The Weight of storage

[cityboy172]

Been putting some thought into this, and not positive on how to do this yet. I'm getting ready to build a barn to house my boiler and storage. I will be installing 2 - 1,000 gallon anhydrous tanks stacked. My ruff number crunch says they will weigh just under 22,000 pounds filled.

What do I need to build for a pad or structure to support 22,000 and have it withstand the test of time? The tanks haven't been assembled yet, so they can be modified if needed.

 

[Vande]

Most concrete coming out of the truck will have a mix of 30k psi. If you set this on properly compacted gravel base you should be all set to then set your base structure to support your tanks. Your concrete slab or base should be at least 4 inches thick and if this is going to be in a conditioned environment then insulation around and below this slab should be installed as well.

 

[pbvermont]

Most concrete coming out of the truck will have a mix of 30k psi. If you set this on properly compacted gravel base you should be all set to then set your base structure to support your tanks. Your concrete slab or base should be at least 4 inches thick and if this is going to be in a conditioned environment then insulation around and below this slab should be installed as well.

be careful with your numbers. I believe it is NOT 30k psi (that would be 30,000 lbs/psi). It is most likely to be 3k or 3000 lbs/psi.

 

[peakbagger]

Bury your best work. Folks tend to get confused when building foundations. Ultimately you need enough surface area in frost free location that will support the weight. You can build a 2' thick slab but if its on bad soil, its not going to work. Conversely, on well compacted soil with no frost issues you may be able to get way with a 8" pad. In most cases folks excavate down to below frostline although with the proper foam placement and a heated space, this is not required.

 

[ryooper]

I would say you can get away with a 6" slab with wire mesh and i would also put a 12"x12" footing with re-bar around the perimeter and yes a well compacted base.

 

[BoilerMan]

Slabs on footings confuse me. The footing is only for support of the structure on the perimeter of the slab. A thickened edge monolithic is actually stronger, I used 1/2" rebar and bent it down into the thickened edge. Standard concrete is 3,000 psi, you can order any strength above that.

I was told by a concrete engineer when I built my house, to use 1/2" rebar 24" OC, and a 12x12 thickened edge with a 45 degree angle into the slab when I built my house. I also ordered fiber in the concrete and used 6" wire mesh on top of the rebar to attach my pex to.

No cracks in the floor or any sheetrock in 5 years on 2,200 square feet of slab.

TS

 

[ryooper]

Yes, that's what I ment by that just a thickened perimeter I'm pretty sure that's code anywhere for a floating slab.

 

[heaterman]

We routinely put Garn2000's on 4" pads with no problems at all. One of those filled with water weighs in at about 19-20,000#

Make sure your substrate is compacted well and you have a footing around it. Otherwise you may get some movement due to frost.

 

[MaineGuy]

It would also depend on the overall foot print size of the tank. Solid bottom or legs. 22,000 lbs isn't bad if its spread out evenly over a large area. Verses point loads of legs.

 

[MaineGuy]

Just too add if its got legs then you might be better off thickening the concrete and adding extra rebar in the areas where the legs will be. And making the rest of the slab thinner.