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Is it safe to install an extractor fan under a steel beam?
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.49 PM
I would like an extractor installed in the corner of my bathroom. I intend to position it on the opposite corner to the door. Directly above where I want to place the extract fan is a steel beam, and I would be cutting into the padstone by doing so. My question is -as the title suggest- is this safe? Or do I risk weakening the beam's support too much?
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
2 Answers
Marchbanks Architectural Design
Rating: 4.9 out of 5
You shouldn't cut into a pad stone as this has been installed to spread the load across the supporting material. It thus expands what would otherwise be a point load which the supporting material may not be capable of taking. In addition, assuming this is brick or block work, the load from the beam via a pad-stone will spread the load over a greater area of your foundations below. There therefore could be more issues than just the possibility of the supporting superstructure than you might anticipate - without knowing the ground bearing capacity. Kind regards Eric
Answered14 May 2017
0
Jeffrey Goodchild MCIAT
Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Cutting into the padstone, should not be attempted. the padstone is a calculated size to transmit the weights from the steel down through the masonry wall.By cutting into this you introduce greater loading on a smaller area down the masonry wall.
Answered30 June 2017
0