Building codes for residential decks only require 40 psf.
2x6 floor joist max span.
Section r507 5 notes that deck joists can cantilever up to 1 4 of the joist span.
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Beam span maximums are based on a maximum anticipated live load.
For conventional guardrail post installation bolted to the side of the framing larger framing will provide more strength in the rails.
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Floor joist table joist size joist spacing maximum span.
Floor joist span tables for various sizes and species of wood joist span table use these tables to determine floor joist spans based on grade of lumber size of joist floor joist spacing and a live load of 30 lbs ft 2 or 40 lbs ft 2.
The longer the joist the more area of deck the joist supports and thus the beam supports.
12 4 2 2x4 2 2x4 2 2x4 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x8 2 2x8 j 5 2 2x4 2 2x4 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x8 2 2x8 2 2x10 o i 6 2 2x4 2 2x4 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x6 2 2x8 2 2x8 2 2x10 2 2x10 s.
2x6 joists should only be used on ground level decks that do not require and will not provide for any guards.
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But you ll notice when you look at the portion of the span table for joists with cantilevers that the joist span for decks with a cantilever is often less than the span for the same sized joist without cantilevers.
For upper level decks 2x10 is recommended as the minimum size to use for strong guard post connections.
Spans in this table were derived from the irc table r502 3 1 2.