3.

EWP Floor Joist Design

should be designed for a minimum uniform load of (Gstair) and imposed (Qstair) point loads to be applied to the
0.22kN/m2. floor at the stair stringer positions should be determined in
accordance with the following:
The minimum partition load given above of 0.64kN/m is Gstair = (Ws x Ls)/4 x 0.41 kN …(3.1)
applicable for partitions weighing up to 27kg/m2. This load Qstair = (Ws x Ls)/4 x 1.50 kN …(3.2)
is adequate for standard timber stud partitions of 2.4m where
height comprising 38x89mm C24 wall studs at 400mm Ws is the width of the stairs
spacing with mid-height noggings and plasterboard Ls is the horizontal (plan) length of the stairs
weighing up to 10kg/m2 on each face and 75mm quilt
insulation with a density of 10kg/m3. The load is also Ws should be measured from the building drawings.
adequate for some typical proprietary metal stud partition Ls should be measured from the building drawings, and
systems. Enhanced partitions with multi-layers of should be measured as the horizontal distance from the
plasterboard and some proprietary metal stud partitions trimmer to the bottom riser as shown in Figure 3.1.
exceed this weight and in these cases the actual partition Alternatively and for simplicity, the distances Ws and Ls
weights should be calculated and used in design. may be taken as the width (Wo) and length (Lo) of the stair
opening respectively.
Note that the loads presented above are minimum loads.
Where an EWP floor system provider already adopts loads
that exceed the above minima, there is no requirement to
adopt the minimum values.

For the purpose of design the above loads should be

regarded as characteristic loads of long-term duration for
permissible stress design and of permanent duration for
limit state design.

3.4.5 Stair Loads

3.4.5.1 Principles
i. Wherever stairs are fixed to EWP floors the dead and Figure 3.1 Definition of Stair Width and Length.
imposed load from the stairs shall be applied to the
floor; Loads from Non-Straight Flights of Stairs
ii. The load shall be applied irrespective of whether the Where stairs are not straight flights then the load applied
top or bottom of the staircase is fixed to the floor; to the floor will not be relative to the overall stair length
iii. The applied load shall not be reduced due to the nor to the size of the stair opening. To accurately
presence of non-load bearing partitions below the determine the loads it is necessary to consider the stair
staircase; arrangement.
iv. The applied load shall not be reduced by virtue of the
stair stringer being fixed to a parallel and adjacent wall, For non-straight flights of domestic stairs the vertical dead
except where there is written confirmation from the (Gstair) and imposed (Qstair) point loads to be applied to the
Building Designer that both the wall and the method of floor at the stair stringer positions should be determined in
fixing the stringer to the wall are capable of sustaining accordance with the following:
the design load on the stairs. Gstair, i = (Ws x Lsi)/4 x 0.41 kN …(3.3)
Qstair, i = (Ws x Lsi)/4 x 1.50 kN …(3.4)
3.4.5.2 Detailed Requirements where
Basic Load Ws is the width of the stairs
i. For single occupancy domestic floors the dead load Lsi is variously the length of the stairs measured
from the stairs should be taken as a minimum of from the top to the landing/newel/winder, e.g.
0.41kN/m2 unless there is information to suggest that a Gstair, 1 = (Ws x Ls1)/4 x 0.41
higher load should be used; Gstair, 2 = (Ws x Ls2)/4 x 0.41
ii. For single occupancy domestic floors the imposed Qstair, 1 = (Ws x Ls1)/4 x 1.50
load should be 1.5kN/m2. For communal stairs in Qstair, 2 = (Ws x Ls2)/4 x 1.50
residential buildings and all other building uses refer to as shown in Figure 3.2.
BS 6399-1 or BS EN 1991-1-1 for the imposed load and
refer to the Building Designer for the dead load.

Loads from Straight Flights of Stairs

For straight flights of domestic stairs the vertical dead

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 3. EWP Floor Joist Design

considered. Any favourable effects that the object may

have on the analysis should be ignored;
iv. Consideration should be given as to whether the
object displaces the standard imposed load, i.e. whether
the size and location of the object would prevent the
standard imposed load from being applied to the floor;
v. The Building Designer should check to ensure that the
floor deck material can adequately support the load
from the object without excessive local deformation or
risk of punching through;
vi. Where it has been determined that the floor deck
cannot directly support the load from the object then
consideration should be given to modifying the floor
joist layout to provide direct support to the object;
vii. Where the object has moving parts that can generate
cyclic or impact loading then specialist advice should be
Figure 3.2 Definition of Stair Width and Length for
sought;
Non-Straight Flights of Stairs
viii. Consideration should be given as to whether the
item or its function will be sensitive to the normal in-
3.4.6 Load Combinations
service deflection of the floor.
The dead and imposed loads determined from 3.4.2, 3.4.3,
ix. Where an item is to be fixed or suspended directly
3.4.4 and 3.4.5 should be used to analyse EWP joists in
from the bottom flange of an EWP joist the following
accordance with 3.5 to determine the forces, moments
considerations should be made:
and deformations of the joist. All possible combinations of
- for Open-Web Joists the load from the item should
dead and imposed loads should be considered in order to
be applied to the appropriate location on the bottom
produce the most unfavourable results.
chord in the analysis model
Possible load combinations for a three-span continuous
- for I-Joists it is generally preferable to avoid fixing
joist are illustrated in Figure 3.3
items directly to the bottom flange, but where this is
unavoidable a design check should be made on the
3.4.7 Additional Loads
bottom flange capacity in accordance with the I-Joist
Some examples of miscellaneous additional loads applied
manufacturer’s recommendations.
to EWP floor joists are given below, although the list is not
comprehensive:
3.4.7.1 Water Storage Cylinders
Water storage cylinders, accessibility hoists, snooker
For standard hot water storage cylinders weighing no more
tables, large aquaria, home multi-gyms, water beds,
than 200kg when full (about 180 litres capacity plus self
chandeliers
weight of the cylinder), it can be assumed that the
minimum dead and imposed loads given in 3.4.2 and 3.4.3
Guidance on water storage cylinders is given in 3.4.7.1 and
make adequate allowance for the weight of the cylinder.
guidance on accessibility hoists is presented in Annex A.
For hot water storage cylinders weighing more than 200kg
For guidance on dealing with load types not given here
further guidance is given in Annex A.
refer to the EWP system provider.

The following points should be considered when evaluating

3.5 Method of Analysis
the effects of miscellaneous additional loads on EWP floor
joists:
3.5.1 General
i. The actual weight of the item should be determined
The determination of forces, moments and deformations of
and allowance made to take account of likely variation;
a EWP joist may be made by the following methods:
ii. The likely distribution of the load on the floor should
i. For I-Joists and solid EWP - analysis as a beam of
be determined, i.e. whether the load will be applied as a
single span or multi-span to suit the actual support
uniformly distributed load or a series of line loads or
conditions (see 3.5.2); or
point loads;
ii. For Open-Web Joists - plane frame analysis as a two-
iii. The position of the item should be determined, and
dimensional space frame (see 3.5.3).
consideration should be given to whether the item will
be fixed in one location on the floor, or whether it could
3.5.2 Beam Analysis for I-Joists and Solid EWP
be moved at some time in the future. When analysing
I-Joists and solid EWP members should be analysed by
floor joists for moveable loads, the load position that
assuming the member to be a beam with single or multiple
produces the most unfavourable combination of stress
spans where appropriate and supported on simple
(moment, shear and bearing) and deflection should be

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