TheScullster wrote:

Thanks Peter

Yes I understand this, but having done a HNC in civil/structural engineering
I was going to do them myself.
If I get enough pointers or references and insist that BC checks them
carefully (ie earn their money) then I may just save myself a few squids and
excercise the little grey cells into the bargain.

Phil


The only thimng they worry about is acceptable deflection, and there are
tables of spans/weights/sizes somewhere about that are 'to spec' fo the
sort of cardboard-on-steroids that is called structural timber at the BM's.

actual breaking strain is never an issue - its well over the size where
the thing has sagged unacceptably.

Since the cost of beams is way below the price of a chippie to install
them, things tend to be remarkably over-engineered anyway.