According to Tennessee building codes, what is the maximum allowable deflection for a residential floor joist under live load?
Correct Answer
A) L/360
Tennessee building codes specify maximum deflection of L/360 for residential floor joists under live load conditions.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
L/360 is the standard maximum allowable deflection for residential floor joists under live load as specified in the International Residential Code (IRC), which Tennessee has adopted. L represents the span length; dividing by 360 gives the maximum allowable sag in inches.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: L/480
L/480 is a stricter (lower) deflection limit, sometimes used for plastered ceilings or specialty applications, but it is not the standard live load limit for floor joists. Choosing L/480 would mean almost no deflection is allowed — more restrictive than required.
Option C: L/300
L/300 is less restrictive than the code requires for floor joists under live load. This limit would allow more bounce/deflection than is acceptable for a finished residential floor.
Option D: L/240
L/240 is even less restrictive and is typically used for roof members or non-structural elements. For floor joists under live load, it would allow too much deflection, creating a bouncy or uncomfortable floor.
Memory Technique
Floor joists = L/360 under LIVE load. Think '360 degrees = a full circle = a solid, complete floor.' For roofs (total load), think L/240. For stricter finishes, L/480.
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A Tennessee contractor has 8 employees working on a residential project. The total weekly payroll is $6,400. If the workers' compensation rate for residential construction is $8.50 per $100 of payroll, what is the weekly workers' compensation premium?
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According to Tennessee building codes, what is the maximum allowable deflection for floor joists under live load?