Platform Weight Limit

Correction, 2x6s, not 2x4s.

I used one of the online resource links from the awc to find the span table with the appropriate #/ft^2 which happened to be 50 #/ft^2. I multiplied that by the square footage and then divided by a safety factor of 1.5.

Then I subtracted the weight of the decking, railing, and other items loading the platform. That seemed to give me a solid figure. Whether it is right or not is a different question altogether.

Thanks for the links.

You're welcome. You provided enough information to narrow the search.

Good luck.

See the cookbook "Span tables for joists and rafters" of the American wood council http://www.awc.org/technical/spantables/index.html

Or the online span calculator http://www.awc.org/calculators/span/calc/timbercalcstyle.asp

2" x 8" @ 16" OC with plywood sheathing to max 10' span max load = 100 lbs/sq ft

Does anyone have a good resource or can give me some formulas to play with to calculate the maximum safe load limit?

8.5' span of 2" x 4" @ 16" OC with plywood sheathing = about 35lbs/sq ft.