Structural support for disabled ceiling hoist

[Mbuild]

Hi, I am in the process of planning the fitting of a ceiling mounted disabled lifting hoist and the room it is going in has a ceiling constructed of only 3 x 2 timbers on the rear addition of a Victorian house with a pitched red concrete tiled roof above. I need to create some additional support in the ceiling void to spread the loading that the hoist will impose when used. After the addition of some sort of spreader over the joists can I also attach strapping to the angled timbers of the roof above from the 3 x 2 ceiling joists to create additional support and further spread the load? If I was to do it what process and materials should I use?

 

[^woody^]

Are you working this out and using the manufacturer's guidance, or just trying to knock something up?

 

[Mbuild]

Hi Woody, I’m just trying to get a feel for if there would be a standard way to do it probably from someone with engineering experience. I’m struggling with the cost of adaptations and I’ll health. I still need to get some figures for the spec of the hoist for loading, fixings and span between fixings etc. The company providing the lift won’t fit the hoist unless I can sort a solution. I will end up employing a structural engineer I’m guessing. Thanks.

 

[^woody^]

Normally with these hoists, you would have a single beam or beam system to take the load, not try and distribute that load across the ceiling (which may end up cracking) or spread the load to roof members which are not intended to take additional loads.

 

[Alec_t]

Could the hoist be positioned in the corner of the room? You could then have a support beam at ceiling height, diagonally across the corner, and the load would be carried by the two walls forming the corner. It wouldn't look very pretty but should be functional. Even if the beam were above the ceiling it could be supported by those walls.