Do I need an RSJ? All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[deeley_s]

I have an internal wall that sits slap bang in the middle of the joist run across the house. It's just plasterboard and batten - clearly not intended to be structural - but our bath and my kid's metal bed are either side of it. My builder says it isn't structural and can come out, but I'm wondering if an RSJ or a wooden beam might be a good idea because of the load above it. Any views ?

Steve

[eljaybee]

it all depends upon the size of the joists, their spacing and the distance that they span.

[LCL]

Following on from eljaybee's comments. You'd need to check the trada span tables for joist sizes as they are no longer in the building regs (Part A 2004). As a rule of thumb the depth of floor joists should be half the span plus 1. A 12' span therefore = 7" deep joists (all on the assumption that joists are 2" wide).

Be careful as stud partitioning can still be structural.

Hope this helps

LCL

[TheDoctor5]

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