A guy on the M14 forum has a question about his floor strength and a safe...

So I am getting ready to move in a large safe I bought from the LGS. My house is on a pier and beam foundation and is fairly solid after 30 years of use. The safe weighs in at 1100 lbs. It's heavier than the dang piano made in 1926 I had to move in a few years ago which was a bear to handle. I WILL NOT attempt to move the safe and have a contract safe mover do the job. It will be placed in my man cave room where the floor is constructed on top of double 6x6 beams on poured concrete pilings and up against the wall that is also a double wall so it's about 8" thick. I built on a Master bedroom on that side of my man cave room and it's very solid. My only concern would be the weight of the safe with guns would top 1300 pounds possibly, and the worry about any stress it might impose? Am I overly concerned?

Any input is appreciated.

Tony.

We don't see much pier and beam construction around here, but our general rule of thumb is 1,500 pounds without additional reinforcement beneath the safe.

You will hear many people toss out the 40 pounds per square foot requirement that is common in residential construction. What many of those talking about it don't understand is that is the total weight spread evenly over an entire room. It doesn't mean that more than 40 pounds in a single square foot will fall through the floor. It means that a 10x10 room will support 4,000 pounds.

Although residential construction doesn't usually mention it, commercial code does. Many of the office buildings we are in have 60 pound per square foot load designs, with 2,500 pounds allowed within any 6 square foot area.

Probably not a bad idea to run it past an engineer or builder who deals with pier and beam construction. Even if there is some concern it should be relatively easy to add some support beneath it.

Thanks! I'll pass it on!

Tony.

If I knew the size of the joists (2x8's, 2x10's etc.), the spacing of the joists (typically 16" oc) and the length of the floor joists from bearing to bearing I could give you a more complete answer.

In some cases we have built a larger platform to help disperse the concentrated weight over a greater area.

Pm me for any additional help if you'd like.

Hows that for a quick response! Frank, you are an asset to the forum!

More info from the OP:

http://m14forum.com/geedunk/43...ving-large-safe.html
Although the safe will sit on a 6x6 beam framed 10x12 room, I have decided to install additional 6x6 beams under the floor joists running perpendicular with additional concrete piers to carry the loads.

I will certainly take the time to ensure solid footing and load bearing capabilities. I have overbuilt my home additions that were added for strength and storm resistance. Even going so far as building all corner wall construction using 2 x 12's and plywood that are screwed together making all the wall corners super ridged and solid. You should have seen the roof trusses I built overhead, a truck can park on my roof.

At first I was thinking it might be OK, but after much thought I decided it was best to install the extra level of floor joist support.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by Spokane228:
Hows that for a quick response! Frank, you are an asset to the forum!

This forum is truly amazing.

Tony.