I don’t recall this topic coming up before on Breaktime, so I thought I’d post about it.
I had to stop by a jobsite yesterday. The first floor system and floor deck were installed. One of the first things that caught my eye was the materials stacked on the floor deck.
Thre was an area behind the garage that was roughly 24′ by 27′ with clear span floor trusses in that area. On top of that one area were 3 bunks of lumber and one complete unit of OSB.
I told the guys who were framing the house that they had grossly overloaded that area of the floor. Didn’t seem to phase them. So I called the GC, and he said he would check it out.
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Fortunately, I haven’t seen too many cases of overloading floor systems causing serious problems. But it can and does. One case in particular comes to mind. A customer had their 2nd floor material delivered with a boom truck, and set the 2nd floor wall framing material on the 2nd floor deck. They set it near an exterior wall with the bunks running parallel to the floor trusses. This put a huge load on just a couple of floor trusses, and caused them to sag considerably. When the load was removed they didn’t return to their original position.
The GC called us to come look at the trusses. (At least he didn’t lie about what had happened) They wanted to know if they could cut them in half, jack them up, then splice them back together. We ran it by our engineers but they wouldn’t go for it. The only solution was to replace the floor trusses. I know for a fact the GC didn’t replace the trusses. Don’t know what he actually did.
I’ve been out on calls a few times where just one or 2 floor trusses had a serious sag in them like the ones on that job. Often it’s from the guys who stock drywall stacking too many sheets in one place and leaning them against the walls. Again, this can put a rather large load on one or two floor members.
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I know that many of you already know this, but:
Don’t stack too much material on the trusses.
If you put stuff on floors, stack it over a bearing wall or beam.
Run the bunks perpendicular to the floor members to spread the load over as many floor members as possible.
When in doubt, don’t. If you aren’t sure about how much weight to put where, don’t put it on the floor system.
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The WTCA has a PDF document about construction loading here:
http://www.woodtruss.com/images/publication_images/ttbconstload.pdf
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
Replies
I was moving the materials around with a 65HP tractor with pallet forks and was surprised about how much the bundles weight.
The delivery truck unloaded them by lifting and sliding out from under it.
One bundle of OSB was more than my tractor could handle, would lift it's rear and not the load, so we had to open it up and load them by hand on the points to lift to the roof framers in three trips per bundle.
That stuff is HEAVY!
I saw ya!!!!! but that was NOT a tractor..
edit for the rat bastids that eat pics..hold on.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Edited 2/14/2004 7:01:03 PM ET by SPHERE
Edited 2/14/2004 7:02:09 PM ET by SPHERE
geez , they're actin odd today..here's the pic..<G>
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yikes! I hope they let'er down eaaasyyy.<g>
It would be funny to photo shop that pic and replace the load with tools and lumber and put one of the breaktimers logos on the side of the donkey. ;-)
Let's hope someone does..I can't afford photoshop. I'd never get any work done!!
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Let's hope someone does..I can't afford photoshop. I'd never get any work done!!
and besides that, it it hard to do. I never have a clue how to start working a picture over, and usually just get mediocre results. Then there is trying to find someone's logo.
Really did have to give it a try, tho
brianView Image
ROFLMAO>>>!!!! YOU DAWG YOU..YOU DAWG. Ain't you got anything BETTER to do with your time? DAWG, DAWG..I can't stop laughing..
HOOOOWWWLLLL....
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
You liked that, huh. I am pretty clumsy with the photos, but I gave it a whirl. Love you little logo and really loved the air mule pic. They just had to go together.
Hey like the photo of Eddie, too. I had a collie crossed dog that never got in the truck without a ball, just in case someone would throw it for him. He had a Frisbee that was so chewed up it was like catching a coffee can lid, too.
Yeah, I need to go out to my little mini shop and straighten up a little.
Have a good afternoon.
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yup,,, still laughin. Eddie has a whole collection of stuff, his "fris'es" are just rings, the insides are wore out. Borded Collie and Austrailian Sheperd..what a mix!..great dog tho', passed obedience school at 8 weeks and has not forgotten a thing. Smartest dog I ever had. I swear he can read. neighbor has a no tresspassing sign...he's after a ball..sees the sign and STOPS dead in his tracks..makes ME get the ball. LOL
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Just forwarded it to OSHA. They will be right over to fine you for improper loading of a donkey cart. And PETA wants to have a word with you too. ;-)
My Dad is retired Air Force, send the OSHA boys over, they might be some of his old friends. After all, it all started with an AF safety manual.
The PETA folks are also welcome, too.
We can drink some beer, fire up the grill, and cooks some steaks.
I love animals,
they taste soooo good!View Image
Excellnt link Boss.
I see some things that I have done wrong in the past, and gotten away with it.
Dave