Live load for museum floor
Live load for museum floor
(OP)
I can not find direct reference for second floor live loading of a photography museum. Does anyone have a reference that they can cite for me?
I am between two values, 50 PSF and 80 PSF. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I am between two values, 50 PSF and 80 PSF. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Lutfi






RE: Live load for museum floor
$.03(CAN) Dik
RE: Live load for museum floor
Thanks for the quick input.
For the storage area I used 300 PSF because they have a storage compactor.
100 psf sounds good at face value. However, I do not want to over design if not necessary.
Do you have a code reference?
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: Live load for museum floor
For a photography museum...do you have photographic equipment on display? You might want to find out what the display layout is planned and try to get a handle on true weights.
RE: Live load for museum floor
ASCE 7-02 gives Library Reading Room live load as
60 PSF (Uniform) and 1000 lb (concentrated)
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Live load for museum floor
RE: Live load for museum floor
http:/
(Museum loading discussed just below the halfway point)
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Live load for museum floor
Yep - the article also includes this:
In one example, a museum building was to display a fine collection of bone china in glass cabinets that were to be fixed to the walls and floors. Even taking account of the fact that the space between cabinets could easily be crowded with visitors, it was shown that the floor loading was less than half the 4.0 kN/sqm suggested by the British Standard. A somewhat lower value was therefore used and the amount of structural intervention was dramatically reduced, without compromising the safety of the visitors or of the building.
This sounds like the studies I've read where office loading (usually designed at 50 psf) was found to truly range around 10 to 12 psf in actuality.
However, for any floor, we as engineers are judged against the standard of care - what another reasonable engineer would do - so most engineers I know are naturally conservative in their designs and would use the code required load or even higher if they suspected different potential uses for the floor - so in a museum, I can certainly envision a large group of people gathering for a party or an exhibition with speakers, etc. - and that sounds a lot like "public assembly" to me (i.e. 100 psf).
RE: Live load for museum floor
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Live load for museum floor
Baker's steel skeleton has reference on actual loading within office space, but conditions may have changed since the original publication. The results mimic your 10-12 psf... they have a bit of a breakdown based on area...
Dik
RE: Live load for museum floor
It's been my experience that the cost for the added loading is a small additional item... the real economy is the selection of the framing system. Your and JAE's experience might be similar..
Dik
RE: Live load for museum floor
In my experience, Performance is usually the issue. I have not dealt with any fall down floor failures, even when the floors were obviously overloaded. Floors which 'bounce' 'vibrate' or 'just do not feel right' are a common occurance. If the display cabinets rattle when people walk around or when the distracted boy jumps up and down, It could be perceived as a failure.
Very interesting how little specific guidence can be found for what should be a small problem. We are accustomed to having this all laid out in a code or standard. Good discussion.
RE: Live load for museum floor
I have been in practice for over 23 years and my judgment tells me that 100 psf is the way to go. One will never know what the client may want to hold as a function down the road.
For now, it is a photography venue to display various pictures by the client’s photography students and professionals alike. Even hold regional shows.
I was leaning towards the 50 PSF but I convinced myself to use the 100 psf.
Good night to all.
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: Live load for museum floor
RE: Live load for museum floor
Lo, and behold...
There are the (historical) City Building Law Live Load requirements for, you guessed it, "Museums"
1917 New York: 100 PSF
1919 Boston: 100 PSF
1920 Cleveland: 125 PSF
1914 Pittsburg: 200 PSF
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Live load for museum floor
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: Live load for museum floor
I vote for the 100 psf.
RE: Live load for museum floor
RE: Live load for museum floor
Your graphic makes it appear you are pulling some important reference information from behind and below your waist. That brings to mind an expression I heard often in collage ...
RE: Live load for museum floor
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Live load for museum floor