Floor Loading
Floor Loading
(OP)
I am designing a fitness center, and the building has the weight room located on the second floor. I wont know the locations of the equipment so I cant just use point loads, so the only thing is to design the floor with a uniform load. Any tips on what the floor loading should be?






RE: Floor Loading
I think if you took the loads of the machines and weights and did a distribution of their loads, along with a 30-50psf person live load, you'll see that the loads are not as high as you'd expect. The spacing and clearance for these items is usually high enough, large loads are not a concern.
However, if you are designing a composite steel structure that this gym is in, then I'd look at AISC Design Guide #11 - Vibration.
That's just how my office has looked at it, in the past.
RC
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
RE: Floor Loading
With these you can try to get a feel for the overall uniform live range and establish that for the main members with larger tributary areas.
Then with the same data, use the point loads to check slabs and smaller/shorter members.
RE: Floor Loading
I would think a concentrated load and an average udl would cover it.
RE: Floor Loading
Were you talking about dumbells, or the dumbells using them?
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Floor Loading
RE: Floor Loading
A quick google search produced this link. If you read on it says to use 150 psf. I'd be comfortable with that number.
RE: Floor Loading
It says 100 psf for main floors and balconies.
(4.79 kN/m2).
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Floor Loading
RE: Floor Loading
RE: Floor Loading
I have found the same figure in weight tables and codes over 50 years old.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Floor Loading
If there are aerobic activities in this building then the vibration needs to be looked at very closely.
Refer the recent thread on dancefloors.
RE: Floor Loading
;)
RC
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
RE: Floor Loading
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Floor Loading
He doesn't mention a weight room, he mentions a fitness center. That is what the group of us making comments have turned it into. Most fitness centers have aerobics classes of some sort. This is why I wrote what I did. I don't think vibration from a single weight dropping is of real particular concern unless its repetitive. I think the point load of that drop is of concern though.
Just my thoughts.
RC
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
RE: Floor Loading
Not to belabor the point, but strguy11 originally posted:
"I am designing a fitness center, and the building has the weight room located on the second floor."
There is a weight room here, not located on a SOG as would be the optimal case, and, therein lies the problem - it's suspended.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Floor Loading