Finish floor elevation??
Finish floor elevation??
(OP)
Not sure if this is the right venue to ask this question, but my exposure to other designs, methodologies, is quite limited and so I'm looking at this broad group to answer a simple question. If using datums to denote elevations of finish floor and framing do you call out finish floor as:
1.Dimension above sea level?
2. 0'-0"?
3. 100'-0"?
4. Other?
Thanks.
1.Dimension above sea level?
2. 0'-0"?
3. 100'-0"?
4. Other?
Thanks.






RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
Thanks.
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
www.SlideRuleEra.net
www.VacuumTubeEra.net
RE: Finish floor elevation??
the term "sea level" is rarely ever used to define a datum and elevations are not measured to a nearby sea level. NGVD was established in 1929 and "loosely" based on a mean sea level.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Level_Datum_of_1...
It was superseded in 1988 by NAVD, which again only approximates sea level. Vertical datums in the US should refer to NAVD since "mean sea level" is not only undefined, but ever changing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Verti...
Also note that you can and should always establish a vertical bench mark on every project, even if you have to assume an elevation. Otherwise, you really have no control on the building elevation or site grading. It is really not that difficult since you can generally find an elevation point in the nearest paved street. And unless your work is on the coast, you rarely will have elevations below zero.
RE: Finish floor elevation??
Then typically on the Civil/site plan sheets there is a Fin. Floor Elevation xxxx.xx' = 100'-0" which equates the site elevation with the "working" elevation of 100.
Check out Eng-Tips Forum's Policies here:
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
I work on a lot of existing buildings. On the record drawings, it's probably an even split between 100' at the ground level and civil elevations. Once in a while I will see 0' at the ground. And there is another terrible option. Once or twice I have seen the structural drawings say "see architectural" (SAD) for all of the floor elevations. I was taught if a dimension has structural significance, it needs to be on the structural drawings.
RE: Finish floor elevation??
I currently work with municipalities and we almost always use the local datum values, though I'm sure there are companies in our industry that do it differently at times. The past companies I've worked at have used 0'-0", 100'-0", local datums, and more.
All that to say, it can change depending on the company you work for, the client you are serving, the EOR, etc. You should talk to all of these respective parties before making that decision.
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
RE: Finish floor elevation??
note somewhere tying datam to NAVD
RE: Finish floor elevation??
well, you had to go there...
they invented the decimal tape measure a long time ago and really, is 12' 6 3/16 inches easier than 12.52 feet?
RE: Finish floor elevation??
Yes.
Next question.
Check out Eng-Tips Forum's Policies here:
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies