H-beam hanging in rafters.

[2hjul]

Hello
I've got hold of an H-beam about 390cm long. I'm planning to install it in the ceiling of my garage project. Does anyone know how much 3 roof trusses can support? Or should it be reinforced in some way? It'll probably be hung under 3 roof trusses. I'm not very sure about the dimensions of the trusses. But I think they're standard. Maybe 45?.
Thanks in advance

 

[bossespecial]

It depends a bit on what is going to hang on the beam later. However, I would say that the trusses can't handle very much.

 

[2hjul]

Thank you for the answer, well I don't really know yet. Not very big things. Maybe a moped/mc/motor/lift the snowmobile a little in the back.

 

[bossespecial]

Check with the truss manufacturer how much you could load them with. Then you will get the exact answer

 

[justusandersson]

I also doubt that it is a viable option. A 390 mm high HEA beam weighs 125 kg/m, meaning 150 kg per attachment point just in its own weight. Truss rafters are usually designed for a distributed load on the bottom chords of 50 kg/sqm. Only the truss manufacturer can answer what the maximum point load is, but I don't think it will be feasible. You should probably consider a column-supported solution instead.

 

[richardtenggren]

@justusandersson
Now you've probably had a sip of schnapps, it's the length of 390 cm that's mentioned above, right?

But it would have been good if it also mentioned which profile is referred to

 

[justusandersson]

No, I have not sipped on the snaps. I'm not planning to drink any today either. But you are right, it says 390 cm not mm as I carelessly read. But it doesn't change much in substance. It is not a good idea to hang a steel beam (which is supposed to function as a lifting device) in a truss that is not designed for that purpose.

 

[richardtenggren]

No, I haven't been sipping on the nubbe. Not planning to drink any today either. But you're right, it says 390 cm not mm which I carelessly read. But it doesn't change much in essence. It's not a good idea to hang a steel beam (which is supposed to function as a lifting device) on a truss that's not designed for that purpose.

Wise! Just kidding, won't have any here either!

Then again, a 390 mm would indeed match an HEA400, so your interpretation could be right and the unit wrong. But at the same time, it sounds a bit overkill for mopeds, etc.

 

[justusandersson]

Yes, HEA 400 is obviously completely unreasonable. An IPE profile makes more sense. It's been a long time since I tinkered with cars, but a lifting capacity of at least 300 kg seems appropriate to me.

 

[ArneTW]

If you don't put support on the beam, it's better to throw up a wooden stud on the rafters and lift in it to at least avoid the beam's own weight.

If you place the beam and just let it hang on the rafters, it's easy to forget that the beam is not the weak point, and you lift something really heavy and everything collapses.

/ATW

Ps isn't there some story about foundations/clay feet ds

 

[2hjul]

Thanks for all the answers. I probably need to rethink this. It's probably not smart to just put up the beam and risk something. I have an acquaintance who is also building a garage. He has put up 2 logs in the ceiling for the beam to hang from. But that might be a bit overkill for me. I'll see how I solve it.

 

[Matti_75]

Thanks for all the answers. I might need to rethink this a bit. It's probably silly to throw up the beam and risk something. I have an acquaintance who is also building a garage. He has thrown up 2 logs in the ceiling for the beam to hang on. But that might be a bit overkill for me. We'll see how I resolve it.

Without knowing the situation for just your rafters, the rafters can handle more weight than you might think. Ask your manufacturer and you'll find out.