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Participant

Join Date: May 2007
Location: W Michigan
Posts: 4

Live Floor Load

05/19/2008 8:19 AM

I am being pressed into a quick evaluation from my machine build dept. As part of facilities, I guess it has become my job to determine live loads for new equipment.

I have an above grade concrete 5" slb with rerod reinforcement supported with 13" h by 6" w concrete precast columns running the full width (22 ft) every 24" OC. It is suspended the 22ft over 12" poured concrete walls which make up the storm shelter of our manufacturing facility.

Is there anyplace/person or site where I could get an idea of what live loads this floor could handle. Or if someone could assist me in determining an effective calculation for equipment loads? Estimated 12,000# hydraulic press (none impacting), placed 48" unto slab in question.

Unfortunately, this was thrust onto my desk this morning, and I have to come up with an OK by this afternoon. I have tried to contact a few contractors in my area, but they are busy with new construction, I will also check with the city to see if any drawing of our facility give these loads.

"100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
--Wayne Gretzky

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Guru

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1212
Good Answers: 74
#1

Re: Live Floor Load

05/19/2008 10:31 AM

The information is not adequate to make an evaluation. Do not make a quick evaluation or you will almost certainly regret it in time.

Your description of the slab suggests that the precast elements are not columns but joists. The main strength of the floor will come, not from the slab but from the joists.

What you need to do is get drawings of the existing construction and have it evaluated by someone who knows what he is doing. It may be that the design live load is indicated on the drawings. It should be.

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Bruce
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Participant

Join Date: May 2007
Location: W Michigan
Posts: 4
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Live Floor Load

05/20/2008 8:30 AM

Bruce, you are correct they are joists, and no I did not want to jump into this without proper numbers.

I made my recommendations yesterday, that we cannot proceed without inclusion of someone who can document the live loads and suggest what it will take to support the press and subsequent activities.

Management accepted them. I guess it is OK to say I don't know.

rrf

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Guru

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1212
Good Answers: 74
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Live Floor Load

05/20/2008 9:45 AM

Hello RXR,

Good for you! Nothing wrong with saying "I don't know" when it's true. If more engineers were to follow your example, less would end up in court.

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Bruce
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Anonymous Poster
#4

Re: Live Floor Load

05/21/2008 7:13 AM

There are many factors that determine the live and dead loads, expecially when vibration and impacts during manufacture is involved. Hence, it is best that you contact the structural engineer who designed the building. He/she had to calculate it when designing the building, and can give you more information.

Also, if you have the plans, sometimes the live load will be on them. But, this value is based upon static live loads not impulse loading.

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