6x10 Center Beam Maximum Span

Hi,
The style of my home is a Highranch bungalow.
It has a 6x10 center beam made of wood.

There are 3 steel posts supporting the beam.
The stairs in the middle of the home are between 2 of the 3 posts.
The span between these 2 posts is 16 feet.

Under the stairs which lead to the main level from the entrance is a 2x4 wall directly underneath the wooden beam. Should I assume that this wall is loadbearing - or is the 16 foot span for a 6x10 acceptable?

I hope that all makes sense

Ok, so you've told us the span, 16'. You've told us the size of the beam 6x10. What you haven't told us is the area that this beam is holding up?
We'd need to know that in order to tell you, if the wall is truly load bearing.
You need to understand, and tell us how far is it from the beam to the next beam of that size. If you're standing over that beam looking down with it running from behind up, under you, and away from you in front of you (looking at this from this point of view would be called plan view) , how far to the left and right is the next beam that's holding up wherever it is holding up?
This amount of floor area, if this is a second floor, will tell us how much weight the beam is holding up.
Jim Rogers

Good Morning all.

Jim, I would be very cautious in sizing timbers over the Internet, or over the phone. I think we are doing your correspondent a disservice; there are too many variables, any one of which could turn the right answer into the wrong answer.

Please direct your correspondent to the proper sources of information (Graphic Standards, USDA Wood Handbook, Benson's first book, the NDS, etc) so that he or she can learn it first hand.

After all, it's not rocket surgery!

-Joel

I understand and agree......