Floor Loading 2

[LStocks]

My firm is primarily involved with process piping fabrication; however, we've been asked by a long-time customer (very large brewing company) to demolish and dispose of 14 old and unused condensers (basically shell-and-tube heat exchangers). They want us to cut these condensers into smaller pieces, and use cranes or carts to transport the pieces from the second floor in their power house to outside the building. They've told us the floor where they reside only is rated for 100 psf. As we've begun to plan the logistics, my question is how to calculate the loading on the floor if we use a cart, for example, to roll a section that might weigh as much as 2000 or 3000 lbs? If we use the point loading directly under the wheels, I'm sure we'd be way above 100 psf; but if you use the actually footprint of the piece being hauled, it seems like you may not be able to justify the floor loads. Any thoughts would be very appreciated.

 

[JAE]

The 100 psf is the capacity of the floor as a whole...specifically what the floor can take in terms of its more primary members.

As you apply concentrated loads to the floor, the 3000 lb weights most probably will not over stress the primary members (such as floor beams or columns) but might overstress smaller elements such as individual floor joists or the slab system itself.

The best course of action is to hire a structural engineer to review the method of transport and check these smaller elements.

 

[Mauleflyer]

Its certainly not a global issue for the floor but a local issue. What is the slab construction? Can it span between support beams with a 3000lbs point load? If they know the floor is good for 100psf then they must know the floor construction.