Steel Column Base Plate

[jonathanwilkins]

I'm specifying a steel column & baseplate to bear on a thickened slab. Loads are light ~5k or so.

Am I correct in that 4 bolts are required to anchor the baseplate? (Column supports gravity & uplift). Contractor doesn't want to put a large plate + 4 bolts. I feel certain I've read 4 bolts are required before but cannot locate it in the steel manual. Thanks.

 

[slickdeals]

4 bolts is an OSHA requirement. You will need to be able to carry the moment induced due to an iron worker hanging off the column before it gets braced by the framing members. I don't have the OSHA requirement section, but I am sure others will chime in.

 

[nutte]

The 4-bolt OSHA requirement does not apply to "posts," which are defined as pieces weighing less than 300 pounds and not part of the "primary skeltal framing system." If they are part of the primary skeltal framing system, they are "columns" and require 4 anchor rods (minimum). See OSHA section 1926.751 and 1926.755.

 

[delagina]

I see lots of "major" equipment support columns with only 2 bolts, built in the 70s here in the plant i work.

Either it was a bad design or OSHA doesnt have that requirement at the time.

 

[paddingtongreen]

OSHA didn't have those requirements back then.

Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

 

[southard2]

Oops didn't know that one. On rare occasion I have only specified two bolts on what were usually light columns in order to conceal the columns in a wall where the column baseplates were placed at slab on grade level. Didn't seem to cause any problem although I can see where four bolts would be beneficial for erection purposes. I want to say that I've used Ram Baseplate to analyse the baseplate with that bolt configuration.

John Southard, M.S., P.E.

http://www.pdhlibrary.com