Separate buildings with shared mezzanine 1

[smcp4blo]

Hello,

I'm looking for a common detail or some advice regarding the construction details between two adjacent slabs of two separate buildings. The thing is that I have 2 adjacent warehouses that share a mezzanine, so both buldings have been designed separately (footings, etc) with a portion of the the mezzanine. Now I need to know how much separation must I leave between the portions of slab, and also what kind of Joint should I use there.

Any comments would help a lot, thanks!

 

[Ron]

Your question just brings more questions. Is this a storage mezzanine? Will it have equipment? What is the load rating? I assume you need shear transfer at the joint. Who will maintain the joint if the buildings are sold separately. Is there a common use agreement? Is the properly line between the buildings defined by the joint? Do both foundation systems have the same capacity? Will there be differential settlement between the buildings?

This is a strange sharing of resources between two buildings.

 

[dik]

...and just hope it's not in a seismic area <G>.

Dik

 

[smcp4blo]

Maybe I'm not being clear...

It is the same building, but we decided to cut it in two so analysis and engineering would be easier. Foundations are independent, and it is not a seismic area, nor wind is strong. The mezzanine is used for offices uses, so it doesn't have large loads. Just imagine a common warehouse with a mezzanine on a side along a side, but when designed it was cut in half, so I need something to put between the edges of these slabs, in the gap.

 

[TLHS]

I've done a mezzanine connection a few times in the past. I've mostly done it when I want to isolate the lateral force resisting systems of various external industrial facilities to avoid excessive thermal loads. I'm assuming these are steel platforms, but some of this would transfer to concrete. Some ideas to think about:

-Bring the platforms a short distance apart and bridge with something that will pivot or flex, like a thin floor plate
-Leave the platforms further apart. Install short distance of platform between them with a hinge on one side and a bearing plate on the other. This allows the two sections to move up and down or side to side relatively freely. This gives you a pretty good degree of isolation.
-Leave the platforms futher apart. Install a platform one step height taller than the mezzanines that sits at TOS and ties them together. Use a connection that provides slip (combinations of various slot geometries and tie downs with some degree of play.
-Bring one platform in below the other and install a step from one to the other without them actually touching.

Your architectural and operational requirements will likely govern, as well as your expected deflections in the various directions.

 

[wannabeSE]

You might get some ideas for the building separation from a company that manufactures a variety of covers for separations. Construction Specialties is one company that does this.

http://www.c-sgroup.com/expansion-joint-covers/floor-covers