Designing with RigidLam LVL: Span lengths, allowable loads, and more
The Roseburg Framing System® is a collection of Roseburg products that consists of RFPI® Joists, RigidLam® LVL (or laminated veneer lumber), and RigidRim® rimboard. Whether manufactured from western Douglas-fir or southern yellow pine, all of the components are engineered to the industry’s highest standards, to help contractors save time and money, build high-quality structures, and meet customer expectations better than with ordinary dimensional lumber.
Common Uses
- RFPI® Joists are used in floor and roof construction, and are simple to install thanks to their light weight and available web knockouts for utilities and plumbing
- RigidLam® LVL, is used for headers, beams, studs, stair stringers and columns in applications that require straight, open-concept spaces
- RigidRim® rimboard allows contractors to frame the perimeter of their floor systems quickly, and with the added benefit of being one of the most cost-effective methods to transfer vertical and horizontal loads properly around an I-joist and directly into the supporting walls
Roseburg Framing System products are used in a diverse range of projects across North America, including both residential and commercial construction, so we have put together helpful resources below for anyone working on a project that uses framing system elements, especially Roseburg’s RigidLam® LVL.
Using the Roseburg Framing System in your Build
To make your job easier, Roseburg offers the Component Solutions™ (CS) software suite, developed by Simpson Strong-Tie®, to help you generate accurate, professional layout drawings and member calculations. For more information and downloads of Roseburg software, visit our Software Tools Dashboard.
We also offer a variety of BIM (Building Information Modeling) objects for these products (via both ARCAT and Roseburg.com) for easy incorporation into BIM models.
Span Lengths and Allowable Loads
RigidLam LVL provides a better alternative to traditional, solid sawn lumber. The product is stronger, stiffer, and a more predictable building material, and when compared with similarly sized sections, RigidLam can support heavier loads and allows for greater spans than conventional lumber.
These members come in a variety of standard sizes and depths to accommodate projects of all sizes, as illustrated below:
As you might expect, these members also have varying allowances for the loads they can support, depending on the length and depths of the member, width of the building, beam spacing, etc. For specifics on spacing, see the Residential Quick Reference Tables below. Need to account for snow (or not)? We’ve got you covered.
When it comes to choosing the right member for your intended design, see the section below for PLF Tables. These charts will help you find the allowable uniform load, or allowable stress design, for all of the span lengths and depths that Roseburg offers in the Roseburg Framing System.
Resources
Still need more info? Here are some links and additional resources you might find helpful as you consider incorporating RigidLam® LVL into your next project:
LVL Residential Quick Reference Tables
PLF (Pounds per Lineal Foot) Tables
LVL Column Tables
LVL Bearing Length Requirements