So I would like to get the someone to come look at my apartment and make sure my concrete floors can handle my 180 gallon plus sump. I have no idea where to find a structural engineer. Should I call a contractor that remodels places and see if they have someone who could do it? I have looked around locally and there are plenty of contractors and constuction companies around so this seems like the best route to go. Any suggestions for where to look or what kinds of businesses to inquire about this service would be greatly appreciated.
Finding a Structural Engineer?
- Thread starter bfin3
- Start date
If your apartment building is all concrete then you have nothing to worry about. What is that 180g sump sitting under anyways????
I've seen structural engineers forming large firms (partnerships), but otherwise individuals are often contracted by architects and/or building contractors. Obviously some work for the governments or as instructors at schools.
If you can't find one directly, you can try calling some building construction firms.
Here's a potential list I found.
http://www.dexknows.com/local/scien...eo/c-bloomington-il/att/structural-engineers/
If you can't find one directly, you can try calling some building construction firms.
Here's a potential list I found.
http://www.dexknows.com/local/scien...eo/c-bloomington-il/att/structural-engineers/
Hello; I researched this issue some time back. I found some references that stated a concrete floor may be built to a number of standards. While many are built to quite high load capacities, some are no stronger than an equivalent wood floor. It seems to depend on the thickness of the cement and the way the other support structures are put together. Apparently a coat of cement can be put down as a durable cosmetic finish and not necessarily be stronger than other type of floor.
One thing to bear in mind is that nearly every time such a floor capacity question is posted on the forum, someone will post saying something along the line to go ahead and not to worry. I responded to a thread in the last few days in which a member posted pictures of structural floor damage from the weight of an aquarium. The debate has gone on for some time on the forum with several contending that there has been little evidence of any structural damage from the weight of aquariums. The pictures in this thread should be sufficient evidence to prove that false. Here is a link to that post for your consideration.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-out-there-Question-about-reinforcing-a-floor
Hello; here is a good general link
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html
Hello; I believe one of the following links discusses the issue of concrete floors.
(OLD RECYCLEDPOST some words may run together, this happens when I copy and paste to the forum)) Here are some web addresses about floor capacity. The first address is a new one from a post by another Monster Fish forum member a while back. Here are the addresses again with the first being new to the list. Floor capacity depends on a lot of criteria; there is not a simple answer to the question.
This web address is added to the list http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/aquarium_weight.php It is perhaps the easiest to follow.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7485788_calculate-floor-load-capacity.html
The web address above is a site about calculating load capacities of floor joists. They use a formula for the strength of a beam:
I looked at some other sites (Addresses listed below) and found a discussion of static loads and live loads. Two sites describe how to measure the deflection of flooring due to weight loads.
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/deflecto.pl
http://www.awc.org/calculators/span...d=10&submit=Calculate+Maximum+Horizontal+Span
I found these sites interesting but hard to pin down for a general rule of thumb. Too many variables involved; Type of wood, condition of wood, dimensional lumber or engineered truss, age of wood and on and on.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=62845&page=10
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html
To answer your specific question. I found an engineer a few years back by asking a realitor. The realitor I was working with knew someone who would look at houses.
Good luck
I agree if theres more then 2 floors I doubt they would let it go on the low side, you have to remember what ever floor is above you is pretty much supported by your level also, which would be a lot more then a fish tank!
If your still keen I would call the council and ask if they have one they can recommend you, I think getting one out to view your floor will be very hard + costy. I also believe you will need the plans for the floor etc.
If you really have builders over there who build such weak cement slabs they should be shot.
Hello; As has happened with floor capacity questions before there are two points of view. On the one hand some assume that your floor will hold the load without having actually seen the structure or been given any particular data other than it is concrete in your case. According to the sources I found, cement floors in some apartments/buildings can be a thin layer with similar strength to wood floors. This is apparently done because a cement floor is less prone to cosmetic damage than wood and not necessarily to be stronger. How anyone would know which sort of floor you have with out a look see or consulting the owner/builder is a mystery to me. If you own the place then you pay your money and take your chances. If you rent the place then you take your chances and could stand liable for considerable expense if things go wrong.
I have the other view about it. I would get it checked out to my satisfaction in some manner.
I have the other view about it. I would get it checked out to my satisfaction in some manner.
you may be able to go to the building dept. and ask if you can see a copy or the original set of building blue prints and on them it should say floor load capacity per square foot or square inch and what PSI cement was used. I would get renters Insurance just in encase there is a water accident which happens to everyone now and then. when I lived in a garden apartment I had a 150 gallon tank,when I came home I found that a quarter of the water was gone. It turned out that one of my Acueclear 110 filter pads had floated up and I did not have it piched to the front so the water overflowed in the back instead of the front. I got lucky and the water went down the wall and not threw the ceiling. I was so scared when I went the super and asked him to open the apartment bellow. I did not have renters Insurance.I found it was only like 150 dollars a year for something like 10.000 worth coverage