Loft construction in a steel building

[vlocci]

I'm looking to add a 12X30 loft in my existing 30X60 steel building. This will need to be freestanding and I plan on building it with wood.

I am fine with a row of support columns down the middle, so we are essentially looking at two 12X15 platforms with the longest span being 15 feet.

I'm in the northeast, so the lumber will likely be #2 spruce/fir. This will serve as my woodworking shop, so there will be a fair amount
of machinery to support. (cabinet saw, bandsaw, jointer, supplies etc) The ceiling under this loft will remain unfinished.

Some back of the envelope calculations tell me 2X10's on 16 inch centers will work assuming maximum deflection of l/260 and a 40/10 live/dead load. This would be with the 2x10's running in the 15 foot direction.

Can anyone confirm this to be the case?

Should I be designing for a greater live load?

Any pictures of a similar setup? Even better, anyone rhave a rough idea on cost or know a builder looking to take this on as sidework? I'm up in Salisbury MA, just south of the NH border.

Thanks guys,

Vin

 

[nehog]

That you Vince?

I was kinda thinking the same thing on my 30x60 too, but eventually gave up on the idea. I was thinking storage only (not enough head room in my place) but looking at you are going to use it for, I'd tend to err on the conservative and maybe go with something even heavier? What are you planning for a floor?

 

[vlocci]

Peter,

Yep, same guy that snagged those lights from you a while back (which continue to work perfectly)

This will be my wood shop, so 3/4 plywood was the planned flooring. I was considering adding some simple glued down laminate squares flooring to pretty the place up, but that would likely be driven by how much the loft winds up costing.

I ballpark it at about 1K in materials, and will certainly let you know how things turn out.

Vin

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

According to the most updated span calculator and a little more beef for the equipment
here's the results:
Species Spruce-Pine-Fir
Size 2x10
Grade No. 2
Member Type Floor Joists
Deflection Limit L/360
Spacing (in) 12
Exterior Exposure Wet service conditions?
No
Incised lumber?
No
Live Load (psf) 50

Dead Load (psf) 10

The Maximum Horizontal Span is:
16 ft. 0 in.
with a minimum bearing length of 0.75 in.
required at each end of the member.
Property Value
Species Spruce-Pine-Fir
Grade No. 2
Size 2x10
Modulus of Elasticity (E) 1400000 psi
Bending Strength (Fb) 1106.88 psi
Bearing Strength (Fcp) 425 psi
Shear Strength (Fv) 135 psi

 

[Nighttrain]

I used 2x10 on my office with loft above. Span was 15' 6". 16" oc. This is used just for storage up there. If I was to do it again I would probably go heavier 2x12" It would of only cost about another $100 total. No issues with mine at all but if your going to put a lot up there it would be worth the cost to me.