (thicknesses). If you are going to stuff your attic full of junk, you'll be looking at fist floor partition walls and a ceiling joist system that can take 40#/sf. If you have more than just a code minimum attic access door, your building inspector will probably want to see a structural system that can support 30#/sf. In addition to attic floor load, seismic area, wind/snow loads, building wall length, window placement, and and probably other factors will come into play. Mark

cmkavala

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Posts:4324
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27 Aug 2008 04:43 PM
steel studs are load bearing starting with 20ga. and heavier, see link to span & load charts for steel studs & joists http://www.ssma.com/ssmatechcatalog.pdf

Chris Kavala<br>[email protected]<br>1-877-321-SIPS<br />