Backyard Aquaponics
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As the subject reads - anybody got structural engineering experience. I have a pretty simple question.

give us a go i am shore somewon can help

Go for it VB, I've done a lot of steel work, if I can't help with an answer I'll say so instead of guessing.

Thanks guys - you will have to forgive my terminology, but here goes:

My shed is quite a high one. Above 1 of the bays is a mezanine level. It is supported by that real big I bar (or is it H bar), one piece on each side. The H bar is supported by looks like 3 inch gal RHS (don't know the thickness, but it is pretty solid. This RHS is bolted to the slab and is also secured to the shed supports via a bit of welded metal.

The floor of the mezanin is supported by hardwood beams taht have a spacing of about 400 cm in between beams. These beams go from one H bar to the other. BTW the width of the shed is about 7 meters, so this is the length of each of the H bars. I didn't measure the beams, but they are normal sort of thickness.

I have posted some pictures in this message.

I am wondering what sort of weight this structure would hold - am tossing up the idea of putting a big tank up there, which would give me a massive gravity feed down to beds etc and also save on me having to use the floor space to house the tank. On top of the beams is some pretty thick ship board - but that is not really an issue I guess it is more the holding capacity of the beams.

i don't have any experience with this, but the verticals look to be the weak point. maybe another one each side bolted to the floor?

Like i said, just an observation, i know it gives you nothing new

Dunno Steve - they are over 7cm wide RHS. They are also attached to the existing shed support.

My 2 bobs worth the steel with out webbing will only hold 1/2 ton the timber is the week point .Thats the max i would use.

Me DER

The first picture is side on, isn't it? LOL sorry

Bugger. What is webbing F&F.

I'm with steve, all I will say is I don't like the wood, and in that situation would add extra support 1/2 way along h beam,Mabey get weight of tank for better idea(1 liter=1 kilo I think)

Weight would be heaps. Will wait on advice for how I can improve structure. I reckon the fram (ie the H bar and its supports, has heaps of potential, but what would I know.

Webbing is where you have 2 bars about 1 ft apart and then weld a zigzag rod between the two the sydney harbour bridge is all webbing They built that out from each end and the center bolt just slipped in

The upright RHS supports are good for a lot of weight. The I-beams would take a couple of tonnes if they were given one more RHS support at the centre (only 3.5 M unsupported). IMO the 4x2's are the weak point of the structure. I'd like to see them supplemented with a similar I-beam (or a 100 x 50 RHS, on edge) half-way between the existing two and also centrally supported (looks like they are around 3M apart, is that so ?) Then you would have a structure that would easily hold a couple of tonnes (2000 litres) , and possibly a lot more, as long as the load is spread over a large area, not concentrated on unsupported chipboard.
NB. This is not an expert opinion, and is not supported by any hard figures - contrary to what I said in my previous post, I AM guessing, but it's what I would do if I had your situation and requirements, and I WOULD stand underneath it !!

Thanks very much for the advice guys. I think I will just forget about the idea. The last thing I want to do is end up with centre supports, will limit my use of the floor space. As for the webbing, not sure I understand 100% but I do see that it would cost me an arm and a leg in steel, so I will just make the most of the mezanine for storing stuff.

Thanks again.

VB, why not just strengthen the area for the tank e.g. left or right side of floor, this will save you heaps and you still get what you want, also it will leave some floor space for you up there.