Steel work selection...

MattChan · 2 Feb 2008

I need to add a beam of some sort across my garage to enable me to hoist engines etc us to a max weight of about 350kg's

The span of the garage is around 5.0m.

I assume I will need to get some calcs done to work out the beam dimensions.

Once calculated is it likely I would be able to use an off the shelf steel from somewhere or would it have to be a custom piece made? Any idea where would be a good place to contact in the Southampton area to buy from?

Bowness72 · 2 Feb 2008

Will the beam be supporting anything else once in (eg. roof) ? and are you going through building control or not ?

MattChan · 2 Feb 2008

Beam will support nothing under normal circumstances other than its own weight.

Do I need to notify building control? The garage is at the end of the garden and completely detached from the house if that makes any difference.

noseall · 2 Feb 2008

nusku said:
Beam will support nothing under normal circumstances other than its own weight.

Do I need to notify building control?

no, you do not.

JohnD · 2 Feb 2008

this is a double garage?

If you could find a way to support it at the half-way point, so it was 2.5m long instead of 5m, it would be very much cheaper in steelwork.

^woody^ · 2 Feb 2008

I'd be surprised if a standard section size would not be suitable for a 5m span.

noseall · 2 Feb 2008

i would have thought a universal beam, 178x102mm would eat it.

Bowness72 · 2 Feb 2008

Personally I would use 152 x 152 x 30 UC which is a bit more robust with thicker flanges (which is how "official" lifting beams are designed) which may be useful depending how the lifting gear will be attached. Not sure on cost difference.

Deluks · 2 Feb 2008

A giant 'swing' (like you get in a playground) springs to mind. A pair of braced a-frames with a beam connecting them at the top. I don't imagine the sections need be too big for 350kg. and it only need be slightly wider than the vehicle.

Sumink like this

^woody^ · 2 Feb 2008

Trouble is, when leaning in the engine bay he would get water drips on the back of his neck from the gaping hole in the roof

lol

The-brickie · 3 Feb 2008

Dont know about the lifting gear thats going on it, what about the lifting gear to get a monster like that in?

Bowness72 · 3 Feb 2008

Not sure what size you were expecting with a beam spanning 5m with a concentrated load in the middle but you could go down to a 152 x 152 x 23 UC to reduce the weight a bit.

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Steel work selection...

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