wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to drill a bunch of relatively small holes in 2x10 floor joists
(for electrical cables, pex, etc). The holes will be 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"
diameter, well within allowable hole size for 2x10s that are 16" oc.

I have noticed the following.

Most drilling information I have seen says that holes should not be
drilled in the ends of floor joists and instead should be in the middle
1/2 of the span. Plus, there are rules for multiple holes and rules
for where holes should be in relation to top and bottom of joists.
Nonetheless, when I go look in the basements of many houses, I see
multiple holes near the ends of joists. I have seen many houses where
literally all the holes are in the ends of joists.

Why is this the case? Is this because codes are very conservative and
2x10 joists, say, are very robust to holes in their ends? Do some
plumbers simply drill like crazy, knowing that it does not matter that
much anyway?

mh


Holes near the end will weaken it less than holes near the middle of the
span.

Doc