Specifying heavy objects: floor loads, lifts and door widths
A written brief for architects. The three questions that decide whether an object can enter a space at all — asked before the object is chosen, not after.
01Point load, not total mass
Total mass rarely governs. What governs is load per foot: a narrow-footprint console concentrates more onto a screed than a heavier table standing on four wide feet. We issue the footprint and the per-foot load so a structural engineer can sign off without guessing.
02The access route is the real constraint
Lift car dimensions, door clear width, stair turn radius, and the load rating of the route. We survey this before quoting, because the answer sometimes changes which object we recommend and occasionally rules a space out for the largest pieces.
We survey the route before we quote the object. It is cheaper for everyone.
03Floor protection and final placement
Polished concrete, engineered oak and lime-based screeds each need a different pad. Once placed, these objects are not slid — the final position is agreed in advance and set once, with felt-faced setting plates left under the feet.
Objects in this note
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