Drilling LVL Beam?

[rgramjet]

I went into my basement yesterday and looked at my triple, built up, 11-1/4" x 1-3/4", LVL beams. They span approximately 21'. My plumber drilled a 1" hole dead center through both beams to run a 3/4" gas line.

I almost crapped my pants!

He said he has done this 1,000 times and structural engineers have always ok'ed it. Im thinking about having him move the gas line and Ill throw in a carraige bolt in and call it a day.

Anyone else drill through beams like this, on purpose?

Thanks,
Roger

[HDNord]

The electricians drilled a few 7/8" hole through one of our LVL's. I checked and per a Roseburg Forest Products booklet holes up to 2" are permitted as follows:

No more than 3 holes.
Square and rectangular holes are not permitted.
Does not apply for cantilevers.
Hole to be centered on height of beam.
Holes (if more than one) must be a minimum of 4" clear distance between holes.
Hole must be at least 2 1/2 times height of beam away from load bearing point.

"on purpose"? Did you talk to my plumber? I accidentally drilled though an ABS drain pipe when doing the low voltage pre-wire.

[mdshunk]

Different inspectors are more in tune with issues related to holes in engineered structural members than others. In my area, you'll fail your inspections unless you have the manufacturer's boring and notching schedule on site for that exact structural member. THERE ARE NO RULES OF THUMB for drilling engineered structural members. This 1" hole MAY be okay, but without instructions from the LVL manufacturer saying that it's okay, or a local structural engineer signing off on it, this can be trouble.

"I've done it 1,000 times before" isn't any justification. In fact, that statement from your plumber gives me the willies. It's only a quick net search to get the boring and notching data for your beam to find out for sure.

[Sweep]

A 1" hole "dead center" it is allowed by the most restrictive LVL manufacturer specifications.