Gun Safe Dimensions/Weight For Basement Accessible by Stairs Only

[bpl]

I'm looking at a house where I believe the best place for a gun safe is the basement on the cement floor. Thought maybe I'd build a "gun room" with reloading equipment and cleaning/maintenance equipment, etc. Anyway, this basement is accessible by a standard door and strait wooden staircase. The staircase is open on the left side going down once you get below the level of the 1st floor. There is no garage connection or direct door to the outside. Modern house, built in the early-mid 90's ie. not an old rickety staircase. What is the maximum size/weight safe I or even a professional can fit down into such a basement? Thanks!

 

[Rembrandt]

Took a 1500lb safe down my stairs....after adding braces and supports for the extra weight. (29" deep X 40" wide X 72" high).

 

[a1abdj]

Properly braced, shored, and rigged, you could get 5,000 pounds down the stairs. It would be expensive, but possible.

As a general rule, we limit our local gun safe deliveries to 1,000 pounds. By time you add the manpower and stairclimber, you're already pushing 1,500 pounds. Three 2x4s can be used to temporarily brace the stairs.

The other factor that may limit the type of safe you can get down the stairs is the placement of the basement door. If it's in a wide open area, it's no problem to get a machine in there to lower it. If it is off of a hallway, or has less than four feet between the top of the stairs and any obstructions, you're going to be at a major disadvantage.

 

[oneounceload]

If you take the door off, you can get a real heavy safe down the stairs and then reassemble the door - typically, the door is 1/3 of the weight

It is going to depend on how wide your stair is and your approach - is it a 90 degree turn from the top to go down the stairs, or is it a straight shot down?

 

[BADUNAME37]

Pretty hard to determine unless one actually sees it.

I agree with reinforcing (blocking with cribbing) the stairs -- ALL OF THEM.