T E C H N I C A L N O T E

Load-Span Tables for

APA Structural-Use Panels
Number Q225E when engineering principles are used Table 3 capacities may be adjusted for
May 2006 for design. It is important to remember panel type using Table 5. For special
that structural engineering principles application conditions for Tables 1, 2 and
Load-span tables for specific
alone do not necessarily take into 3, use the factors listed in Table 6,
structural-use panel applications are
account other factors, such as mois- Application Adjustment Factors. Table 7,
included in several APA publications.
ture and thermal conditions, that may Typical APA Panel Constructions, is pro-
Recommended loads for sheathing and
impact design. vided to assist in selecting panel con-
flooring applications in these publica-
This information applies only to structions for specific Span Ratings.
tions directly reflect minimum perfor-
mance criteria given in APA PRP-108, products tested and inspected under Table 1 applies to APA Rated Sheathing.
Performance Standards and Policies for APA programs. Comparisons cannot be For APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor, see Table 2.
Structural-Use Panels and Voluntary made with products manufactured or For sanded plywood panels, see Table 3.
Product Standard PS 2-04, Perfor- inspected under other standards The values given in Tables 1 and 2
mance Standard for Wood-Based or programs. represent the maximum allowable loads
Structural-Use Panels. To qualify The following load-span tables apply to without regard to panel type. Using
for a given Span Rating under the APA trademarked structural-use panels Table 4, these values may, in some cases,
standards, a panel must meet all of qualified and manufactured in accor- be adjusted upward for specific types of
the criteria for that rating. As a result, dance with APA PRP-108, Performance structural-use panels. Once the allowable
mechanical properties that are charac- Standards and Policies for Structural-Use loads have been adjusted for panel type,
teristic of APA structural-use panels Panels, Voluntary Product Standard they should be further adjusted for appli-
are actually greater than the minimum PS 2-04, Performance Standard for cation conditions using Table 6. The
necessary to pass one criterion. Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels and values in Tables 1 and 2 are generated
Because it is sometimes necessary to Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-95, assuming dry conditions, normal duration
have engineering design information Construction and Industrial Plywood. of load and untreated, Exposure 1, struc-
for structural panel products for condi- These panels include unsanded, touch- tural panels. For other conditions, the
tions not specifically covered in the sanded and sanded plywood and ori- loads should be appropriately adjusted
other APA literature, APA publishes ented strand board (OSB). Loads are using the factors given. See the examples
separate design section capacities for provided for applications where the panel for proper use of panel construction and
the various Span Ratings. These values strength axis is applied across supports application adjustment factors.
are listed in APA’s Panel Design and applied parallel to supports. For each (Continued on page 5)
Specification, Form D510. The uniform combination of span and Span Rating,
loads in the following tables were loads are given for deflections of L/360,
calculated using these section capaci- L/240 and L/180 and maximum loads
ties. These loads are recommended controlled by bending and shear capacity.
The values given in Tables 1 and 2 may
be adjusted for panel type using Table 4.

A PA
THE ENGINEERED
WOOD ASSOCIATION
TABLE 1

UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON APA RATED SHEATHING, MULTI-SPAN,

NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS, PANELS 24 INCHES OR WIDER
Strength Axis(a)
Load Perpendicular to Supports Parallel to Supports
Span Governed Span Center-to-Center of Supports Span Center-to-Center
Rating(b) By (inches) of Supports (inches)
12 16 19.2 24 30 32 36 40 48 60 12 16 24
L/360 261 98 54 26 13 10 9 16 6
L/240 392 147 81 39 19 16 14 23 9
24/0 L/180 522 196 107 52 26 21 18 31 12
Bending 208 117 81 52 33 29 19 45 25
Shear 248 179 147 116 91 85 72 248 179
L/360 339 128 70 34 17 14 12 9 70 26 9
L/240 509 191 105 51 25 20 18 13 104 39 13
24/16 L/180 679 255 140 68 33 27 24 17 139 52 18
Bending 321 180 125 80 51 45 29 23 96 54 19
Shear 286 207 169 133 105 98 83 75 286 207 128
L/360 500 188 103 50 24 20 18 13 35 13 4
L/240 750 282 154 75 37 30 26 19 53 20 7
32/16 L/180 1,001 376 206 100 49 40 35 25 70 27 9
Bending 308 173 120 77 49 43 27 22 77 43 15
Shear 314 228 186 147 116 108 92 82 314 228 141
L/360 979 368 201 98 48 39 34 25 16 78 29 10
L/240 1,468 552 302 146 72 58 51 37 24 117 44 15
40/20 L/180 1,958 736 403 195 96 78 69 49 32 157 59 20
Bending 521 293 203 130 83 73 46 38 26 125 70 25
Shear 390 283 232 182 144 134 114 102 88 390 283 175
L/360 1,740 655 358 174 85 69 61 44 29 14 283 106 36
L/240 2,610 982 537 260 128 104 91 66 43 21 424 160 54
48/24 L/180 3,480 1,309 716 347 170 139 122 88 57 28 566 213 72
Bending 775 436 303 194 124 109 69 56 39 25 225 127 45
Shear 476 345 282 222 175 164 139 125 108 85 476 345 213
(a) The strength axis is the long panel dimension unless otherwise identified.
(b) Nominal thickness may vary within Span Rating. For range of thicknesses, see Table 5 of APA’s Panel Design Specification, Form D510.

