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Page 1

Load-Span Tables
for PS-1 Plywood
Number Z802K
March 1998
Load-span tables for specific wood
structural panel applications are
included in several APA publications.
Recommended loads for sheathing and
flooring applications in these publications directly reflect minimum performance criteria given in Voluntary
Product Standard PS 1-95, Voluntary
Product Standard PS 2-92 and in
APA PRP-108 Performance Standards
and Policies for Structural-Use Panels.
To qualify for a given Span Rating under
these standards, a panel must meet all
of the criteria for that rating. As a result,
mechanical properties that are characteristic of APA wood structural panels
are actually greater than the minimum
necessary to pass one criterion.
Because it is sometimes necessary to
have engineering design information
for PS-1 plywood for conditions not
specifically covered in the other APA
literature, APA publishes separate
design section properties and working
stresses for the various grades and
thicknesses. These values are listed in
APAs Plywood Design Specification
(PDS), and are recognized by the
model building codes. The uniform
loads in the following tables were
calculated using these properties and
stresses, or resulting section capacities
for the various Span Ratings. These
loads are recommended when
engineering principles are used for
design. It is important to remember
that structural engineering principles

alone do not necessarily take into

account other factors, such as moisture and thermal conditions, which
may impact design.
The following load-span tables apply to
sanded, touch-sanded, and unsanded
plywood manufactured in accordance
with Voluntary Product Standard
PS 1-95, with face grain parallel to supports, and face grain across supports. For
each combination of span and thickness
(or Span Rating), loads are given for
deflections of L/360, L/240 and L/180,
and maximum loads controlled by bending and shear capacity. Uniform loads for
some applications can be read directly
from the tables. In other cases, the values
given in the tables should be adjusted for
special conditions using the factors listed
in the Table of Adjustment Factors.
Table 1 applies to unsanded plywood
and is based on APA RATED SHEATHING (marked PS 1) grade. For touchsanded grades such as C-D Plugged,
C-C Plugged, UNDERLAYMENT and
APA RATED STURD-I-FLOOR (marked
PS 1), see Table 2. Table 3 applies to
sanded grades such as A-D and B-D.
The tables also assume dry conditions,
normal duration of load, and untreated
plywood with interior glue. For other
conditions, the loads should be appropriately adjusted using the factors given. For
instance, roof loads based on bending
and shear stress may be increased 15%
for short duration of snow load. See the
examples for proper application of adjustment factors. Further details on plywood
stresses and adjustments are given in the
PLYWOOD DESIGN SPECIFICATION.

For face grain across supports, and spans

of 32" and less, three spans are assumed,
and two spans for spans greater than 32".
For face grain parallel to supports, tables
are based on three spans for spans of 16"
and less, and two spans for 24". The
tables do not apply directly to plywood
having a single span. For one-span conditions, use the span adjustment factors.
Effects of support width have been
considered when determining the loads
based on shear and deflection. Supports
are assumed to be 2x nominal members
for spans less than 48", and 4x members
for 48" and greater spans. Support-width
factors are those established by APA
Laboratory Report 120.
It is important to note that some plywood
applications are not controlled by uniform loads. Residential floors are a good
example. They are commonly designed
for 40 psf live load. The allowable uniform floor load on plywood applied at
maximum span according to APA recommendations is greatly in excess of the
typical design loads. This excess does not
mean that floor spans for plywood can be
increased, but only that there is considerable reserve strength and stiffness for
uniform loads. Actually, the recommendations for plywood floors are based on
performance under concentrated loads,
how the floor feels to passing foot
traffic, and other subjective factors which
relate to public acceptance. Always check
the maximum floor and roof spans for
plywood before making a final plywood
selection for these applications.

A P A
T h e E n g i n e e r e d Wo o d A s s o c i a t i o n
1998 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

1998 APA THE ENGINEERED WOOD ASSOCIATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY COPYING, MODIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR OTHER USE OF THIS PUBLICATION OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY APA IS PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.

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Page 2

TABLE OF ADJUSTMENT FACTORS

Duration of Load (Applies to Bending and Shear Only):
Permanent load (over 10 years)
0.90
2 months, as for snow
1.15
7 days
1.25
Wind or earthquake (check local code)
1.6 or 1.33
Impact
2.00
Basic Stresses for Plywood Grades:
Exposure 1 or exterior glue
STRUCTURAL I
Groups 2 and 3 for sanded or touch sanded
(Tables 2 & 3)

Fire-Retardant Treatments:
Check with company providing the treatment and redrying service for
adjustment recommendations.
Wet or Damp Locations (Moisture Content 16% or more):
Exterior and Exposure 1 (Interior with exterior glue) only
Deflection
0.83
Bending
0.70
Shear
0.83

1.10 (shear)
1.56 (shear)

Span Adjustments:
2-span to 1-span
Deflection
Bending
Shear
3-span to 1-span
Deflection
Bending
Shear

0.73 (bending)
0.67 (deflection)

Group 4 for sanded or touch sanded

(Tables 2 & 3)

0.67 (bending)
0.56 (deflection)

Preservative Treatment:
No adjustment required

0.42
1.00
1.25
0.53
0.80
1.20

TABLE 1
UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON UNSANDED (SPAN RATED) PLYWOOD PANELS
MULTI-SPAN, NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS
Span
Rating

Load
Governed
By

Face Grain Parallel to Supports

Span, Center-to-Center
of Supports (inches)

Face Grain Across Supports

Span, Center-to-Center of Supports (inches)
12

16

19.2

24

30

32

12/0

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

92
138
184
117
234

37
55
73
66
170

21
31
41
46
139

10
15
20
29
109

16/0

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

110
165
220
126
234

44
66
88
71
170

25
37
49
49
139

12
18
24
31
109

6
8
12
20
86

20/0

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

165
247
329
154
234

66
99
132
87
170

37
55
74
60
139

18
27
36
39
109

9
14
18
25
86

7
11
15
22
81

24/0

L/360
L240
L/180
Bending
Shear

278
417
556
208
284

114
171
227
117
206

64
96
129
81
168

32
48
64
52
132

16
24
32
33
105

13
20
26
29
98

11
17
23
19
83

32/16

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

420
631
841
293
358

181
271
362
165
259

105
157
209
114
212

53
80
106
73
167

27
40
54
47
132

22
33
44
41
123

19
29
39
26
105

14
21
28
21
94

40/20

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

657
985
1313
522
457

298
447
596
293
331

176
265
353
204
271

91
137
183
130
213

47
70
94
83
168

39
58
77
73
157

34
51
68
46
134

25
37
49
38
120

16
25
33
26
104

48/24

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1073
1609
2145
646
590

511
767
1023
363
428

311
466
622
252
350

165
248
330
161
276

86
129
172
103
218

71
107
142
91
203

62
94
125
57
173

46
69
92
47
155

31
46
61
32
134

1-1/8"
(Groups
1 & 2)

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1677
2516
3355
1047
911

904
1357
1809
589
659

590
885
1181
409
540

338
506
675
262
425

186
280
373
168
335

156
234
312
147
313

137
206
274
93
266

102
154
205
75
238

70
105
140
52
206

36

40

48

60

12

16

24

8
11
15
27
552

3
4
6
15
400

8
12
16
28
499

3
5
6
16
361

10
15
20
31
411

4
6
8
17
298

17
26
35
46
236

7
10
14
26
171

32
48
64
77
225

13
19
26
44
163

5
7
9
15
101

66
98
131
125
284

28
41
55
70
206

10
15
20
25
127

15
23
30
21
105

217
325
434
319
330

95
142
189
180
239

35
52
70
64
148

36
53
71
34
162

1062
1593
2124
768
725

515
773
1031
432
525

206
309
412
154
325

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TABLE 2
UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON TOUCH-SANDED (GROUP 1 OR SPAN RATED) PLYWOOD PANELS
MULTI-SPAN, NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS
Thickness
Load
(inches)
Governed
or Span
By
Rating

Face Grain Parallel to Supports

Span, Center-to-Center
of Supports (inches)

Face Grain Across Supports

Span, Center-to-Center of Supports (inches)
12

16

19.2

24

30

32

36

40

48

60

12

16

24

40
61
81
84
251

17
25
34
47
182

6
9
12
17
113

1/2
or
16 oc

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

433
650
867
345
389

197
295
393
194
281

116
175
233
135
231

60
91
121
86
181

31
46
62
55
143

25
38
51
49
134

22
34
45
31
114

16
24
33
25
102

11
16
22
17
88

19/32,
5/8 or
20 oc

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

607
911
1214
401
490

275
413
551
225
354

163
245
326
157
290

85
127
169
100
228

43
65
87
64
180

36
54
71
56
169

31
47
63
36
143

23
34
46
29
128

15
23
30
20
111

7
11
15
13
87

109
164
219
186
295

46
69
92
105
214

17
25
33
37
132

23/32,
3/4 or
24 oc

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

915
1373
1831
535
602

436
655
873
301
436

265
398
531
209
357

141
211
282
134
281

73
110
147
86
222

61
91
121
75
207

53
80
107
48
176

39
59
78
39
158

26
39
52
27
136

13
19
26
17
107

197
295
393
287
333

86
129
171
161
241

32
47
63
57
149

1-1/8
2-4-1
(Groups 1,
2 or 3)
or 48 oc

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1884
2826
3768
1343
1029

1016
1524
2032
755
745

663
995
1326
524
610

379
569
758
336
480

209
314
419
215
379

175
263
351
189
354

154
231
308
119
301

115
172
230
97
269

78
118
157
67
233

40
60
80
43
184

1202
1803
2405
1022
781

583
875
1167
575
566

233
349
466
204
350

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1998 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

