Cupboard floor load

[monkey73]

Hi all

I have recently had the new house rewired and as part of that I have installed a lot of AV/networking etc. This is all terminated back to a central cupboard. The cupboard in question is in a bedroom as is actually the cupboard above the stair case. So the cupboard is raised off the floor level and covers the "sloping bit" which is hollow under the cupboard floor. This is where all the cables enter and come up through the floor of the cupboard.

The floor of the cupboard is made of tongue and groove floor boards, which are sitting at each end on the bricks surrounding the cupboard, much like our full rooms where the floorboards stretch from end to end.

There is no other joist running under the boards in the floor. The dimensions of the floor are about 80cm wide by 60cm deep.

I need to add a lot of equipment to this cupboard, I am planning to by a 19" rack which will hold the equipment like AV Receivers, power amps, network equipment and computers/servers.

Im a little concerned about how much weight the floor can take. It feels pretty solid and i can jump up and down on it but i know this equipment can weigh a a lot and will obviously be there over time.

I can't see an easy way to strengthen the floor either really. Am i worrying too much or should i be worried?!

Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

The only thing you can do is to fix a sheet of thick ply over those boards, but personally I don't think it would be necessary.
John

 

[monkey73]

ok so you think it will be pretty substantial in its load bearing capacity? I've had a look underneath, and running parallel to the blockwork at each edge is a batten of wood, so if I could manuvere under there, which would be extremely difficult, would it be worth adding some more bracing to under the boards? Or even removing them, adding a joist and replacing them? The only thing is the joist would be running in the same direction as the boards so don't know if it would add any strength to it really.

 

[Burnerman]

The flooring of your proposal is supported at each end by brickwork.....correct? That's the normal method anyway.
Therefore if you feel it's necessary to reinforce things I'd still consider my plywood addition.
You'll find that the existing boards will bear your weight easily......that's one hell of an equivalent load of equipment!
If you are still uneasy, then remove the existing boards, add another joist and then replace......but I do feel that's overkill.
John

 

[monkey73]

Ok thanks for the reassurance. I have no idea how strong the boards are and how the load is transferred and how its distributed. From the sounds of it the rack isn't going to come crashing down onto someones head then! Maybe ill leave it as it is!