Replies

1. 
   DanH | Aug 07, 2013 12:28pm | #1

   An important thing to consider is what's below the safe.  If the position is effectively over the center of a large room below then the floor joists will be stressed and will probably sag.  But if it's near the ends of the josts where they rest on some the support below then the floor can easily handle that weight and much more.

2. 
   calvin | Aug 07, 2013 02:50pm | #2

   joey

   You're not hanging the safe from the wall, so rather than 2x4, what is the floor system and where are the closest bearing supports under that floor where you plan to put that safe?

   Take the 1100 lbs and the placement of the feet or wheels, expect some help from adjacent joists if blocked or strapped and like Dan mentions-close to a bearing wall underneath-probably not much problem.  Non bearing walls under this might help, but could possibly just transfer part of the sag to the floor below that (if a two story.

   Waterbeds were the old tonnage concerned about for a long time.  A lot of weight, but spread out over 4,5, or 6 joists.  In the middle of an unsupported room-probably sag over time, but not much to really worry about.

   Best of luck.

3. 
   DanH | Aug 07, 2013 06:50pm | #3

   In order to predict the effect of placing the safe in the middle of the room one would have to know the size of the joists, their spacing, and their length, between supporting walls below -- given those values the weight capacity can be looked up in tables.  Joists of that era would generally be 8" or 10", and maybe occasionally 12", but one can't accurately guess which.  Joist spacing can be judged by tapping on the ceiling, etc. Generally for a smaller home the joists would run from an outside wall to the middle of the house (ie, half the width of the house), where they'd rest on a beam or "bearing" wall.

4. 
   IdahoDon | Aug 07, 2013 09:46pm | #4

   I have no doubt whatsoever that it's much heavier than what any of your floors were designed for.   No builder anywhere puts a house together with extra beef for a 1000 lb point load that might be put in any random spot.

   Having said that, in every floor there are stronger areas over beams and whatnot that can handle the weight, but in general you're better off having the floor reinforced where you intend to park it. 

   If you have a crawlspace under your office it's a simple matter of a pre-cast concrete pad and a simple post with adjustable post base.  If your office is upstairs the fix requires a lot more thought depending on what's supporting it.

   .....this is all assuming your safe is sitting on a wood framed floor - if it's a slab on grade concrete floor it will support the weight just fine.

5. 
   joeyh | Aug 08, 2013 09:22am | #5

   Thanks to all

   Thanks for all the thoughtful answers. Much appreciated.