Weight concern

[aquarius]

I'm thinking of putting a 2 tier 3ft tank (top and bottom) and a 4 ft tank together in the same row cos that seems to be the best place in my hall. But I'm wondering will there be any structural problems to the HDB flat with such HEAVY weight being centred on that particular spot and over a very long period of time. Hope all you forumers can give your views especially those who have 6ft or bigger tanks in their flats.

I believe people who breed discus in their flats will probably have rows of tanks. Any comments?

[|squee|]

I remember HDB requires flat owners to check the flat structure before allowing them to install such tanks in their homes... go to HDB's website and search for fish tanks, they have the specifications there.

[vinz]

HDB website search is just so incredibly difficult to search. I'll try to dig the info out form the old posts.

[vinz]

Found it... follow the link to HDB website in this thread http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ead.php?t=6213.

I just re-indexed the forum's search tables to include HDB, so you can do a search for HDB and see the other discussions about your topic.

[aquarius]

Thanks Vinz for the HDB website info. It's extremely useful.

[vinz]

Anyway, HDB is very strict but not prohibitive. They just require that you submit a stand design that will support the weight of the tank(s) and distribute the weight evenly on the floor, and that you will place it on a strong point of your flat. If you can meet those requirements, they will approve.

I know someone whose designer ping-ponged the application back and forth with HDB for a 6'x2.5'x2.5' tank and got it approved in the end.

[cbong]

Ping-pong back & forth indeed. Submitted my requirements twice so far and it has been 1.5 weeks now. Still waiting for the green light and all else has stalled... sigh! Can't blame many who just go ahead to install their tanks despite the risk. An "enthusiasm killer indeed"!

[|squee|]

Be patient lah,

Does someone come along to your flat to inspect it when you're doing such a thing?

[cbong]

Be patient lah,

Does someone come along to your flat to inspect it when you're doing such a thing?

Nope don't think so. I suspect there are tonnes of people out there who do not even know about this weight regulations. So really it should be quite safe unless the tank is super big. Incidentally, they have stated that the overall weight cannot exceed 1 tonne. I've worked out my 5 x 2 x 2 to be around 800kg.

[aquarius]

Are you refering to 1 tonne per metre square? I've heard from a friend who keeps arowanas that HDB allows a max of 5 x 2 x 2ft tank (2 tiers).That work's out to be about 648kg (2 tanks) excluding the weight of the stand and tanks.

Recently ask my cousin who's an engineer how to calculate the weight.

Density of Water : 1m cub. = 1000kg
1.53m (5ft) x 0.46m (18") x 0.46 (18") = 324kg

If it's really so that you cannot exceed 1 tonne than I ho say liao cos i'll definately have no problems with the no of tanks that I want!!

[cbong]

These are the exact words from my HDB Br Office:

The lessee has to comply with the following requirements before the application may be further considered for our approval:

a. To submit the proper Arch floor plan indicating the proposed location of the fish tank for our evaluation.

b. The maximum allowable total weight of the fish tank (inclusive of water, pump, accessories and sand), furnitures, humanload etc shall not exceed 1000kg for the entire cantilever balcony. (Design imposed load for residential flat is 150kg/m2)

c. To indicate the height of the water in the fish tank on the drawing.

d. To estimate the total weight of the fish tank taking into consideration the self weight of water, pump, accessories, sand and cabinet. The total weight of the fish tank shall be reduced to satisfy the conditions stated in para b.

[cbong]

more to come. got rejected, more conditions:

a. To re-orientate the fish tank (the proposed fish tank must be placed besides an existing wall supported on an existing beam below)

b. To indicate the height of the water in the fish tank on the drawing and limit the height of the water to not more than 0.5m high.

c. To indicate whether the fish tank cabinet is to be fully resting on the floor or supported with legs. (if by legs, to provide connecting strips to the legs of the cabinet to better spread the load of the fish tank).


As E X P E C T E D !!! 2.5 weeks out and still ding-dong around. Gave the officer a piece of my mind for not making up their mind what to ask, having to beat around the bushes.

To follow the rule (A), most people can forget about having a large tank as partition.

To follow the rule (B), you can just have a 1.5 feet ht tank. Should just reflect 0.4999m.

I can agree with rule (C).

If you are really a plant lover, get a landed property or stay on the ground floor!

Sigh

[cbong]

liao lah, cannot sleep tonight

[cbong]

Are you refering to 1 tonne per metre square? I've heard from a friend who keeps arowanas that HDB allows a max of 5 x 2 x 2ft tank (2 tiers).That work's out to be about 648kg (2 tanks) excluding the weight of the stand and tanks.

Recently ask my cousin who's an engineer how to calculate the weight.

Density of Water : 1m cub. = 1000kg
1.53m (5ft) x 0.46m (18") x 0.46 (18") = 324kg

If it's really so that you cannot exceed 1 tonne than I ho say liao cos i'll definately have no problems with the no of tanks that I want!!

If HDB is consistant, you can TKK about a double 5 x 2 x 2 ft tank

[aquarius]

Actually I'm a plant lover and fish fanatic! I understand how you feel but civil service is like that one. Very slow! cos they have alot of paperwork and procedures to follow.

As a fish hobbyist for 20 over yrs, starting from goldfish bowl to 1 2ft tank to 2 2ft tanks. Now it not only gets more and more but bigger and bigger as well. Hahaha...
That's why it hits me as to what the maximum weight HDB allows. During the early days of fish keeping never go and think about such things cos the tanks are smaller and not so many.
How i wish i was very rich, i'll live in a landed property and i'll have a fish room and not forgeting a big pond full of arowanas!! Dream dream dream......
By the way, what connecting strips are you refering to?

[cbong]

By the way, what connecting strips are you refering to?

By connecting strips, they refer to a box structure i.e. four/six vertical legs with horizontal bars right at the bottom of the legs connecting each other. The idea is to avoid having four/six contact points on the ground directly exerting point pressure. The weight is distributed via the horizontal bars. So if you see the wrought iron frames, they are strong but the horizontal bars are mostly not in contact on the ground and hence resulting in point contacts. For a 1 tonne load, each point for a 4-legged frame would mean about 250kg pressure on a very small area, causing stress to the floor.

[hii]

WOW .. I think I have 4ft tank with heavy planted, beside it have 2 tier 3ft tank, top tank planted but bottom tank only keep water from topping up water in others 2 tanks.

I consider I having a 7 X 1.5 X 1.5 tank at home now... just pray the floor won't crash

Thinking of setting another 3ft tank at the bottom for low end tank which grow moss only.... I think might have to forget it .. hehehe

But I think old HDB (around 10 yrs) should be OK cause new HDB got a lot of problem like marble floor crack, glass door break and etc... think contractor use cheap material and HDB didn't inspect at all. If 6ft tank go in maybe the next day after setup the floor crack liao...

who lose at the end...the owner cos HDB will just say the contractor fault...