Girder bearing by support type — 1½″ on wood/metal, 3″ on masonry/concrete

Minimum bearing length depends on what the girder rests on: 1½″ on wood or metal, 3″ on masonry or concrete (IRC R502.6). Either way, a positive connection is required (R502.9) — gravity bearing alone isn’t enough.

A side-by-side comparison of a floor girder’s end resting on two different support types. On the left, the girder bears on a wood post or metal base plate, with a shaded bearing zone dimensioned at one and a half inches minimum. On the right, the same girder bears on a masonry pier, footing, or foundation wall pocket, with the bearing zone dimensioned at three inches minimum. A note below both states that a positive connection is required either way per IRC R502.9 — gravity bearing alone is not enough — and that an approved joist hanger rated for the reaction may substitute for direct bearing. — Source: IRC R502.6 (bearing); R502.9 (positive connection)

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A side-by-side comparison of a floor girder’s end resting on two different support types. On the left, the girder bears on a wood post or metal base plate, with a shaded bearing zone dimensioned at one and a half inches minimum. On the right, the same girder bears on a masonry pier, footing, or foundation wall pocket, with the bearing zone dimensioned at three inches minimum. A note below both states that a positive connection is required either way per IRC R502.9 — gravity bearing alone is not enough — and that an approved joist hanger rated for the reaction may substitute for direct bearing.

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    <img src="https://remodelcalculators.com/api/figure-embed/girder-bearing-by-support" alt="A side-by-side comparison of a floor girder’s end resting on two different support types. On the left, the girder bears on a wood post or metal base plate, with a shaded bearing zone dimensioned at one and a half inches minimum. On the right, the same girder bears on a masonry pier, footing, or foundation wall pocket, with the bearing zone dimensioned at three inches minimum. A note below both states that a positive connection is required either way per IRC R502.9 — gravity bearing alone is not enough — and that an approved joist hanger rated for the reaction may substitute for direct bearing." width="800" height="410" style="width:100%;height:auto;border:0" loading="lazy">
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    Diagram: <a href="https://remodelcalculators.com/construction-diagrams/girder-bearing-by-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Girder bearing by support type — 1½″ on wood/metal, 3″ on masonry/concrete</a> — courtesy of <a href="https://remodelcalculators.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RemodelCalculators.com</a>
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