Milnor 72044 WP2, Service, Page: 16 / 202

About the Forces Transmitted by Milnor
®
Washer-extractors
Document ..................... BIWUUI02
Specified Date ................. 20001108
As-of Date ....................... 20001108
Access Date ..................... 20001108
About the Forces Transmitted by Milnor
®
Washer-extractors
Applicability...........................WUU
During washing and extracting, all washer-extractors transmit both static and dynamic
(cyclic) forces to the floor, foundation, or any other supporting structure. During washing, the
impact of the goods as they drop imparts forces which are quite difficult to quantify. Size for size,
both rigid and flexibly-mounted machines transmit approximately the same forces during
washing. During extracting, rigid machines transmit forces up to 30 times greater than equivalent
flexibly-mounted models. The actual magnitude of these forces vary according to several factors:
• machine size,
• final extraction speed,
• amount, condition, and type of goods being processed,
• the liquor level and chemical conditions in the bath preceding extraction, and
• other miscellaneous factors.
Estimates of the maximum force normally encountered are available for each Milnor
®
model
and size upon request. Floor or foundation sizes shown on any Milnor
®
document are only for
on-grade situations based only on previous experience without implying any warranty, obligation,
or responsibility on our part.
1.
Rigid Machines
Size for size, rigid washer-extractors naturally require a stronger, more rigid floor,
foundation, or other supporting structure than flexibly-mounted models. If the supporting soil
under the slab is itself strong and rigid enough and has not subsided to leave the floor slab
suspended without support, on grade installations can often be made directly to an existing floor
slab if it has enough strength and rigidity to safely withstand our published forces without
transmitting undue vibration. If the subsoil has subsided, or if the floor slab itself has insufficient
strength and rigidity, a deeper foundation, poured as to become monolithic with the floor slab,
may be required. Support pilings may even be required if the subsoil itself is “springy” (i.e., if its
resonant frequency is near the operating speed of the machine). Above-grade installations of rigid
machines also require a sufficiently strong and rigid floor or other supporting structure as
described below.
2.
Flexibly-mounted Machines
Size for size, flexibly-mounted machines generally do not require as strong a floor,
foundation, or other supporting structure as do rigid machines. However, a floor or other
supporting structure having sufficient strength and rigidity, as described in section 3, is
nonetheless vitally important for these models as well.
3.
How Strong and Rigid?
Many building codes in the U.S.A. specify that laundry floors must have a minimum live
load capacity of 150 pounds per square foot (732 kilograms per square meter). However, even
compliance with this or any other standard does not necessarily guarantee sufficient rigidity. In
any event, it is the sole responsibility of the owner/user to assure that the floor and/or any other
supporting structure exceeds not only all applicable building codes, but also that the floor and/or
any other supporting structure for each washer-extractor or group of washer-extractors actually