TABLE 2

UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON APA RATED STURD-I-FLOOR, MULTI-SPAN,

NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS, PANELS 24 INCHES OR WIDER
Strength Axis(a)
Load Perpendicular to Supports Parallel to Supports
Span Governed Span Center-to-Center of Supports Span Center-to-Center
Rating(b) By (inches) of Supports (inches)
12 16 19.2 24 30 32 36 40 48 60 12 16 24
L/360 653 245 134 65 32 26 23 16 11 48 18
L/240 979 368 201 98 48 39 34 25 16 72 27
16 oc L/180 1,305 491 269 130 64 52 46 33 21 96 36
Bending 346 195 135 86 55 49 31 25 17 83 47
Shear 390 283 232 182 144 134 114 102 88 390 283
L/360 914 344 188 91 45 36 32 23 15 124 47 16
L/240 1,370 516 282 137 67 55 48 34 22 186 70 24
20 oc L/180 1,827 687 376 182 89 73 64 46 30 248 93 31
Bending 442 248 173 110 71 62 39 32 22 142 80 28
Shear 390 283 232 182 144 134 114 102 88 390 283 175
L/360 1,305 491 269 130 64 52 46 33 21 10 248 93 31
L/240 1,958 736 403 195 96 78 69 49 32 16 372 140 47
24 oc L/180 2,610 982 537 260 128 104 91 66 43 21 496 187 63
Bending 588 330 229 147 94 83 52 42 29 19 217 122 43
Shear 476 345 282 222 175 164 139 125 108 85 476 345 213
L/360 2,828 1,064 582 282 138 113 99 71 46 23 1,022 385 130
L/240 4,242 1,596 873 423 207 169 148 107 70 34 1,534 577 195
32 oc L/180 5,656 2,128 1,164 564 276 225 198 142 93 45 2,045 769 260
Bending 875 492 342 219 140 123 78 63 44 28 571 321 114
Shear 571 414 339 267 211 197 167 150 129 102 571 414 256
L/360 5,003 1,882 1,030 499 244 199 175 126 82 40 2,154 810 273
L/240 7,505 2,823 1,545 748 367 299 263 189 123 60 3,230 1,215 410
48 oc L/180 10,006 3,764 2,060 998 489 399 350 252 164 80 4,307 1,620 547
Bending 1,583 891 618 396 253 223 141 114 79 51 1,000 563 200
Shear 733 531 435 342 270 252 214 192 166 131 733 531 329
(a) The strength axis is the long panel dimension unless otherwise identified.
(b) Nominal thickness may vary within Span Rating. For range of thicknesses, see Table 5 of APA’s Panel Design Specification, Form D510.

