Standard Duty Load Tables

Design basis

• Material: carbon steel, ASTM A1011 / A36-equivalent, F_y = 36 ksi (250 MPa).
• Pattern: welded 19-W-4 (bearing bars on 1-3/16" / 30 mm centers, cross bars on 4" / 100 mm centers).
• Bearing bar thickness: 3/16" (5 mm).
• Allowable bending stress: 0.66 F_y = 24 ksi (165 MPa) per AISC ASD.
• Deflection reference: L/240 for walkways, L/360 for office / public access.
• Support condition: simple span, two ends, banded panel.

Allowable uniform load — welded 19-W-4, 3/16" bearing bar

Preliminary reference only: values are in pounds per square foot (psf) for the assumptions stated above. They are not a certified product table and do not cover concentrated, dynamic, fatigue, impact, uplift or vehicle loads. Verify material, tolerances, support, load factors and deflection for the exact order. 1 psf ≈ 47.9 N/m² (0.0479 kPa).

Typical walkway selection — 100 psf uniform

Press-locked grating (swage-locked)

Do not apply a universal reduction factor to welded-grating values. Press-locked capacity depends on the exact bar geometry, material and manufacturing process. Request the producer's table or a calculation for the proposed construction.

Typical applications

• Industrial walkways, catwalks and access platforms when checked against the project's uniform and concentrated loads.
• Mezzanines and equipment platforms after code- and use-specific load verification.
• Trench and pit covers with light pedestrian loading.
• Architectural sunscreens, ventilation grilles, and facade infill.

FAQ — standard duty load tables

What bearing bar depth do I need for a 36" span at 100 psf?

A 1" × 3/16" bearing bar (19-W-4) provides 195 psf allowable — nearly 2× the design load — and satisfies L/240 deflection.

Are these values for carbon steel or stainless?

Values assume carbon steel F_y = 36 ksi. For stainless 304/316 (F_y ≈ 30 ksi), multiply by 0.83. For aluminum 6061-T6 (F_y ≈ 35 ksi but E ≈ 10,000 ksi), deflection controls — request a dedicated table.

Does panel banding affect capacity?

Banding restrains the bearing bars at the support and is standard on welded panels. It does not change allowable uniform load in the table; unbanded panels may reduce capacity by ~10% near the edges.

Can I use the same table for concentrated loads?

No. Concentrated and uniform loads produce different effects and are not interchangeable. Check the stated contact area and position separately using the exact construction and support condition.

What tolerance applies to span?

Tabulated values assume clear span between support flanges. If the panel overhangs the support, effective span is center-to-center of bearing plus half bar depth each side. Request a project-specific load verification.