This chart is not for final design of formwork, which should be done only by a professional

engineer; this chart is for conceptual evaluation and cost estimating of formwork. The numbers in
red indicate the capacity when the timber beam is configured as a simple span; the values in black
are for spans continuous over three spans or more. The Class A lumber that this chart is based on
has a modulus of elasticity of 1.6 ksi, bending strength of 1500 psi, and shear strength of 180 psi;
capacity values are based on a deflection limit of L/360. The higher limit for load capacity is 3000
pounds per lineal foot.
Load capacities (pounds/square foot) for estimating the thickness
of form panels and center-to-center span across supports
Plyform thickness (inch)
Span
(inches)
30.0
29.0
28.0
27.0
26.0
25.0
24.0
23.0
22.0
21.0
20.0
19.2
19.0
18.0
17.0
16.0
15.0
14.0
13.7
13.0
12.0
11.0
10.6
10.0
9.6
9.0
8.7
8.0
7.4
7.0
6.8
6.4
6.0
5.6
5.33
5.05
5.0
4.8
4.57
4.36

1/2

5/8

3/4

7/8

1 1/8

-----------100
103
122
144
173
210
257
274
319
402
514
553
622
675
768
822
972
1136
1269
1345
1504
1638
1797
1924
2076
2105
2233
2400
2577

--------106
122
141
158
163
191
225
267
320
388
412
475
577
687
739
831
901
1026
1098
1258
1386
1486
1543
1668
1817
1994
2135
2303
2336
2477
2663
2859

------119
135
153
175
201
225
232
269
314
370
439
526
556
625
733
873
940
1056
1146
1303
1395
1581
1741
1868
1939
2097
2283
2506
2683
2894
2936
3114
3347
3593

--109
121
134
150
168
189
213
242
276
308
317
365
424
495
581
688
722
802
941
1120
1206
1355
1470
1631
1699
1882
2074
2224
2308
2497
2719
2984
3194
3446
3495
3707
3985
4278

123
136
149
165
183
204
228
255
287
324
368
408
419
480
552
639
744
873
911
1022
1188
1411
1473
1577
1655
1787
1862
2062
2272
2437
2529
2736
2979
3269
3500
3776
3830
4062
4366
4687

153
167
184
203
224
249
277
309
346
388
438
484
496
564
645
741
856
995
1043
1165
1368
1570
1639
1755
1841
1989
2072
2295
2528
2712
2814
3044
3314
3638
3894
4201
4261
4520
4858
5215

4.17
4.0

2760
2948

3062
3270

3848
4110

4582
4893

5021
5362

5586
5966

Load capacity (pounds per lineal foot) for joists and studs of Class A
formwork lumber
Span
(inches)
72
66
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
18
12
Span
(inches)
72
66
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
18

Nominal lumber dimensions (inches)

2x4

3x4

2x6

4x4

3x6

2x8

4x6

---100
175
240
330
500
775
1180
2400

100
100
150
200
300
415
560
850
1215
1950
3000

175
225
275
325
485
600
735
1000
1500
2800
3000

175
225
250
350
435
575
800
1125
1715
2700
3000

200
300
400
600
750
1035
1325
1725
2550
3000

350
400
500
600
745
925
1200
1650
2700
3000

400
500
700
800
1100
1450
1850
2400
3000

Nominal lumber dimensions (inches)

2x10

3x8

2x12

4x8

600
700
800
1000
1125
1425
1900
2900
3000

600
750
900
1200
1285
1605
2075
2800
3000

800
950
1100
1400
1575
2100
3000

800
1000
1200
1550
1800
2215
2815
3000

12
COPYRIGHT 2003 Hanley-Wood, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning