Port-a-port Hangar - roof strength?

[nyoung]

Hi All.

T-Hangar owners/users. Is it safe to walk on the roof of a Port-a-port hangar (assuming it is in good condition)? I am about 215# and a bit hesitant to head up there to repair a broken turbine vent fan.

I would appreciate your comments.

-Nathan

 

[tonycondon]

remove airplane first...just in case

 

[ScottM]

Remove airplane lay a ladder across the roof and walk on that, well actually crawl. That will put the force on the ladder and then the trusses underneath the sheet metal.

 

[jesse]

Remove airplane lay a ladder across the roof and walk on that, well actually crawl. That will put the force on the ladder and then the trusses underneath the sheet metal.

That should work. Keep in mind that the roof must hold your Illinois snow / ice which isn't exactly light either.

 

[nyoung]

Thanks Scott and Jesse.

I agree, and figured the snow weight can be significant. I was trying to figure the best way to distribute my weight... and the ladder is a great idea.

That should work. Keep in mind that the roof must hold your Illinois snow / ice which isn't exactly light either.

 

[ClimbnSink]

Forget the ladder that is just goofy- use snowshoes to distribute your weight.
J/K

 

[gprellwitz]

Forget the ladder that is just goofy- use snowshoes to distribute your weight.
J/K

No, no, no. Forget the snowshoes. If you fall through, they'll do nothing for you. Instead, get one of these and roll onto the roof. Then, even if it collapses, you're protected!

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

bh@pacificweststeel.com said;

"Not without placing plywood or a ladder on top of the metal roof to spread your weight over the structural members. Good luck."



On Sep 9, 2009, at 11:40 AM, FDVS wrote:

> is it safe to walk on any of the pap hangar roofs?
> Thanks
> D Taylor

 

[gismo]

That should work. Keep in mind that the roof must hold your Illinois snow / ice which isn't exactly light either.

No but snow and ice tend to be well distributed. And even two feet of well packed snow wouldn't amount to more than about 60 lb/ft^2. A standard human exerts many times that localized pressure when walking.

 

[bbchien]

No but snow and ice tend to be well distributed. And even two feet of well packed snow wouldn't amount to more than about 60 lb/ft^2. A standard human exerts many times that localized pressure when walking.

Nathan, the port-a-ports that I owned for ten years had struts that swung down from the front truss at the 1/3 portions where the shed root jointed the purlins supporting the higher midsection. We had old Ford Motor Co. ratchet jacks welded in so that we could actually jack the front of the hangar so that the doors would slide smoothly before raising them to pull the birds out. The were down all the time during winter.

Do you have such struts? They take all the cantilever stress out of the roof when deployed.

 

[jesse]

No but snow and ice tend to be well distributed. And even two feet of well packed snow wouldn't amount to more than about 60 lb/ft^2. A standard human exerts many times that localized pressure when walking.

I know Lance -- that is why I was saying with the ladder it should be fine. Perhaps I could have been more clear.