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enter image description hereI am trying to take down a load bearing wall and have had an engineer draw plans and advise I use a steel beam and columns to support the floor above. Do I need something to secure the columns to the floor so they do not move or can the rest direct into the concrete floor? I live in Scotland which tends to have different laws than the rest of the UK.

columns 90 x 6.3 SHS beam 178 x 102 x 19 UB

The beam will have JJI joists resting on it. I have a 3 floor terraced house and the work is being carried out on the ground floor.

Seamusthedog
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  • Usually steel posts have plates welded to the ends with bolt holes punched in them. We'd need more detail about your columns to answer, though. – isherwood Nov 14 '19 at 15:55
  • I’m trying to load image of plans but struggling on phone. Will switch to laptop – Seamusthedog Nov 14 '19 at 15:55
  • Not the plans so much, but the metal bits. – isherwood Nov 14 '19 at 15:56
  • When you say, “can they rest direct into the concrete floor” I presume they have an end cap so the column can develop the necessary bearing on/in the concrete. – Lee Sam Nov 14 '19 at 16:20
  • @Lee Sam I thought the engineer would have clarified these details and I’m struggling to get a quote for the materials from local steel fabricators. – Seamusthedog Nov 14 '19 at 16:26
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    yes, you want them attached, as a home inspector explained to me, in case of earthquake, kids, or accidentally bumping into one with your arms loaded. Strictly speaking, that doesn't provide support, but it provides robustness. – dandavis Nov 14 '19 at 16:28
  • Don’t get many earthquakes in Scotland, unless they are fraking nearby?!? – Seamusthedog Nov 14 '19 at 16:29
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    I'd go back to the engineer. You may need to crack concrete and dig a new footing. When I did a similar thing, I needed to dig down 18" add some rebar, and re-pour concrete. – Chris Cudmore Nov 14 '19 at 16:48
  • Second @Chris Cudmore’s suggestion. The engineer really needs to specify the footing required for the posts. – spuck Nov 14 '19 at 17:30
  • I thought the engineer should be providing more information. I hope it’s not a case of ‘he’s paid so ignore him’! – Seamusthedog Nov 14 '19 at 18:12

1 Answers1

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Either the plate with bolt holes as suggested.

Or you could bolt some blocks to the floor on each side of the beam to stop it moving - especially if it does not have a plate already.

But some method of stopping it moving too easily is sensible - "just in case"...

Solar Mike
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