Under Nevada building codes, what is the maximum allowable span for 2×10 floor joists spaced 16 inches on center in residential construction?
Correct Answer
B) 16 feet 5 inches
Nevada follows IRC standards where 2×10 floor joists at 16" o.c. have a maximum span of 16 feet 5 inches for residential floors.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Nevada adopts IRC span tables, which establish 16 feet 5 inches as the maximum allowable span for No. 2 Southern Pine or comparable species 2×10 floor joists spaced 16 inches on center, assuming a 40 psf live load and 10 psf dead load for residential floors.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 18 feet 0 inches
18 feet 0 inches exceeds safe structural limits for a 2×10 at 16" o.c. — that span would require a larger member such as a 2×12 or reduced spacing to maintain adequate bending strength and deflection control.
Option C: 13 feet 6 inches
13 feet 6 inches is well within the safe span and would be overly conservative, wasting material. That figure is closer to the allowable span for a smaller 2×8 joist at the same spacing.
Option D: 15 feet 2 inches
15 feet 2 inches is a plausible but incorrect figure. It may correspond to a different species grade or a higher load assumption (e.g., 50 psf live load), not the standard residential 40 psf table value.
Memory Technique
Think '16 and 16-5': a 2×10 at 16" spacing spans just over 16 feet. The joist depth (10 inches) and spacing (16") share the same number, making it easy to remember the span is just above 16 feet.
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