© 2006 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

TABLE 3

UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON GROUP 1 SANDED PLYWOOD PANELS, MULTI-SPAN,

NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS, A-A, A-C DESIGN CAPACITIES USED
Face Grain (Strength Axis)(a)
Load Perpendicular to Supports Parallel to Supports
Thickness Governed Span Center-to-Center of Supports Span Center-to-Center
(inches) By (inches) of Supports (inches)
12 16 19.2 24 30 32 36 40 48 60 12 16 24
L/360 65 25 13 7 3
L/240 98 37 20 10 5
1/4 L/180 131 49 27 13 6
Bending 96 54 37 24 14
Shear 200 145 119 93 200
L/360 148 56 30 15 7 6 5 8
L/240 222 83 46 22 11 9 8 11
11/32 L/180 296 111 61 29 14 12 10 15
Bending 154 87 60 39 25 22 14 26
Shear 276 200 164 129 102 95 81 276
L/360 213 80 44 21 10 8 7 5 12 5
L/240 320 120 66 32 16 13 11 8 18 7
3/8 L/180 426 160 88 43 21 17 15 11 24 9
Bending 204 115 80 51 33 29 18 15 37 21
Shear 314 228 186 147 116 108 92 82 314 228
L/360 522 196 107 52 26 21 18 13 9 48 18 6
L/240 783 295 161 78 38 31 27 20 13 72 27 9
15/32 L/180 1,044 393 215 104 51 42 37 26 17 96 36 12
Bending 354 199 138 89 57 50 31 26 18 108 61 22
Shear 419 303 249 196 154 144 122 110 95 419 303 188
L/360 609 229 125 61 30 24 21 15 10 5 67 25 9
L/240 914 344 188 91 45 36 32 23 15 7 101 38 13
1/2 L/180 1,218 458 251 121 60 49 43 31 20 10 135 51 17
Bending 392 220 153 98 63 55 35 28 20 13 146 82 29
Shear 448 324 266 209 165 154 131 117 101 80 448 324 201
L/360 892 336 184 89 44 36 31 22 15 7 163 61 21
L/240 1,338 503 275 133 65 53 47 34 22 11 245 92 31
19/32 L/180 1,784 671 367 178 87 71 62 45 29 14 326 123 41
Bending 521 293 203 130 83 73 46 38 26 17 225 127 45
Shear 552 400 328 258 204 190 161 145 125 99 552 400 247
L/360 1,001 376 206 100 49 40 35 25 16 8 211 79 27
L/240 1,501 565 309 150 73 60 53 38 25 12 317 119 40
5/8 L/180 2,001 753 412 200 98 80 70 50 33 16 422 159 54
Bending 558 314 218 140 89 79 50 40 28 18 271 152 54
Shear 590 428 350 276 218 203 173 155 134 105 590 428 265
L/360 1,392 524 287 139 68 55 49 35 23 11 394 148 50
L/240 2,088 786 430 208 102 83 73 53 34 17 591 222 75
23/32 L/180 2,784 1,047 573 278 136 111 97 70 46 22 787 296 100
Bending 646 363 252 161 103 91 57 47 32 21 379 213 76
Shear 667 483 395 311 246 230 195 175 151 119 667 483 299
L/360 1,544 581 318 154 75 62 54 39 25 12 500 188 64
L/240 2,317 871 477 231 113 92 81 58 38 19 750 282 95
3/4 L/180 3,089 1,162 636 308 151 123 108 78 51 25 1,001 376 127
Bending 679 382 265 170 109 96 60 49 34 22 471 265 94
Shear 686 497 407 320 253 236 200 180 155 122 686 497 307
L/360 2,175 818 448 217 106 87 76 55 36 17 805 303 102
L/240 3,263 1,227 672 325 159 130 114 82 54 26 1,207 454 153
7/8 L/180 4,351 1,637 895 434 213 173 152 109 71 35 1,610 606 204
Bending 833 469 326 208 133 117 74 60 42 27 650 366 130
Shear 810 586 480 378 298 279 237 212 183 144 810 586 363
L/360 3,306 1,244 681 330 162 132 116 83 54 26 1,436 540 182
L/240 4,960 1,866 1,021 495 242 198 174 125 81 40 2,154 810 273
1 L/180 6,613 2,488 1,361 659 323 263 231 166 109 53 2,871 1,080 365
Bending 1,083 609 423 271 173 152 96 78 54 35 958 539 192
Shear 895 648 531 418 330 308 262 234 203 160 895 648 401
L/360 4,285 1,612 882 427 209 171 150 108 70 34 2,132 802 271
L/240 6,428 2,418 1,323 641 314 256 225 162 105 51 3,198 1,203 406
1-1/8 L/180 8,571 3,224 1,764 855 419 341 300 216 141 68 4,264 1,604 541
Bending 1,333 750 521 333 213 188 119 96 67 43 1,250 703 250
Shear 1,000 724 593 467 368 344 292 262 227 178 1,000 724 448
(a) The strength axis is the long panel dimension unless otherwise identified.

