Expansion Joint
Expansion Joint
(OP)
A two story office building will be constructed inside existing industrial building. The existing building has movement joints (expansion joints)on concrete floor. The new two story building (135'X45') will be built crossed over existing concrete slab expansion joints. New building will not be attached to existing building structure. Steel frame with steel stud wall will be used for the construction of the new two story building. would it be any problem if the new building constructed over the expansion joint?






RE: Expansion Joint
If the amount is less than an inch, I would consider ignoring it depending on the lateral system and its layout used in your new building.
However, I would provide an expansion joint in your new building if it was over an inch - gut call here only.
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Expansion Joint
In your case, an expansion joint in the slab leads me to believe that there may be significant temperature variation and the slab is expected to expand/contract. Or the other option....whoever put an expansion joint in the slab did not understand what they were doing.
If the inside of your building is at a constant (or near constant) temperature, and there are no other loads that would result in the slab moving, I would construct your new building over it. If that is not the case, you should have an expansion joint in your new building to match that of the existing building.
RE: Expansion Joint
RE: Expansion Joint
RE: Expansion Joint