Mastering Vulcraft Span Tables: A Comprehensive Guide
In the realm of structural engineering, Vulcraft span tables are indispensable tools for designing and specifying joist and deck systems. These tables, provided by Nucor Corporation, offer a wealth of information to streamline your workflow and ensure your structures are safe, efficient, and code-compliant. Let's delve into the world of Vulcraft span tables, exploring their purpose, how to use them, and their benefits.
Understanding Vulcraft Span Tables
Vulcraft span tables are designed to help engineers and architects determine the appropriate joist or deck system for a given span and live load. They provide a range of joist depths and corresponding live loads for various span lengths, ensuring that your chosen system can safely support the anticipated loads. The tables are organized by joist type, including open web steel joists (OWSJ), metal deck systems, and composite joists.
Key Components of Vulcraft Span Tables
- Joist Type: The table's organization by joist type allows you to quickly identify the appropriate system for your project's needs.
- Span Length: The span length determines the joist's required depth and strength to resist bending moments caused by loads.
- Live Load: The live load represents the anticipated weight that the joist will support, including occupancy, equipment, and other variable loads.
- Joist Depth: The joist depth is a critical dimension that affects the joist's strength, stiffness, and overall performance.
How to Use Vulcraft Span Tables
Using Vulcraft span tables is a straightforward process. First, identify the joist type that best suits your project's requirements. Next, locate the appropriate span length in the table. Then, find the corresponding live load that matches or exceeds your project's anticipated live load. The intersecting cell will provide you with the required joist depth for that specific combination of span length and live load.

| Span Length (ft) | Live Load (psf) | Joist Depth (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 40 | 8 |
| 12 | 40 | 10 |
| 14 | 40 | 12 |
In the example above, for a 12-foot span with a live load of 40 psf, a joist depth of 10 inches would be required for an OWSJ system.
The Benefits of Using Vulcraft Span Tables
Integrating Vulcraft span tables into your design process offers numerous advantages:
- Streamlined workflow: Quickly identify appropriate joist systems for your project's spans and loads.
- Code compliance: Ensure your designs meet or exceed relevant building codes and standards, such as IBC, ASCE 7, and AISC 36.
- Cost savings: Select the most economical joist system for your project's specific needs, avoiding overdesign or underdesign.
- Time savings: Reduce design time by leveraging pre-calculated data from Vulcraft's engineering team.
Conclusion
Vulcraft span tables are invaluable resources for engineers and architects seeking to optimize their designs and ensure code compliance. By understanding and effectively utilizing these tables, you can streamline your workflow, save time and money, and deliver high-quality, safe, and efficient structures. Embrace the power of Vulcraft span tables and elevate your design process today.

More Details
Explore Vulcraft's design tools for ... Calculate composite deck-slab strength and maximum unshored span tables for your composite deck configurations.

01.08.2018 ... From the construction span tables (excerpt below), 3VLI22 with this slab depth can span a 8'-9” in the simple span condition, but since 22 ...

... Span (ft.-in.) C. to C. of Support. Spans. Type. Span. 5'-0. 5'-6. 6'-0. 6'-6. 7'-0 ... tables are calculated using sectional properties based on the steel ...

19.09.2025 ... In this video, Vulcraft Verco's Alex Brown guides you through the Unshored Construction Span online design tool ... table and generates a ...

Where the joist span is in the GREEN SHADED area of the table, the row of bridging nearest the mid span shall be diagonal bridging with bolted connections at ...

report. Page 6. ESR-1227 | Most Widely Accepted and Trusted. Page 6 of 26. TABLE 2—VULCRAFT STEEL DECK SECTION PROPERTIES1,2,3 ... 1 Span 2 Span 3 Span 5'-0".

Nucor's Vulcraft & Verco Group is North America's largest producer of steel joists, girders, decking and grating.

Sloped parallel-chord joists shall use span as defined by the length along the slope. Where the joist span is in the RED SHADED area of the Load Table, the row ...

... Tables (Types 1.58 & 15F) ..... 5 Section Properties (Types 1.58 & 1.5B1) ... span. ll spans are considered Center fo center of supports.” E.) ANCHORAGE ...

Complete the form or log in to your account to access this tool. SJI may notify you when updates are made to this design tool. SJ-Series, 1928-1959, Longspan ...

Page 1. Page 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. VULCRAFT DESIGN NOTICE ... (span of the joist -.33)(ft.) E= modulus of elasticity of steel (29,000,000 psi). I= 26.767 ...

Paint Vulcraft joists receive a shop-coat of rust-inhibitive primer ... Table for the span of the joist. When top chord extensions or extended ends ...

08.12.2025 ... generate custom tables and calculations for uniform load ... Vulcraft's Unshored Construction Span Tool. Nucor Vulcraft Verco•265 ...

13.11.2014 ... I want to try out the option where you give values depending on their spans, I wonder if it actually gives me a more accurate response.

Clear spans = 8' - 6" (Unshored -- 3 span continuous) f ... Additional notes: 1) the allowable superimposed live load in the Vulcraft tables for each.

COMPOSITE DECK-SLAB SUPERIMPOSED LOAD: Calculate composite deck-slab strength and maximum unshored span tables for your composite deck configurations. DECK ...

... span condition. Lesser span conditions result in a. 35, greater shear ... Factor per Vulcraft Table. 37, DB = 63, Factor per Vulcraft Table. 38, G' = 158.18 ...

If more specific design requirements are necessary, the Design Professional should provide Vulcraft's Ecospan® ... E-Series Joist Maximum Span Chart (ft). Typical.

31.01.2025 ... generate diaphragm capacity tables and ... This content isn't available. Join Vulcraft Verco's Alex Brown as he demonstrates how Vulcraft's ...

deck span. VULCRAFT. 1.5B22, 1.5BI22.. 1.5B20, 1.5BI20 ... If these minimum lengths are not provided, web crippling must be checked. NUCOR. VULCRAFT GROUP. 7.