Will the ceiling collapse?

[TrustJesus]

I am in the process of dividing my pole barn into a work/play area. I have another thread here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187815

My pole barn is 30x60, so my area will be 30x30. As with most pole barns, the trusses are not typically made for bearing weight.

I am making a ceiling using 2x4's (16"OC) between the trusses - it is 9ft between the joists (is that what the lower 2x6 of a truss is called?). I am then insulating with faced rolls and then plan on hanging drywall to the 2x4's.

DO I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRUSSES/JOISTS NOT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CEILING?

The trusses are framed and attached to either 2x6's or 2'x4's using those galvanzied steel connector plates. Will the weight of the 2x4's, insulation, and drywall cause a problem for my ceiling?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[bczygan]

Gonna hang lights too?

The design specs for your structure will tell you what wind and snow loads it was designed for. There is a safety factor so you are unlikely to cause structural failure, even with design loads, but you may have more than the designed deflection.

 

[D.J.]

?Jesus you left out a ey to the puzzle,eve height on existing building?

 

[readhead]

What bczygan said. Your looking for the collateral load for the roof system. For what you want to do you should be in the 5-7 lb range.

 

[TrustJesus]

The eve height is 9' (even with the bottom chord of the truss that I am attaching the ceiling to).

No, I will be using the existing lights, not hanging any.

The "5-7 lb range" for what readhead? Per foot?

 

[TrustJesus]

Is this a good article on what you are talking about?
http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2012/02/collateral-loads/

Maybe you can translate it for me based on my barn measurements. It is a 30x60 foot, 9' bottom chord, 15' peak room?

Does that help?

 

[MN BIANCHI]

For what it is worth my pole barn has a fully insulated ceiling made of metal. Basically the same material used on the exterior. However my roof trusses are 4 ft on center, so I have roughly twice as many as you have.

My building was designed to have an enclosed ceiling with insulation.

 

[Architorture]

9'-0" span is approaching the max for a 2x4 ceiling @ 16" o.c. have you given any thoughts as to how you are going to hang the ceiling structure below the bottom cord?

in terms of the trusses taking the load, the ceiling structure load won't be too substantial compared to the snow loads that the trusses were likely designed to accommodate.

you might also consider looking at a light gauge drop ceiling system designed to carry gypsum board. you will save on weight but will probably cost a bit more.

 

[KPSquared]

Why not just do steel like most pole buildings with trusses at 4' OC?

Going to all the work of hanging 2x4's plus sheet rock, plus mud, tape, sand, paint seems like a boatload of work compared to "screw up metal, blow in insulation"

 

[readhead]

That was an excellent article. The number I indicated, 5-7 lbs is per square foot average throughout the building. The fact that you have trusses tells me that a calculation was done and the information should be avaliable. I sell and erect metal buildings and this is always about fifth on our list of questions. It has significant impact on not only the roof design but also the reactions throughout the building. I would go back to the building supplier and ask for the info. Hopefully you will get the answer you want. Keep in mind also that unless these are attic trusses nothing should be stored up there.

 

[nehog]

Get the engineering specifications for your building. There will be several roof load specs: live load (snow, people, etc.) and dead load (ceiling, lights, etc.) The dead load number is what you want. Next compute what the ceiling will weigh, per foot (loads are given in sq ft) and if below the number, good. If not, don't do it.

FWIW my steel building is rated at 1 lb/sq ft dead load. So were I to hang a ceiling on half of it, it could weigh no more that 1800 x 1 / 2, or 900 lb. And that dead load has to include the lighting, wiring, insulation and everything, not just the framing.

 

[readhead]

Nehog is right. In our business we call it collateral load but it is the same thing.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

For what it is worth my pole barn has a fully insulated ceiling made of metal. Basically the same material used on the exterior. However my roof trusses are 4 ft on center, so I have roughly twice as many as you have.

My building was designed to have an enclosed ceiling with insulation.

Your building sounds like typical Minnesota build: heavy duty pole shed trusses spaced 4' on center... The local lumber yard here was constructed the same way.. Steel ceiling and well insulated..

 

[KPSquared]

This thread makes me want to find out what kind of loads my storage trusses are rated for and if there is any way to increase load capacity after the fact.

Time to dig out the truss drawings I had sent to me when I built the place.

 

[Highbeam]

My pole barn is also 30x60, the trusses are stout though since I have pairs of them 12' on center, around each pole. Not a header setup.

Anyway, the trusses were spec'd for a 10 lb per square foot dead load on the bottom chord. Sheetrock and framing is generally only 5 lbs.

I ran 2x6 ceiling joists between the trusses 24" on center and attached them with simpson joist hangers. This takes a long time.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

What about a suspended ceiling with wire ties, metal rails and ceiling tiles? Easy to insulate and would weigh less than 2x4 construction.