JFrank
Member
Unlikely a safe will completely break the joist and fall through the subfloor, what’s more likely is the lower ceiling sheet rock starts to crack at the tape joints from stress of joist sagging.
Why would 2nd floor be any different than 1st floor other than getting it up there. The strength of the floor is the same.
Why would 2nd floor be any different than 1st floor other than getting it up there. The strength of the floor is the same.
If I was going to put the safe upstairs I would at least try to situate it so that there is a wall underneath it.
It will be finePurchased a sports afield 36 gun safe today and it weighs 400lbs empty. Girlfriend is hell bent it goes in the master bedroom closet so what do you guys think? Too heavy or good to go?
Water is heavy. Fresh water is 8.34#/gallon (saltwater is 8.55).tank that held about 500 gallons of water.
Water is heavy. Fresh water is 8.34#/gallon (saltwater is 8.55).
500 gallon tank is two tons of just water, not including the tank.
If we call the footprint 8 x 3 for 24 sf, that 's 178psf round numbers--which is a lot for interior wood framing to carry.
Water is heavy. Fresh water is 8.34#/gallon (saltwater is 8.55).
500 gallon tank is two tons of just water, not including the tank.
If we call the footprint 8 x 3 for 24 sf, that 's 178psf round numbers--which is a lot for interior wood framing to carry.
If it was only 178lbs on 1 Sqft, there wouldn't be a problem.
4,000 lbs on 2 joists held up by a few nails.... that seems a little sketchy.
If it was only 178lbs on 1 Sqft, there wouldn't be a problem.
4,000 lbs on 2 joists held up by a few nails.... that seems a little sketchy.
I had a king sized water bed way back in my first marriage. That's just shy of a ton of water. But the frame spread that weight out across quite a bit of fire by design.
I have seen 2 story places built with just 2 x 3 s for floor joists and really thin floors sheathing. Many were condos and cheapy single family tracts. Also some states and counties allowed construction with very reduced nailing schedules adding to problem. My first house was a Larchmont in Sacramento CA and amazed its still standing.
No lie. I've seen unsurfaced lumber which was anywhere from 1 7/8 to 2 1/4 thick and spaced a hammer's span apart. Which could be from 12" to 17" on center (ish)Floor joists 2x6 with 24" spacing isn't uncommon in some older housing. And that with the flooring nailed directly to the joists with no underlay between.
What is a RCE license ?Another factor is the strength of "new growth" Hem Fir from reforested areas and Chinese nails. Very leery of many new homes let alone parking 500+ pounds on anything but a concrete slab. Even then recently watched a 3" slab being poured on 4" grid wire mesh as "rebar". The 4" abs drain pipes had less than an 1" of coverage. I joked to foreman about the value of ABS in lieu of rebar. He was not amused and asked "*** i knew" I showed him my RCE License card and he stopped talking. Those bolting safes down on a slab better be darn sure where the pipes are.
Registered Civil Engineer. FWIW I started out in structures, literally wasted 3 decades as the first of the "environmental engineers" but got into stuff like Haz mat, "toxic mold" remediation and Epidemiology due to boredom. Miss the "expert witness" $$$ from side practiceWhat is a RCE license ?