warehouse floor loading

huangyhg

warehouse floor loading
that seems quite high to me.  in the us, codes typically require 125 psf (6 kn/m^2) for light storage and 250 psf (12 kn/m^2) for heavy storage.  now these are minimum code requirements and typically, you should ascertain what types of material is to be stored in the warehouse.  
in a recent project, we were designing a covered overhead crane with a storage area beneath for structural steel shapes.  the actual calculated load came out to be about 800 psf (38 kn/m^2) which was used.  this was also on a very poor site with soil densities below approaching that of water.  we used a reinforced mat slab but this was not technically within a warehouse building where slab settlements would be more of a concern.
check on the basis of bs6399:table 1 and what the 50 kn/m^2 is intended for.  perhaps the client could be consulted as to verifying the actual loading vs. some arbitrary code amount.  it seems over-kill to design for 50 when you might be storing foam products or toilet paper.
jae,
  just a note: paper products such as toilet paper have very high storage densities.  try lifting a box of copier paper, then re  
imagineer,
  you're right, i guess that real soft stuff my wife has been buying kinda skewed my thoughts.
suqlainuk (visitor)20 dec 00 8:57
jae,
thanks for your viewpoint. these high udl loadings are  common in uk building specs, and stems from property developers wanting the flexibilibty for future use of the building as a high bay racking warehouse. actual racking leg loads are rarely given at the outset.
design for the high udl on sites with say peat (reinforced water) layers have given piles@3m centres with enlarged heads, 300mm thk slabs with 85kg/m^3 mesh reinforcement quantity. the alternative to this slab is 250 thk fibremesh reinforced slab with 60kg/m^3 of steel fibres....solution which end up being too expensive.
imagineer,
your reply reminds me....which is heavier, a ton of feathers or a ton of steel?