Hot tub design weight
Hot tub design weight
(OP)
I have a client who wants to have a hot tub on their deck and am unsure about what design weight to use. I have been told that a 5x5 spa with water and people would be about 5000lb giving it a 200psf load. Does this seem right to you? Not enough? Too much?






RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
Ask the client if they know what models they are using, then you can get the weight of the unit and the water volume to calculate the total load.
Make sure that the client is not planning on putting a brick surround or something heavy like that.
Last of all, you should put the designed weight and area on the drawings to cover yourself in case they upsize it without telling you (it does happen).
RE: Hot tub design weight
200 psf is about 3' of water plus some addl DL. I'd say you must be in the ballpark.
RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
Still say 3500 pounds including the people, plus 2000 gives 5500# over 64 sq. Ft. = 90 psf.
The loading from the smaller tub will not be much different in psf. Use 100 psf minimum live load and you will be OK.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Hot tub design weight
Most Hot tubs I recall are around three to four feet tall. So I guess the load would be 190 - 250 psf.
Good Luck.
RE: Hot tub design weight
Enjoy the sweet, sweet sounds of the Aquatic Melodies® surround sound system in this spacious lounge hot tub model. The Elation hot tub is a stellar performer with features that are sure to please even the most discriminating spa enthusiasts.
Seats 6 adults
500 gallons / 1893 liters
7'7" x 7'7" x 38" (231cm x 231cm x 96cm)
930 lbs / 6135 lbs filled (424 kg / 2690 kg filled)
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loading is approximately 185 psf. Loading is not distributed evenly either, it is along the edges. The filled weight is to the normal fill line. The tub should not overflow when people get in unless it is overfilled. Of course, you should design for either filled to the top or with maximum number of people in the tub which during parties is always as many as can fit.
RE: Hot tub design weight
RE: Hot tub design weight
Best regards,
Rarebug, Chicago
RE: Hot tub design weight
The water displacement question comes up quite a bit.
Consider this - at capacity a hot tub typically has some free board. This means that as people climb in, they won't make a mess and spill water over the side. So we typically do one of two things: calc the depth of water if water is at the top of the pool and design that for the live load or two - calc the water at "capacity" and add 50 psf live or so. That's just my judgment and that of a few other SE's in my office - others add 100 psf to a fully loaded pool. Can be silly when you get the numbers together but hey it won't fail.
RE: Hot tub design weight
I feel that 250 psf is an overkill, even for an 8X8. However, it will work...
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering