Reinforce Floor Joists Under A Jacuzzi?

Kevin75

I have a client that wants a two person jacuzzi installed in the bathroom on the main floor of a ranch house with a basement. Maximum floor loading would be 59lbs/sf. How do I determine for certain whether I need to reinforce the floor framing for this? Are there any "rule of thumb" methods when installing a jacuzzi, or is always a matter of checking span tables? Also, my copy of the 2006 IRC shows span tables for 30# and 40# live loads. How can I use this when the jacuzzi has a load of 59#/sf?

Thanks,

Kevin

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ChrWright

Sounds light for a whirlpool tub... How many gallons?

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Kevin75

These are Jacuzzi bath tubs....not your large 6 or 8 person hot tubs. The units vary from 58 to 89 gallons. Those load numbers are on the Jacuzzi "Espree" product specification sheet. All the models vary between 51 and 59 lbs/sf for floor loading, so I assumed the highest. The homeowner didn't choose a model yet.

I just looked at this link (as opposed to the folder from Lowes!) and found a discrepancy in the loading for one of the units.

http://www.jacuzzi.com/pdf/ESPREE.PDF

The max for the 60"x42" model is listed as 52 #/sf in my brochure and 67#/sf in that link. I'll have to double and triple check these numbers once the homeowner chooses a model.

__________________
Proverbs 18:9 "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys."

BirmanBuilders

in new construction we usually double the joists under the tubs.

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Kevin75

I could sister joists once I open the floor up, but I think I'll be hard pressed to get them doubled for the full span since the basement is finished. (Drywalled ceiling) Would sistering the joists in mid-span do anything other than reduce deflection and add dead weight? I can't imagine they would increase the load carrying capacity of the beams since they wouldn't extend full-span.

__________________
Proverbs 18:9 "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys."