I have to build a wood storage platform to hold up to 27 tons.
It will be about 10′ wide by 40′ wide, and 8’+/- high, and will be used to store items being collected for our next container shipment to Haiti.
It’s going in a pole barn, so each post will be on individual footers.
I’m very rusty on load calcs and design – can anyone give me the formulas? (or, hint hint, the actual calcs?)
Or am I in the area where I’m just better off biting the bullet and buying a metal storage system?
“It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good.”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
Replies
Taunton's book, "Engineering for Builders", has all the span tables. Sorry I don't have a copy here. It's a good book - I intend to get one. The local library always has a copy on the shelve so I'm spoiled.
remodeler
Besides the strength of the beams, of course, you'll also need to ensure the end connections and bearings can support the weight, and the wall or posts can handle the load, too. And that the beams don't roll. The load on the post footers will be quite concentrated so they have to be properly designed, too. With a live load of 135 psf, you may be better off with an engineer. If this is for a charitable organization you may be able to get the engineering gratis or at low cost. Besides, rather than pouring more materials into the structure and foundation "just to be sure", with an engineered solution you'd be certain it would stand up without putting money into extra construction that's not needed.
I am confused by your requirements.
If it is a platform why is it 8ft high? Or if it is a building that is 8ft hight then why not just pour concrete for the floor?
I don't know what zoning will allow, have you checked it?
But if they will allow it what about just using a storage container/semi trailer?
They is how a large business provide those. I think that some of them are ones that are no long road worthy, but still strong enough for storage.
Bob,
I just priced a new looking 8'x8'x40' Conex box. $3600 + delivery of around $125.
Price will be tied to steel prices, bu that is very reasonably for storage and they keep their resale value well.
SamT
Correction: we shipped 27 tons in the last 40' container, but some of that was some very heavy medical equipment; the head guy did some recalcs and we're now figuring on 10 tons spread across a 10x40 area, or about 50 lbs/sq foot; a figure I'm much more comfortable with.
What we are doing is using part of a pole barn to store donated stuff for shipment to Haiti - one of our Docs has caught on fire about Haiti
We're "stealing" the space from the youth progam, which uses the barn for hanging out every now and again, so we're going to use some floor space under the platform for sorting stuff, some space under it for make-out rooms, er, wait a minute, this is a church, so lets call 'em study cubicles {G} and, as we box stuff, we'll store it on the platform above that area
"It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
I don't get the make out cages, but you'll have room for more of them if you just buy a metal shipping container. I've seen used ones going for between one and two grand. I don't see how you could build for that, and then you won't have to steal from the youth.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I've seen used ones going for between one and two grand.
A friend here recently sold a pair of 40's, insulated with stainless liners, for $500 ea. Clearly, I'm not quite smart enough to take advantage, still thinking slate and such.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Good point. I'll mention it.
The labor moving stuff is free, though, so we'll have to weight the cost of long term renting of the container against the cost of building the platform.
& Of course, our youth are pampered enough ("hids there days, grumble grumble" {G}), so I think stealing some of "their" barn which they use 1/2 dozen times a year will be good for them {G}
BTW, We just got word that the first shipment that so many people here contributed so magnanamously arrives in Haiti tomorrow!
I'm thinking of going down in October for a couple of weeks; usually we just send a medical team, but we're looking to open it up to a bit more activity in October.
My business starts to slow up about then so the financial bite would be a bit more manageable, and everything I've seen and heard about life there tears at me.
One of the orphanages we support can only feed 150 kids a day, and all they can afford is a stew of rice and beans. Infants and young kids dying of starvation is an everyday occurence down there!
It boggles the mind!
"It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
Bob,
I don't know what's available in your area but here we rent metal containers. An 8'x8'x24' container is about $160 per month. They have 40s available but I'm not sure of the rate. It maybe more cost affective unless you are planning to do this long term or have plans for the structure in the future.
p.s. we can also purchase the containers as SamT suggested but they are a bit unsightly.
Thanks and Keep up the good work
k
Why build a storage area/container when the stuff will have to be moved a second time to a real shipping container. Even 10 tons is a lot of stuff to handle more than once.
Also, why buy a facsimile storage container when you will have to move the stuff - again - to the actual, required container.
I would suggest contacting the higher ups in the container business and ask them to park a real container next to your sorting/staging area and when you do get it filled up, including an itemized listing to convert to a bill of lading, they can just seal it, pick it up and send it on its way.
Considering the vast number of those containers moving about the world or just sitting in storage lots waiting to be used I think a charitable organization should be able to get one donated to sit in your back yard and the "lost" rental income charged off by the company. Good deeds all around.