Steel support frame for a freestanding loft

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design and construction of a steel support frame for a freestanding loft within a recording studio. Participants explore the structural requirements and considerations for supporting a loft while ensuring acoustic isolation for the rooms below.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster is seeking advice on the weight capacity of steel square tubing for a loft support frame, emphasizing the need for a structure that does not touch anything but the floor.
  • One participant suggests considering wood instead of steel for better vibration damping properties.
  • Several participants express concerns about safety, legal, and insurance implications of building structures occupied by humans, indicating that local codes must be followed.
  • There is a question about whether it is against forum rules to provide answers to such inquiries, with a consensus that professional guidance from an engineer or architect is necessary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of adhering to local building codes and the necessity of professional oversight. However, there is a divergence in opinions regarding the choice of materials (steel vs. wood) for the support frame.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of providing advice on structural design without professional input, highlighting potential safety and legal issues that could arise from non-compliance with building codes.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals involved in construction or design projects, particularly those focused on building structures that require acoustic isolation and compliance with safety regulations.

ClaytonBarton
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Hello everyone,
I'm trying to design and build a steel support frame for a freestanding loft of sorts. I'm in the process of building a recording studio with acoustically isolated rooms within a big room. This requires freestanding structures decoupled from everything but the floor. Normally you just build a room within a room not touching anything but the floor but the complications with this are I want to keep the above loft space above the two smaller rooms. This requires that the loft area be supported by separate structure is instead of the rooms below. I was thinking a steel frame structure could go in between the inner leaf structures and the outer leaf(existing room).

Below is how the room was when I got it.
Fullscreen capture 1182018 63839 PM.bmp.jpg
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This is a shot from above of 2x4 frames that with make up inner leaf walls and outer leaf existing structure with the steel frame in between.
Plans studiotop.jpg

this is the basic frame design in small section to be able to be moved thru doors then bolted together.
Studiosteelsupports.jpg


And this is a cross section from the side.
Plans studio.jpg


Nothing really to scale on these paint images I just didnt want to 3d em before knowing what I was building. I need the figure out how much weight I could put on frames like these made out of steel square tubing. Anyone know about this kind of stuff?
 

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From a noise/vibration standpoint, consider using wood instead of steel, wood will damp transmitted vibrations much better than steel.
 
You are asking about something we r are not allowed to answer. Structures occupied by humans must be built to local codes, not common sense or opinions from the Internet. There can be safety, legal, and insurance issues.
 
Is it against the forums rules to answer these questions?
 
anorlunda said:
safety, legal, and insurance
Liability/ies.
 
ClaytonBarton said:
Is it against the forums rules to answer these questions?
Yes, I'm afraid so. As mentioned, you need to have an engineer or architect help with the design, and you will need to get permits to build it and have it inspected according to your local Building Department.

Sounds like a fun project -- good luck! :smile:

Thread is closed.
 

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