How Unistrut Is the Best Option for Versatile Structural Steel Support
We present to you a project we recently had the opportunity to work on that shows the versatility that allows Unistrut to solve very difficult and often unique design challenges.
Design goal:
Create platform for servicing the underside of an elevator. A newly constructed building created an elevator that for security reasons, serviced floors 3 and above. Elevator maintenance required a platform be created to access the underside of the elevator.
Design challenges:
Elevator doesn’t go below the 3rd floor and the elevator shaft bottom is on 1st floor. Because of functioning elevator and structural constraints, the platform erected must be freestanding and not attach to walls of the elevator shaft. The platform shall meet all elevator maintenance regulation standards for stability for working platforms. The platform must meet all seismic criteria for earthquake designed structures. The platform must be constructed so as not to interfere with existing elevator conduits and piping that runs the length of the shaft. The permanent structure must be assembled within the fully functioning elevator shaft. Access to the elevator shaft is through a 3’ x 7’ doorway.
Design solution:
We created the platform with Unistrut P1000 C4 4-channel and grating. The Unistrut channel was selected because it satisfied the seismic and stability requirements for the job and elevator maintenance standards yet was easier to manage than structural steel. The ability to assemble the platform pieces together without welding allowed the crew to reduce the use of some PPE and exhaust venting while working in the cramped elevator shaft. The 11-foot-tallplatform was designed to meet the strict requirements of minimal deflection when being used to meet the elevator maintenance standards. The platform structure was stable without movement while in use even without being allowed to attach stabilizing braces to the elevator shaft walls. The slotted channel allowed us to easily design a structure that conformed to the environment even with the elevator conduits in the middle of the shaft that ran through the platform.
Conclusion:
Unistrut is particularly useful to create platforms, and other structural elements when design and environmental constraints hamper the creation and assembly of other forms of structural steel.
By Brad Tom
Marketing Coordinator
