Figure 1-9.—Post fastened using dowel method.Figure 1-10.—Metal base plates for wood posts.dimensions and locations are shown on the foundationplan. When required, posts give central support to thelong span of girders. Also, girders can be used to supportother girders. There should be at least 18 inchesclearance between the bottoms of the floor joists and theground and at least 12 inches between the bottom of thegirder and the ground (fig. 1-8).WoodWood posts are placed directly below wood girders.As a general rule, the width of the wood post should beequal to the width of the girder it supports. For example,a 4-inch-wide girder requires a 4- by 4- or 4- by 6-inchpost.A wood post can be secured to a concrete pillar inseveral ways. The post can be nailed to a pier blocksecured to the top of a concrete pier; it can be placedover a previously inserted 1/2-inch steel dowel in theconcrete; or, it can be placed into a metal base set intothe concrete pier at the time of the pour. When usingthe dowel method, make sure the dowel extends at least3 inches into the concrete and the post, as shown infigure 1-9. A metal base embedded in the concrete(fig. 1-10) is the preferred method since nothing else isneeded to secure the base.As with the bottom of the post, the top must also besecured to the girder. This can be done using angle ironbrackets or metal plates. Figure 1-11 shows two metalpost caps used with posts and girders, either nailed orbolted to the girders.Figure 1-11.—Metal post caps.1-5
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