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4/17/2024 9:40:54 AM EDT
I'm currently in the process of setting up a gun room in a spare bedroom. I don't have anywhere else in my house to put a gun room. My house is built on a large crawl space that's about 6.5 feet tall. The main level is master bedroom, living, laundry, and kitchen. My upstairs is 2 bedrooms, sitting area, and bathrooms. My main concern is weight limits in a upstairs room. I don't have a gun safe anymore because the only place I could put it was in the garage and I was worried about humidity cause I live in GA. So my question is how much weight can I safely put in a upstairs bedroom. Ill have about 2 dozen 50 cal ammo cans full of ammo, a work bench(150lbs), tool box full of guns and loaded pistol and rifle mags( 350ishlbs) plus some other odds and ends. I'm probably over thinking this a little bit, but better safe than sorry.
4/17/2024 10:44:31 AM EDT
[#1]
Have you considered the need for an in ground tornado shelter?
4/17/2024 10:54:18 AM EDT
[#2]
Most gun safes are comparable in weight to a refrigerator, so you could definitely put a safe upstairs. Idk exactly what upstairs weight limits are, but I think it's fine. I have a safe in my upstairs, but i put it directly against an exteriror wall, so almost all of the weight is directly supported. But, i haven't loaded it up with ammo. My empty safe also weighs about as much as my brother and I standing next to each other.

Other than a safe, you can pretty much rule out fire protection. I'd put a big heavy door on with a good lock, and probably call it a day. Unless your collection is crazy expensive. I'll let someone else chime in on the ammo.
4/17/2024 12:40:12 PM EDT
[Last Edit: hoothrewpoo][Edited] [#3]
may depend on when your house was built, but most homes are built with 30lbs sf live load on a second story bedroom (code minimum).
4/17/2024 2:20:11 PM EDT
[#4]
You could place a sheet of plywood down before placing the safe to help spread out the weight.  But, I’m not an engineer or load bearing specialist, so take what I saw with a grain of salt.  

If buying a safe, how about asking them what others have done that have worked out?💪🏼
4/22/2024 11:20:08 PM EDT
[#5]
#1- A 6.5 foot tall crawlspace would make an excellent storage area if you have the floor concreted in.  Just a thought.  Something I did, very happy with having the extra space.  Great for ammo storage.

#2- a medium duty safe would be fine upstairs, but maybe not one of the serious fire rated ones like a big Fort Knox.  I helped move a smaller fire rated Liberty upstairs, and swore to never deal with that again if it could be avoided.  (Basically, I am not a fan of any safe lightweight enough to be easily put upstairs).

#3- put the safe against the outer wall/bearing wall support as already mentioned.  Same if you decide to put the ammo upstairs, but don’t put the ammo next to the safe- spread the load out.

#4- ammo will probably be fine in the garage so long as the temperature isn’t totally ridiculous.  Hell- gun safes in a garage are probably fine with a goldenrod.  Works in the wet and humid PNW, probably would be ok in GA.  I would check the hometown forum to see what other folks have had for experience in your area with humidity issues for safes in garages.
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so they say…
4/23/2024 8:11:31 PM EDT
[#6]
I had a 900lb Grand piano on the first floor of my house. All the weight was on the three legs with a 5" pad under each one.

House was framed with 2×10's, 12' long with 3/4" plywood sub- floor.
I strive to be the man my dog thinks I am.
4/24/2024 10:24:50 AM EDT
[#7]
My gun room is on the second floor.  Paid a guy $300 to move my safe up there.  If I was starting over, I’d get a Zanotti modular safe.  Would have been much easier to haul piece by piece up the stairs.  

If I ever sell my house it’ll have to be to a gun guy, because that safe is probably not getting moved again.
4/24/2024 2:09:35 PM EDT
[#8]
I live in a very humid part of Georgia. Humidity has never been a problem. Good coating of oil and GTG.
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

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