How much weight can my building hold?

[TBONTB]

I've found a potential load bearing point, and have come up with a concern I'd like peoples opinion on. There are ceiling joists in a detached structure on my properTy. They are 2x8s or 2x10s. They span about 12 feet and appear to be roughly 4 feet apart. They are well situated to use as anchor points. My weight is 175 pounds.

So here is the question. Will I damage the structure if I hang from these for several hours post mortem? I can test these by hanging from one, and have done that very briefly..hanging with my hands. However it's just occurred to me that they need to hold up more than the time it takes to cvt, but in fact until I would be removed. Are there any engineers or good condo people who can comment on this?

 

[TBONTB]

I've found a potential load bearing point, and have come up with a concern I'd like peoples opinion on. There are ceiling joists in a detached structure on my properTy. They are 2x8s or 2x10s. They span about 12 feet and appear to be roughly 4 feet apart. They are well situated to use as anchor points. My weight is 175 pounds.

So here is the question. Will I damage the structure if I hang from these for several hours post mortem? I can test these by hanging from one, and have done that very briefly..hanging with my hands. However it's just occurred to me that they need to hold up more than the time it takes to cvt, but in fact until I would be removed. Are there any engineers or good condo people who can comment on this?

Should have probably made the title more clear. It's about how much the anchor point can hold without damaging the building

 

[Higurashi415]

Are they 2x8 or 2x10? 2x10s have significantly more strength
Anyways, over the course of a couple hours 180lb won't cause significant damage

Should have probably made the title more clear. It's about how much the anchor point can hold without damaging the building

I don't think it can be answered without knowing a few things about the wood (grade, wood species, general joist condition)

 

[TBONTB]

Are they 2x8 or 2x10? 2x10s have significantly more strength
Anyways, over the course of a couple hours 180lb won't cause significant damage

I don't think it can be answered without knowing a few things about the wood (grade, wood species, general joist condition)

The wood is old growth Douglas fir. Condition of joist looks fine at a glance. I'll try to measure later.

 

[AreWeWinning]

I've found a potential load bearing point, and have come up with a concern I'd like peoples opinion on. There are ceiling joists in a detached structure on my properTy. They are 2x8s or 2x10s. They span about 12 feet and appear to be roughly 4 feet apart. They are well situated to use as anchor points. My weight is 175 pounds.

So here is the question. Will I damage the structure if I hang from these for several hours post mortem? I can test these by hanging from one, and have done that very briefly..hanging with my hands. However it's just occurred to me that they need to hold up more than the time it takes to cvt, but in fact until I would be removed. Are there any engineers or good condo people who can comment on this?

I don't think one needs to be an engineer to answer this. Anyone with a bit of mechanical sense will say those beams are strong enough without a doubt. In my opinion, there is absolutely no way they can get damaged if used as an anchor point.

It's easy to see the size of the beams if we compare it to other items in the room, e.g. the A4-sized paper on the pinboard. Based on size, they look thick and sturdy. It looks like they are part of the roof's structure. A house is not built on assumptions. You can't damage your roof by clinging onto one of its major structural elements even for a longer period of time.

If you're really worried, you can tie your anchor point slightly to one side (i.e. not right in the middle) - but it probably doesn't matter.

 

[Higurashi415]

I don't think one needs to be an engineer to answer this. Anyone with a bit of mechanical sense will say those beams are strong enough without a doubt. In my opinion, there is absolutely no way they can get damaged if used as an anchor point.

It's easy to see the size of the beams if we compare it to other items in the room, e.g. the A4-sized paper on the pinboard. Based on size, they look thick and sturdy. It looks like they are part of the roof's structure. A house is not built on assumptions. You can't damage your roof by clinging onto one of its major structural elements even for a longer period of time.

If you're really worried, you can tie your anchor point slightly to one side (i.e. not right in the middle) - but it probably doesn't matter.

Well I think knowing how physics and engineering works is useful in knowing how safe putting a 180lb load on a beam for possibly days is, the answer is by no means as obvious as you make it sound. For a couple hours? That's obviously fine. For a couple days? Eh, depends really. It's probably not going to fall but it could very well sustain permanent damage.
A house is definitely built on assumptions as you can't measure a lot of what goes on. It was built, for example, under the assumption of NOT having a 180lb load on that beam. It is very responsible of the OP to worry about what may happen to the structure if that were to happen.

Anyways modern houses are typically overengineered anyway, you'll probably be fine.

 

[AreWeWinning]

Well I think knowing how physics and engineering works is useful in knowing how safe putting a 180lb load on a beam for possibly days is, the answer is by no means as obvious as you make it sound. For a couple hours? That's obviously fine. For a couple days? Eh, depends really. It's probably not going to fall but it could very well sustain permanent damage.
A house is definitely built on assumptions as you can't measure a lot of what goes on. It was built, for example, under the assumption of NOT having a 180lb load on that beam. It is very responsible of the OP to worry about what may happen to the structure if that were to happen.

Anyways modern houses are typically overengineered anyway, you'll probably be fine.

You make it sound like I belittled OP for asking, which I don't believe I did. If I sounded like that, I apologise. We're all good at different things and have different skillsets. What's obvious to one person may not be obvious to another. It was a perfectly legitimate question to ask.

I'm not going to respond to your comments on engineering, physics, and whatnot. I've answered OP's question above to the best of my knowledge, and I stand by my answer! Take it how you will.

 

[Higurashi415]

You make it sound like I belittled OP for asking, which I don't believe I did. If I sounded like that, I apologise. We're all good at different things and have different skillsets. What's obvious to one person may not be obvious to another. It was a perfectly legitimate question to ask.

I'm not going to respond to your comments on engineering, physics, and whatnot. I've answered OP's question above to the best of my knowledge, and I stand by my answer! Take it how you will.

You can't eyeball the stability of a building, extremes excluded. If it's not your field it would be wiser to suspend judgement.

 

[AreWeWinning]

You can't eyeball the stability of a building

You can call the police!