Garage Slab Capacity to Support Brick Veneer

[engserve]

Hi. I am a structural engineer but don't deal with concrete. The firm I do work for has run into an inspector who is refusing to pass a garage conversion without an engineering evaluation of the ability of the slab to support the new brick veneer sitting on the edge of it where the garage door used to be. There are no building loads on it as the header above takes them out to the footings. I have seen this done many times with garage conversions and intuitively think it has got to work. But how can I prove by calculation that the garage slab can support the brick load at its edge?

Thanks

mark

 

[concretemasonry]

You will have to determine the actual concrete strength, reinforcement continuity and actual detail as opposed to any drawings, if they exist.

If you are happy with the performance of the slab edge over the period it was used by cars, then it is just an engineering judgement. The brick really does not weigh much, but you could be hit for any cracks in the brick.

 

[apsix]

Assuming this is a Slab on Ground:

Expose the edge beam at the door and at the wall adjacent to the door.
If there is no change you can argue that there is no reason for the slab not to be OK.

 

[engserve]

Thanks for the advice. I am wondering though what the analysis procedure is once I have established the particulars of the slab. Is there an analysis procedure that would be applicable to this situation? Any ideas as to how to approach it assuming the slab is 4 inches unreinforced with an Fc of 2500 psi?

Thanks

mark

 

[civilperson]

Assume 1500 psf soil strength in bearing and show the brick weight is less than 1500 psf under the wall. That is enough calcs for an inspector.