Office areas storage load

[Poul75]

Hi,

What is the live load you recommend to use when you design an office floor used for record storage? I don't think that 50 lbs/pi2 is adequate.

Thanks for your tips!

 

[slickdeals]

Check the Commentary for Live Loads Table C4-1.

 

[slickdeals]

ASCE 7-05 or 02.

 

[JAE]

If it is basic shelving storage or box storage I use 125 psf.

If it is high density systems it runs between 200 and 250 psf.

 

[structuralengr89]

What JAE said.
125psf for light storage
If you have rolling files check with the manufacturer's specs. They can be quite high. I've typically used 250psf.

 

[msquared48]

Agreed.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[csd72]

Sounds like a compactus load, high point load (or small area). In the past I have designated areas where these can be placed (over main beams, near columns e.t.c.)

 

[archeng59]

Agree with 125 psf for light storage. If the owner/user will have mass storage/high density units, much higher floor loads will apply based on the equipment type and storage capacity. I always obtain cut sheets from the manufacturer. x-ray/film storage for medical office buildings can be greater than 250 psf.

 

[kslee1000]

If you specify certain area for higher load to economize the floor design, make sure to mark the area and provide clear notes. Building will change owners, as well as the usage. We have don that before.

 

[lkjh345]

Agree with kslee1000. When we design buildings, we clearly mark on the drawings areas of the floor designed for file/record storage to help future users/owners identify areas of the floor when storage systems can be placed.

Absent any specific information at the time of design (which is quite common for office buildings where the owner is still lining up tenants during the design) we design designated floor areas for 250 psf live load. This handles most rolling file storage systems.

 

[asixth]

I would design for 12.5kPa, that is 250psf. This should cover any compactus loading.

 

[csd72]

designing for this load anywhere will really bulk up the structure. Try to get the client to agree areas where theses could be to minimise the unnecesary conservatism.

 

[bazflexure]

I recommend u to use 125 PSF.

 

[Poul75]

Thanks for all of you!

Now, what live load would use for a pharmacy floor?
Would you use 100 psf, 125 psf or higher?

 

[csd72]

Poul75,

A pharmacy would be the same for any commercial premises except for the area where the compactus/filing is.

Densely packed paper weighs a lot, medicines in loose containers not so much.

 

[RHTPE]

The unit weight of most office paper is 60 pounds per cubic foot. Densely packed "bankers boxes" stacked 5 high will probably be around 200-250 psf.

I had to evaluated a storage mezzanine for this kind of loading. The remedial structural improvements were quite costly.