Equipment Installation

[edreed]

I am working at a facility where they are installing two post automotive hoists (as in a garage).  The concrete floor isn't level, and they are trying to level the base plates of the two posts for each hoist.  They are cutting 1" thick steel "shim plates", and using those to try and level the posts.  I believe this is a bad idea. My concern is that the plates will shift or move, and might put shear forces on the anchor bolts.
I would rather they use a jack bolts to level and then grout around the base.
Any opinions?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Agree with you. Full contact grouting under base plates in this type application is almost always the best way to go.

 

[Focht3]

Ditto. Too much load for "cheesy" fixes -



Please see FAQ731-376 by [blue]VPL[/blue] for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[jheidt2543]

Leveling the plate with a non-shrink, non-metalic grout is the way to go. When you think of all the high priced, high speed machinery that is installed this way, I think you will realize that it is the correct solution. It is also most likely less expensive than the steel plate shims.

If they are using 1" steel shims, how rough is the floor? It sounds like it is "rough as a corn cob", a tripping hazard? You might consider cutting out the floor section under the hoist and repouring it. The hoist are the pitless type?

 

[edreed]

It is a pitless type. The floor is not that rough, and the 1" shim they are using won't make it level. It won't make up for differences across the base plate (18" wide), and I just think it is a poor way to do it.

I hadn't even thought about the fact that the cost would probably be comparable, especially since they have had to lift it a couple times to scribe a template to work from.

I'm going to try one more time to get them to consider leveling and grout in place. I think that they consider it overkill.



Ed