Mezzanine 1

[Grogel]

I have a 1578 sp. ft. Mezzanine rated for 100 p.s.f. live load. Does this mean that I can safely store 157,800 lbs up there?

Gary

 

[CANPRO]

No. You will need people on the mezzanine in order to place the 100 psf of storage. I would count on at least 25 psf live load, the rest could be dedicated to storage.

Also remember that the 118,350 lbs (75 psf x 1578 sq. ft.) needs to be evenly distributed.

 

[Grogel]

Thank you Caneit. I should ask how evenly distributed? What Im really trying to determine is If I can place a 4,450 pound compressor with a 91" x 54" foot print up there with the other smaller compressors (about 6000 pounds of other equipment).

 

[JAE]

Grogel.
Don't take anyone's response here as some type of knowledgeable approval of you placing loads on an existing structure. Hire a structural engineer to review the existing framing and connections before doing this.

A concentrated load of 4,450 lbs (equaling 130 psf over its footprint) cannot be reasoned out here at Eng-Tips. The loading application, position, etc. relative to slab, floor joists/beams, etc. must be looked at along with existing connection details, etc. to verify if this works.

 

[CANPRO]

well, that weight and that footprint works out to be 130 psf...so it shouldn't be a problem depending on where you put it and how you support it. You could mount the compressor on a base with a large enough footprint to bring the load down to 100 psf...you need to make sure the base is stiff enough to adequately spread the load. Or depending how the mezzanine is framed you could find a safe place to put it with that footprint. Either way your safest bet is to get a structural engineer involved if you don't feel comfortable making the decision. Hope this helps.

 

[Grogel]

Thank you both for the help, I see there is more to this than just running the numbers. Ill hire a engineer to come help me figure this out.

 

[TDIengineer]

I believe typical code for light storage is 125 psf.
100 psf UNIFORM load may be placed on the mezzanine. Be cautious of heavily loaded areas where load per square foot is > than 100.

There will be some load redistribution, so exceeding 100 psf in a few nominal areas where you have corridors adjacent is most likely a non-issue.

If you provide a sketch of the mezzanine framing, engineers here can chime in on the best place to stack your storage.

 

[Triangled]

Yes light storage is 125 and a significant portion of that must be laterally supported.

 

[TDIengineer]

Yes, I believe you need to take 25% of the live load and consider it as mass when the live exceeeds 100.

 

[Triangled]

And then, there are live load reductions.....
So, moral of the story, granted that the OP was a hypothetical, but, one cannot just add dead load up to the allowable live load and call it good.