Notes from the Field

Abide by the Code Dude

The concepts that influence span for floor joists include the assumed live load is 40 pounds per square foot for living spaces. That’s the structural Code. 

This particular Fireplace exceeded that by nearly 3x!

There were no additional support structure under this either, no double joists, no LVL’s, no posted beams, nothing.

Handyman with tools or the fireplace seller who sold the fireplace probably did the stone surround and install said, “No Problem”.

IMO: If we experienced a decent earthquake that lasted 15-20 seconds, this ensemble might have pulled off from the wall. And the wall was inadequately framed as well, structural compromise would not have been a problem.

Wrong on many levels, yet so easy to have done it correctly in the first place. 

However, a structural engineer once told me that I would be surprised at how few failures actually occurred in the field. 🤔

The net weight of these materials was 2210 pounds at the transfer station