I usually hang out on the Knots forum,but since I have a construction question, I thought I’d get a better answer here.
I have to build a containment wall around an interior worksite to keep dust out of the rest of the building.The area to be enclosed is about 45 by 26 feet, and the wall will be 10′ high. It will be made of standard 2X4 studs and covered with plastic sheeting.
The problem is the ceiling of this enclosure.It needs to be covered with plastic sheeting also, but it will not need to support anything other than itself.I’d like to have a free span, without center supports.Unfortunately,I can’t support it from the existing ceiling.
So my question is: How can I span 26 feet? I thought of building I-joists, but I’m not sure how to figure the dimensions.I also thought of making “box beams” with 2X4’s and 1/4″ plywood on each side.Would either of these ideas work? Should I forget about the free-span idea and use support posts where I have to?
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Rick W.
Replies
Support posts sure would make the span easier to deal with. But who wants posts in their shop?
Building your own I-joists isn't a good idea. Same with box beams.
What's the situation with the roof? Could you suspend something from it? That sounds like the simplest solution from here.
Never sleep with anyone crazier than yourself.
Rick,
Since this is just temporary. Just by I-joists 26' long 2'centers, you only need 14 of them. Or go with 2x10's but there alot heavier.
Joe Carola
Edited 6/4/2003 3:08:08 PM ET by Framer
Hey Rick,
Done that, been there. Our company just finished doing four different remodels and add ons for emergency wards in hospitals. GC demanded dust free areas adjacent to work site so temporary walls ect... One option that works good for covering the top of the work site is use 12ga. ceiling wire. Usually comes in lengths from 6' to 16'. Just splice the wires together to get long enough length, run them across 26' span on aprox. 4' centers. Remember to use at least 1' splice, and when tying off the ends to your attachment devices wrap wire around itself minimum of 4 times so it won't come undone. Use large 1/2" course thread eye lag screws if you can find them, if not use eye bolts to attach ceiling wire to top track of temporary walls. Leave them sticking out an extra few inches and once ceiling wire is attached to both walls crank the eye srews/bolts down and this takes up any slack or droop in the wire. Once you've run your wires drape 4 to 6 mil. poly over the top of wire, and use duct tape on poly joints and run tape over the ceiling wire therefor attaching it to the poly ( holds plastic in place real good.) Staple and duct tape edges to top plate of walls for good airtight seem.
This aproach may seem cheesy but it works good, goes up fast, and is cheap to build.
Cork in Dallas
Thanks for the quick responses, guys!
Cork, I really like your suggestion. It's the quick, cheap answer I was looking for. (I have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be).
I knew I'd get a good answer on this forum!
Thanks again,
Rick W.
Can you hang from whatever ceiling/roof structure is above you? A couple of strings or wires vertically to the roof could give you a look like a circus tent where you support the plastic ceiling
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