Structural
Structural
(OP)
Hi everybody:
We are remodeling an old 2-story wooden building and plan to utilize its upper floor to house a gym. A Live Load of 100 psf was considered to check that the floor framing is capable to support the loads.
Nevertheless, the Client has provided a list of intended equipment to be installed in the gym, in which there is a Dumbbell rack weighing 1800 Lb. The only information available about this equipment is packing list confirming the weight (1800 Lb) and informing of a 81"x22" dimensions.
Please some tips will be appreciated on how to assure that this equipment will not surpass the assumed 100 psf.
Thanks so much in advance,
We are remodeling an old 2-story wooden building and plan to utilize its upper floor to house a gym. A Live Load of 100 psf was considered to check that the floor framing is capable to support the loads.
Nevertheless, the Client has provided a list of intended equipment to be installed in the gym, in which there is a Dumbbell rack weighing 1800 Lb. The only information available about this equipment is packing list confirming the weight (1800 Lb) and informing of a 81"x22" dimensions.
Please some tips will be appreciated on how to assure that this equipment will not surpass the assumed 100 psf.
Thanks so much in advance,






RE: Structural
If anyone does deadlifts there, those rarely exceed 500 pounds and then the bar gets dropped from about 3 feet for an impact on the floor. I think the world record is about 900 lbs. A wooden floor will be smashed in no time without a couple of thick rubber mats on top of it.
Anyway, it just depends on the capacity of the equipment being used, the spacing of the equipment, and the strength of the guys that are going to be using the gym. These can vary a good bit from my experience. The floor average might be 100psf, but some areas can have more than that with impact.
RE: Structural
A gym at one contractor park I lived at 10 years ago had a sagging wood floor were the weights were stored and at several workout stations. Many of us could lift more weight than the machine came with from the manufacturer, but the machines were designed for additional weights which we often used. The floors creaked and groaned during heavy lifting.
FYI.
RE: Structural
I think you should check for not only that but also for heavy point loads, either concentrated over a point or spread uniform over a foot or two. Will there be any aerobics at all? If there are, you may have trouble with your floor vibrating. I would also check that the sheathing will be adequate or make sure to use mats as haynewp said, and I would probably add some dynamic impact factor as well, depending on the type of load I was investigating.