Floor stiffening debate 2

[PropertyGuy67]

I'm a third party PE on a project. Building has floor stiffening beams in place. Owner is balking at the idea that the beams are "structural". It's obvious as heck to me that these are structural in nature, especially since the contractor said he jacked the floor slightly with the beams to get the floor plate level mid-span, but the owner is heading down the road of "prove it." Owner is saying if the beams were removed, the building wouldn't come down. Never in my life have I had to prove that a beam with a load on it is structural. My argument will be that there are clear and unambiguous load paths from the finished floor down through the base of the supports holding up the stiffening beams. Please fire away, shoot holes at will.

 

[PropertyGuy67]

If you are working for the potential buyer why do you need to prove/justify anything to the current owner?

It's not my place to have direct contact with the seller. I'm just trying to provide counsel to my client, and was interested in hearing other viewpoints.

 

[PropertyGuy67]

Travertine??? L/600 minimum on the joist deflection!

Exactly. And with no proof right now that the contractor got to L/600.