3 © 2006 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

TABLE 4 TABLE 6

ADJUSTMENTS TO ALLOWABLE LOAD CAPACITIES FOR TABLE 1 APPLICATION ADJUSTMENT

AND TABLE 2 BASED ON PANEL GRADE AND CONSTRUCTION, CC FACTORS
Strength Axis(a) Duration of Load, CD (Applies
Perpendicular to Supports Parallel to Supports to Bending and Shear Only):
Permanent load
Other Structural I Other Structural I (over 10 years) 0.90
STIFFNESS (L/360, L/240, L/180) 2 months, as for snow 1.15
3-Ply Plywood 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.5 7 days 1.25
4-Ply Plywood 1.1 1.1 2.2 3.3 Wind or earthquake 1.60
5-Ply Plywood (b) 1.1 1.1 3.1 5.2 Impact 2.00
OSB 1.0 1.0 3.1 5.2 Span Adjustments:
BENDING 2-span to 1-span
3-Ply Plywood 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.3 Deflection 0.42
4-Ply Plywood 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.7 Bending 1.00
5-Ply Plywood(b), OSB 1.2 1.2 1.8 2.8 Shear 1.25
SHEAR 3-span to 1-span
3-Ply Plywood 1.0 1.4 2.8 5.2 Deflection 0.53
4-Ply Plywood 1.2 1.4 2.9 7.9 Bending 0.80
5-Ply Plywood(b) 1.1 1.6 1.0 1.4 Shear 1.20
OSB 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
3-span to 2-span
(a) The strength axis is the long panel dimension unless otherwise identified. Deflection 1.28
(b) Adjustments apply to plywood with 5 or more layers; for 5-ply/3-layer plywood, Bending 0.80
use adjustments for 4-ply. Shear 0.96
Wet or Damp Locations, CM
(Moisture Content 16%
or more):
Deflection 0.85
TABLE 5 Bending 0.75
SANDED PLYWOOD PANEL ADJUSTMENTS, CC , TO Shear 0.75
ALLOWABLE LOAD CAPACITIES SHOWN IN TABLE 3
Strength Axis(a)
Perpendicular to Supports Parallel to Supports
Species Group A-A, A-C Marine Other A-A, A-C Marine Other TABLE 7
STIFFNESS (L/360, L/240, L/180) TYPICAL APA PANEL
1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.38 1.0 CONSTRUCTIONS FOR TABLE 1
2 0.83 NA 0.83 0.83 NA 0.83
3 0.67 NA 0.67 0.67 NA 0.67 AND TABLE 2 PANELS(a)
4 0.56 NA 0.56 0.56 NA 0.56 Span Plywood
Structural 1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.0 1.4 Rating 3-Ply 4-Ply 5-Ply(b) OSB
BENDING APA RATED SHEATHING
1 1.0 0.91 0.82 1.0 1.15 0.82 24/0 X X
2 0.7 NA 0.73 0.7 NA 0.73 24/16 X
3 0.7 NA 0.73 0.7 NA 0.73 32/16 X X X X
4 0.67 NA 0.67 0.67 NA 0.67 40/20 X X X X
48/24 X X X
Structural 1 1.0 1.0 0.91 1.40 1.0 1.15
APA RATED STURD-I-FLOOR
SHEAR 16 oc
1 1.0 1.29 1.0 1.0 1.29 1.0 20 oc X X X
2 1.0 NA 1.0 1.0 NA 1.0 24 oc X X X
3 1.0 NA 1.0 1.0 NA 1.0 32 oc X X
4 1.0 NA 1.0 1.0 NA 1.0 48 oc X X
Structural 1 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.0 1.4
(a) Constructions may not be available in
(a) The strength axis is the long panel dimension unless otherwise identified. every area. Check with suppliers concerning
availability.
NA: Not applicable, Marine Grade is always Group 1.
(b) Applies to plywood with 5 or more
layers.

