ᐅ Issues / Load-Bearing Capacity of Attic / Existing Structural Assessment / Evaluation
Created on: 14 Nov 2014 20:42
R
rennem01Hello to all forum members,
I have been a silent reader of this forum for quite some time and have already found answers to several of my questions here. Now I have a question and hope someone can help me before I contact our structural engineer: We built a staggered shed roof house (KFW70 standard) in 2013 and moved in at the beginning of 2014. I am now considering installing a substructure made of 50x30 mm (2x1 inch) squared timbers in the large shed roof and laying tongue-and-groove boards about 22 mm (7/8 inch) thick on top, so that we can use the attic as storage space. The attic is insulated, with a vapor barrier underneath the insulation, and below that the typical assembly of battens and drywall. I have a problem with our structural engineering documents: Either I do not understand how to read them correctly, or there is a missing specification—the information about the maximum load or weight allowed on our attic. I would appreciate if an expert could weigh in on whether I am overlooking something or if this detail is indeed missing.
Greetings from Frankenthal,
Marco
I have been a silent reader of this forum for quite some time and have already found answers to several of my questions here. Now I have a question and hope someone can help me before I contact our structural engineer: We built a staggered shed roof house (KFW70 standard) in 2013 and moved in at the beginning of 2014. I am now considering installing a substructure made of 50x30 mm (2x1 inch) squared timbers in the large shed roof and laying tongue-and-groove boards about 22 mm (7/8 inch) thick on top, so that we can use the attic as storage space. The attic is insulated, with a vapor barrier underneath the insulation, and below that the typical assembly of battens and drywall. I have a problem with our structural engineering documents: Either I do not understand how to read them correctly, or there is a missing specification—the information about the maximum load or weight allowed on our attic. I would appreciate if an expert could weigh in on whether I am overlooking something or if this detail is indeed missing.
Greetings from Frankenthal,
Marco
Hello Marco,
The information you are looking for is not included, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be. I assume you want to install an additional ceiling at the level of position D2. Is that correct? The duplications are probably only calculated for the drywall ceiling, or I assume they are not calculated at all since nothing would protrude through the OSB panels on the underside. As far as I can tell, the rafters still have enough reserve capacity. So if you want to do this, I would have a structural engineer calculate how to reinforce the positions so they can support a load of 200 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²).
Regards,
Ronny
The information you are looking for is not included, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be. I assume you want to install an additional ceiling at the level of position D2. Is that correct? The duplications are probably only calculated for the drywall ceiling, or I assume they are not calculated at all since nothing would protrude through the OSB panels on the underside. As far as I can tell, the rafters still have enough reserve capacity. So if you want to do this, I would have a structural engineer calculate how to reinforce the positions so they can support a load of 200 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²).
Regards,
Ronny
Hi Ronny,
ok, thanks for the information and assessment. That’s correct, it is a plank flooring on level D2 that I want to install. I will contact our structural engineer to find out what load can currently be applied there. That might even be sufficient.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Marco
ok, thanks for the information and assessment. That’s correct, it is a plank flooring on level D2 that I want to install. I will contact our structural engineer to find out what load can currently be applied there. That might even be sufficient.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Marco
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