Structural

[infrastructure]

Hi everybody:
We are remodeling an old 2-story wooden building and plan to utilize its upper floor to house a gym. A Live Load of 100 psf was considered to check that the floor framing is capable to support the loads.
Nevertheless, the Client has provided a list of intended equipment to be installed in the gym, in which there is a Dumbbell rack weighing 1800 Lb. The only information available about this equipment is packing list confirming the weight (1800 Lb) and informing of a 81"x22" dimensions.
Please some tips will be appreciated on how to assure that this equipment will not surpass the assumed 100 psf.

Thanks so much in advance,

 

[haynewp]

When the leg press machines in my gym are completely loaded down, each one can weigh about 3000 pounds including the weight being lifted and STORED on the machine itself. The weight of the machine itself might be 300 lbs, but it can hold much more that is bought separately from the machine. Each one takes up about a 3'x5' area. There are also other heavy pieces of equipment close by.

If anyone does deadlifts there, those rarely exceed 500 pounds and then the bar gets dropped from about 3 feet for an impact on the floor. I think the world record is about 900 lbs. A wooden floor will be smashed in no time without a couple of thick rubber mats on top of it.

Anyway, it just depends on the capacity of the equipment being used, the spacing of the equipment, and the strength of the guys that are going to be using the gym. These can vary a good bit from my experience. The floor average might be 100psf, but some areas can have more than that with impact.

 

[CWIC]

My free weight stand has a footprint of approximately 14". It can hold about 1000lbs. of free weights. The dumbell stand currently holds 920 lbs. of dummies, supported by 2 - 2" x 18" square tubes spaced approximately 5' apart for a total weight of just under 1000 lbs. They were designed to be placed on my concrete floor of my garage. I would not put these indoors as I know they are too heavy for most residential locations.

A gym at one contractor park I lived at 10 years ago had a sagging wood floor were the weights were stored and at several workout stations. Many of us could lift more weight than the machine came with from the manufacturer, but the machines were designed for additional weights which we often used. The floors creaked and groaned during heavy lifting.

FYI.

 

[UcfSE]

You might be able to find some guidance for the minimum code live load in the ASCE 7, either in the body of the code or the commentary. I don't have mine with me right now or I'd take a look.

I think you should check for not only that but also for heavy point loads, either concentrated over a point or spread uniform over a foot or two. Will there be any aerobics at all? If there are, you may have trouble with your floor vibrating. I would also check that the sheathing will be adequate or make sure to use mats as haynewp said, and I would probably add some dynamic impact factor as well, depending on the type of load I was investigating.