Computer room loading

[SteelPE]

We have been asked to look at the potential for adding a “data recovery system” to one of our structures. This system is basically a computer room where servers will be kept. The building is new but was never analyzed for these types of loads.

The floor system has limited access (1 stair only) and was designed for 80psf live load (corridors above first floor). The floor is an open web steel joist system supported by beam girders. Due to other constraints (electrical, plumbing) the owner is willing to reduce the computer system requirements. The architect would like us to give him a sketch showing where the computer system can be placed and how much load can be applied over these areas.

Question, can I reduce the live load on certain areas of the floor to account for the increased load due to the computer room (basically recognizing that the computer room is part of the live load)?

I realize there are other problems with the OWSJ but I would like to get a feel for what others would do with this scenario.

 

[diarmud]

I'm not positive but what if you have the computers in the room and the live load sits on the computers? Not unheard of in this world.

I really do not think you can do this but I'd get an opinion from the building department - bet they say no.

Good luck,
Dermott

 

[KootK]

If I understand you correctly SteelPE, I think that you can do this. I've done something similar with Mechanical equipment.

My firm typically specs 3.6/2.4 kPa for mech rooms. However, where there's a huge mechanical unit and we've designed the room for the associated load, I don't then go and add the 3.6 kPa on top of that.

If you're saying that the live load and some gargatuan server aren't going to occupy the same space concurrently and additively, that seems reasonable to me.

Just make sure that you've got everything covered under the server. Server weight, duct banks, pipes etc...