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Page 4

TABLE 3
UNIFORM LOADS (PSF) ON GROUP 1 SANDED PLYWOOD PANELS
MULTI-SPAN, NORMAL DURATION OF LOAD, DRY CONDITIONS
Load
Thickness
Governed
(inches)
By

Face Grain Parallel to Supports

Span, Center-to-Center
of Supports (inches)

Face Grain Across Supports

Span, Center-to-Center of Supports (inches)
12

16

19.2

24

30

32

36

11/32

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

139
209
278
128
253

56
84
112
72
183

32
47
63
50
150

16
24
31
32
118

8
12
16
20
93

6
10
13
18
87

3/8

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

192
288
384
172
282

79
118
157
97
204

44
67
89
67
167

22
33
44
43
132

11
17
22
27
104

15/32

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

428
642
856
294
376

182
273
363
166
272

104
157
209
115
223

53
79
105
74
175

1/2

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

483
724
966
325
408

208
312
415
183
296

120
180
240
127
242

19/32

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

649
973
1297
433
500

290
435
581
244
362

5/8

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

701
1052
1403
466
532

23/32

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

40

48

60

12

16

24

6
8
11
11
74

8
12
16
22
237

3
5
6
12
171

1
2
2
4
106

9
14
18
24
97

8
12
16
15
82

12
18
23
32
321

5
7
9
18
232

2
2
3
6
144

27
40
53
47
139

22
33
43
41
129

19
29
38
26
110

14
21
28
21
98

9
14
18
15
85

45
68
90
92
223

18
27
36
52
161

6
10
13
18
100

61
91
122
81
191

31
46
62
52
150

25
38
50
46
141

22
33
44
29
119

16
24
32
23
107

11
16
21
16
92

63
95
126
120
252

26
38
51
67
182

9
14
18
24
113

171
256
342
169
297

88
132
176
108
233

45
67
90
69
184

37
55
74
61
172

33
49
65
39
146

24
35
47
31
131

16
23
31
22
113

8
12
15
14
89

143
215
286
188
262

60
89
119
106
189

21
32
43
38
117

318
477
636
262
386

188
283
377
182
316

98
147
195
117
248

50
75
100
75
196

41
62
82
66
183

36
54
72
41
156

26
40
53
34
139

17
26
35
23
121

9
13
17
15
95

180
270
360
226
285

76
113
151
127
206

27
41
54
45
128

870
1305
1740
535
602

410
615
819
301
436

247
371
495
209
357

131
196
261
134
281

68
102
136
86
222

56
84
112
75
207

49
74
98
48
176

36
54
72
39
158

24
36
48
27
136

12
18
24
17
107

311
466
621
318
349

134
201
268
179
253

49
74
98
64
156

3/4

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

922
1382
1843
567
618

439
659
879
319
448

267
401
534
221
367

142
213
284
142
289

74
111
148
91
228

61
92
122
80
213

54
81
107
50
181

39
59
79
41
162

26
39
52
28
140

13
20
26
18
110

382
573
764
392
373

166
250
333
220
270

61
92
123
78
167

7/8

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1116
1675
2233
708
736

557
836
1115
398
533

347
521
695
277
437

189
284
378
177
343

100
151
201
113
271

83
125
167
100
253

73
110
146
63
215

54
81
108
51
193

36
54
72
35
167

18
27
36
23
131

570
855
1139
542
464

258
386
515
305
336

97
146
195
108
208

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1460
2190
2920
913
812

760
1139
1519
514
588

485
727
970
357
482

271
406
541
228
379

147
220
293
146
299

122
183
244
128
280

107
161
215
81
237

80
119
159
66
213

54
81
108
46
184

27
41
54
29
145

912
1368
1824
813
643

427
641
855
457
466

166
249
332
163
288

1-1/8

L/360
L/240
L/180
Bending
Shear

1632
2448
3264
1128
904

880
1320
1760
634
654

574
861
1149
440
536

328
493
657
282
422

181
272
363
180
333

152
228
304
159
311

133
200
267
100
264

100
149
199
81
237

68
102
136
56
205

35
52
69
36
161

1199
1799
2399
1023
771

582
873
1164
575
558

232
349
465
205
345

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Page 5

Examples Showing Use of Plywood Load-Span Tables

Example 1: Find the allowable uniform floor load for APA RATED SHEATHING 32/16
Exposure 1. Assume 10 psf dead load, and face grain across supports 16" o.c. Unless
stated otherwise, assume floor deflection criteria to be L/360 under live load only and
L/240 under total load.

Load
Adjustment
Governed Load
for
Load
By
(psf) Exposure 1 (psf)
L/360

181

181

L/240

271

271

L/180

362

362

Bending

165

Shear

259

From Table 1, for Unsanded Panels with Face Grain Across Supports:
Allowable total load for floors is the least of loads for L/240, bending and shear.
Allowable total load is 165 psf.
Live load is the lesser of the load for L/360 and total load as determined above, minus
dead load.

165
x

1.10 =

285

L/360 = 181 psf

Total load dead load = 165 10 = 155 psf
Allowable live load is 155 psf.
Note: Do not increase span even though the allowable uniform live load greatly exceeds the 40 psf design live load normally used for floor design. Recommended
maximum span reflects performance under concentrated and impact loads in addition to uniform load.

Example 2: Find allowable snow loads on

APA RATED SHEATHING 48/24 Exposure
1 if face grain is across supports spaced 32"
o.c. In question are several panels in the 1span condition. Deflection criteria are
L/240 under live load only and L/180
under total load. Assuming a 2-month
duration of load for snow, allowable loads
for bending and shear may be increased
15%. Assume 10 psf dead load supported
by the plywood.

Load
Governed
By

Adjustment
for Duration
of Load

Load
(psf)

Adjustment
for
Exposure 1

Adjustment
for Span

Adjusted
Load
(psf)

L/360

71

0.53

38

L/240

107

0.53

57

L/180

142

0.53

75

Bending

91

1.15

0.80

84

Shear

203

1.15

1.20

308

1.10

From Table 1, for Unsanded Panels with Face Grain Across Supports:
Allowable total load is the least of loads for L/180, bending and shear. Allowable total load is 75 psf.
Live load is the lesser of total load minus dead load (75 10 = 65 psf), and load at L/240 (57 psf).
In this case, live load is controlled by deflection of L/240: Allowable live load = 57 psf, or 55 psf (rounded to nearest 5 psf).
Example 3: Find allowable soil pressure
on 23/32" APA C-C Plugged Group 1
EXT if supports are 16" o.c. Face grain is
across supports. Deflection need not be
considered. Assume soil pressure is
permanent load.
From Table 2, for Group 1 Touch-Sanded
Panels with Face Grain Across Supports:

Load
Governed
By

Load
(psf)

Adjustment
for Duration
of Load

Adjustment
for
Moisture

Adjustment
for
Exterior Glue

Adjusted
Load
(psf)

L/360

436

.83

362

L/240

655

.83

544

L/180

873

.83

725

Bending

301

0.90

.70

190

Shear

436

0.90

.83

358

1.10

Allowable load = 190 psf.

5
1998 APA - The Engineered Wood Association

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Page 6

We have field representatives in most

major U.S. cities and in Canada who can
help answer questions involving APA
trademarked products. For additional
assistance in specifying APA engineered
wood products, get in touch with your
nearest APA regional office. Call or write:
WESTERN REGION
7011 So. 19th St. P.O. Box 11700
Tacoma, Washington 98411-0700
(253) 565-6600 Fax: (253) 565-7265
EASTERN REGION
2130 Barrett Park Drive, Suite 102
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-3681
(770) 427-9371 Fax: (770) 423-1703
U.S. HEADQUARTERS
AND INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING DIVISION
7011 So. 19th St. P.O. Box 11700
Tacoma, Washington 98411-0700
(253) 565-6600 Fax: (253) 565-7265

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www.apawood.org
PRODUCT SUPPORT HELP DESK
(253) 620-7400
E-mail Address: help@apawood.org
(Offices: Antwerp, Belgium; Bournemouth,
United Kingdom; Hamburg, Germany;
Mexico City, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan.) For
Caribbean/Latin America, contact
headquarters in Tacoma.
The product use recommendations in this
publication are based on APA The
Engineered Wood Associations continuing
programs of laboratory testing, product
research, and comprehensive field experience. However, because the Association has
no control over quality of workmanship or
the conditions under which engineered wood
products are used, it cannot accept responsibility for product performance or designs as
actually constructed. Because engineered
wood product performance requirements
vary geographically, consult your local architect, engineer or design professional to
assure compliance with code, construction,
and performance requirements.
Form No. Z802
Revised March 1998/0100

A P A
T h e E n g i n e e r e d Wo o d A s s o c i a t i o n
1998 APA - The Engineered Wood Association