Two Post Lift and Concrete Floor Condition

[rob0r]

I'm extremely close to pulling the trigger on this lift:
https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/235s...

My unit is an old farm building and I have drilled the depth to be around 8", of which normally would be fine as it seems most recommend 6" without reinforcement. My issue is that while the floor is sufficiently deep, I don't know what the floor quality is actually like and if this matters too much. I could be overthinking it as I have the depth, but I wonder if it's wise to whack a lift up without further consideration.

The floor is also slightly unlevel, though not significantly. The lift I want I have chosen due to the h-frame which is supposedly better for unlevel floors and should give more support for the posts considering the floor.

Any thoughts?

[Cabinet Enforcer]

rob0r said:

I'm extremely close to pulling the trigger on this lift:
https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/235s...

My unit is an old farm building and I have drilled the depth to be around 8", of which normally would be fine as it seems most recommend 6" without reinforcement. My issue is that while the floor is sufficiently deep, I don't know what the floor quality is actually like and if this matters too much. I could be overthinking it as I have the depth, but I wonder if it's wise to whack a lift up without further consideration.

The floor is also slightly unlevel, though not significantly. The lift I want I have chosen due to the h-frame which is supposedly better for unlevel floors and should give more support for the posts considering the floor.

Any thoughts?

It's important that the concrete has adequate strength such that the bolts don't pull out, it is a known issue, the HSE mentions it in their guidance:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sims/manuf/...

Its entirely possible that the supplier won't have a clue (Installation requirements should be included in the technical file for CE certification, but y'know, Chinese import), but they should be able to tell you what the required pullout force is, particularly since they supply the bolts with the lift. You could then do a test pull on a bolt to see if the floor is strong enough.

Edited by Cabinet Enforcer on Wednesday 10th March 14:01

[Evoluzione]

Anyone who says 'pull the trigger' to describe a purchase needs the trigger pulling on them.
Is it a 'weapons grade' two poster?

[Baldchap]

These things are typically proofed at 200%, so I wouldn't worry about it. Automotech are unusually high in their floor requirements as well - double what Bendpak require without significant difference in the design; my guess is that being a smaller company they simply think of an OK number and double it so as not to be taken to court.

Make of that what you will.

[rob0r]

Thanks for the feedback, I emailed Automotech who quoted 120mm / 4.7" for that specific lift, so with the H frame and the near double floor depth I think I'll likely just go ahead...

[Krikkit]

Would it be worth putting a thin-ish layer over the top of the existing floor to help level it out and add a bit of strength?

[t400ble]

Evoluzione said:

Anyone who says 'pull the trigger' to describe a purchase needs the trigger pulling on them.
Is it a 'weapons grade' two poster?

:-)

[GreenV8S]

Krikkit said:

Would it be worth putting a thin-ish layer over the top of the existing floor to help level it out and add a bit of strength?

I doubt it will help, and may even have the opposite effect. Thin layers crack very easily and would then act as an uneven packing between the lift and the underlying concrete.

[Lotobear]

The lifts come with a range of baseplate shims for floors which are not level - you can then make a temporary frame around the baseplate with some 2x2 battens and grout with '5 star' non shrink cementitious grout