4 © 2006 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

(Continued from page 1)
EXAMPLES SHOWING USE OF LOAD-SPAN TABLES
For strength axis across supports, and
EXAMPLE 1:
spans of 32 inches and less, three spans
Find the allowable uniform floor load for APA RATED SHEATHING 32/16, plywood, when
are assumed. Two spans are assumed applied at its rated span. From Table 7 it can be seen that 32/16 sheathing is available in
3-, 4- or 5-ply. Since actual construction may not be known during design, assume the
for spans greater than 32 inches. For most conservative plywood values as given in Table 1. Table 4 indicates the most conserv-
strength axis parallel to supports, tables ative values are those where the multiplier in Table 4 is 1.0. Assume 10 psf dead load,
and panel strength axis across supports 16 inches o.c. Unless stated otherwise, assume
are based on three spans for spans of floor deflection criteria to be L/360 under live load and L/240 under total load.
16 inches or less and two spans for Note: In these examples, panel type is selected for illustrative purposes. Often, specification is by
grade and Span Rating without regard to panel type, and calculations should assume the lowest
24 inches. The tables do not apply adjustments (Table 4) applicable to typical constructions (Table 7) for the specified Span Rating.
directly to panels having a single span. FROM TABLE 1
For one-span conditions, use the FOR APA RATED SHEATHING PANELS WITH
adjustment factors from Table 6. STRENGTH AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SUPPORTS:
Adjustment for Adjusted
Effects of support width have been Load Load Panel Grade and Load
Governed by (psf) Construction, Cc (psf)
considered when determining the loads L/360 188 x 1.1 = 207
based on shear and deflection. Supports L/240 282 x 1.1 = 310
L/180 376 x 1.1 = 414
are assumed to be 2x nominal members Bending 173 x 1.0 = 173
for spans less than 48 inches, and 4x Shear 228 x 1.0 = 228
Allowable total load for floors is the least of loads for L/240, bending and shear. Allowable total load
members for 48-inch and greater spans. is 173 psf.
Support-width factors are those estab- Live load is the lesser of the load for L/360, and total load, as determined above, minus dead load.
L/360 = 207 psf
lished in APA Laboratory Report 120. Total load – dead load = 173 – 10 = 163 psf
Allowable live load = 163 psf, or 165 psf (rounded to nearest 5 psf).
It is important to note that some Note: Do not increase span beyond the floor Span Rating even though the allowable uniform live load
structural panel applications are not greatly exceeds the 40 psf design live load normally used for floors. Recommended maximum span
reflects performance under concentrated and impact loads in addition to uniform load.
controlled by uniform loads. Residential
floors are a good example. They are
commonly designed for 40 psf live load.
EXAMPLE 2:
The allowable uniform floor load on
Find the allowable snow load for APA RATED STURD-I-FLOOR 24 oc, OSB, when the
panels applied at maximum span accord- panel is used as roof sheathing with the strength axis across supports spaced 32 inches
o.c. In question are several panels in the 1-span condition. Deflection criteria are L/240
ing to APA recommendations is greatly in under live load only and L/180 under total load. Assuming a 2-month duration of load
excess of the typical design loads. This for snow, allowable loads for bending and shear may be increased 15%. Assume that 10
psf dead load is supported by the Sturd-I-Floor. Find maximum roof span from the tables
excess does not mean that floor spans for in APA’s Engineered Wood Construction Guide, Form E30.
structural panels can be increased, but FROM TABLE 2
only that there is considerable reserve
FOR APA RATED STURD-I-FLOOR PANELS WITH
strength and stiffness for uniform loads. STRENGTH AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SUPPORTS:
The recommendations for panel floors Adjustment for Adjustment for Adjusted
Load Load Panel Grade and Duration of Adjustment Load
are based on performance under concen- Governed by (psf) Construction, Cc Load, CD for Span (psf)
trated loads, how the floor “feels” to L/360 52 x 1.0 x 0.53 = 28
L/240 78 x 1.0 x 0.53 = 41
passing foot traffic, and other subjective L/180 104 x 1.0 x 0.53 = 55
factors that relate to public acceptance. Bending 83 x 1.2 x 1.15 x 0.80 = 92
Shear 164 x 1.0 x 1.15 x 1.20 = 226
Always check the maximum floor and
Allowable total load is the lesser of the load for L/180, bending and shear. Allowable total load is
roof spans for structural panels before 55 psf.
Live load is the lesser of the load for L/240, and total load as determined above minus dead load.
making a final panel selection L/240 = 41 psf
Total load – dead load = 55 – 10 = 45 psf
for these applications.
In this case, live load is governed by deflection of L/240: Allowable live load = 41 psf, or 40 psf
(rounded to nearest 5 psf).

5 © 2006 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

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DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein is based on
APA – The Engineered Wood Association’s
continuing programs of laboratory testing,
product research, and comprehensive field
experience. Neither APA, nor its members
make any warranty, expressed or implied, or
assume any legal liability or responsibility for
the use, application of, and/or reference to
opinions, findings, conclusions, or recom-
mendations included in this publication.
Consult your local jurisdiction or design pro-
fessional to assure compliance with code,
construction, and performance requirements.
Because APA has no control over quality of
workmanship or the conditions under which
engineered wood products are used, it can-
not accept responsibility for product perfor-
mance or designs as actually constructed.

Form No. Q225E

Revised May 2006/0100

A PA
THE ENGINEERED
WOOD ASSOCIATION