Movable filing cabinets
Movable filing cabinets
(OP)
I have a composite floor system that needs to be strengthened to accommodate high density filing area for movable cabinets. What typical load and deflection criteria should I be using for designing my floor framing. The owner hasn't picked a manufacturer yet. So, I am using a floor live load of 200 psf and a live load deflection limit of L/480. Let me know what your thoughts are? Thanks in advance.
- strucguy
- strucguy






RE: Movable filing cabinets
RE: Movable filing cabinets
The attached document you provided seems to only account for the file load in the example. This is nto true. You still need to account for a live load capacity of the area not occupied by the filing system. This is an engineering judgment call, but should we never use less than 30psf because if there is space to walk, there is typically space to store more boxes!
In these applications, we typically have a live load from the storage and a "walkway" live load.
Just my two cents.
RC
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
RE: Movable filing cabinets
RE: Movable filing cabinets
StructuralEngGuy -
That was very useful piece of information. I am going to ask the architect to get me something like that before I finalyze my design. Thanks again
-strucguy
RE: Movable filing cabinets
RE: Movable filing cabinets
- strucguy
RE: Movable filing cabinets
Deflection of 1/700 seems a bit conservative unless you some special flooring needs - tile, marble ,etc. or the track system cannot take more than that....
Good Luck!!
RE: Movable filing cabinets
RE: Movable filing cabinets
RE: Movable filing cabinets
vandede427 is correct. I've had to check existing floors for new high-density file systems many times. It is often the deck that is the problem. I have often had to add deck support from below ( when access to the underside is available) or place tubes under the rails that can span from beam to beam to take the deck out of the problem.
RE: Movable filing cabinets
I agree L/700 seems very unrealistic. I have installed several at l/360. At L/700 a unit that covers 8.5ft would only allow for 3/32" deflection. That seems very conservative.