Holes

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guschash

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I was in a home owners basement the other day and he just had a 200 amp panel in installed . The work was done neatly and looked very nicely done. But I notice that they drilled two inch holes in the joists. It was was in the center of joist. I know rule 1/3 from top and bottom but is a 2" allow? I was under the impression that 3/4 " was the max a hole should be.
 
guschash said:
I was in a home owners basement the other day and he just had a 200 amp panel in installed . The work was done neatly and looked very nicely done. But I notice that they drilled two inch holes in the joists. It was was in the center of joist. I know rule 1/3 from top and bottom but is a 2" allow? I was under the impression that 3/4 " was the max a hole should be.
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No To the max 3/4.

How would plumbing ever be installed?
the rule is 1/3 the depth and certain places in the span.
so that better be at least a 2X8 joist

The diameter of holes bored or cut into members shall not exceed one-third the depth of the member. Holes shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the top or bottom of the member, or to any other hole located in the member. Where the member is also notched, the hole shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the notch.
 
The 1/3 rule is not that a hole has to be in the center 1/3 of the height.

Instead, the hole cannot be any larger than the height. A 2x10 can have up to a 3-1/8" hole in it.

But each hole has to be at least 2 inches away from any edge or any other holes
 
Hv&Lv said:
No To the max 3/4.

How would plumbing ever be installed?
the rule is 1/3 the depth and certain places in the span.
so that better be at least a 2X8 joist

The diameter of holes bored or cut into members shall not exceed one-third the depth of the member. Holes shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the top or bottom of the member, or to any other hole located in the member. Where the member is also notched, the hole shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the notch.
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Engineered framing members can have different rules though. Some you maybe don't drill at all and others you may be able to put larger holes into than regular lumber members.

How long the span is can also come into play here. If you have a floor above you but are drilling joists in a ceiling in say a closet on your level and those joists have additional support by the closet walls....even though those closet walls are not necessarily considered load bearing walls they still help. Building inspector still may not always agree though.
 
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