A raised floor system is just one of many features of the new
home for the Marine Corps League's Detachment 708. Located north
of Tampa, Florida, in Spring Hill, the 5,000 square-foot building
serves a multitude of purposes for members of the detachment,
its related women's auxiliary and youth organizations. For the
Marine veterans, the raised floor design allows easy renovation
or floor plan changes over the life of the building.
"In light commercial construction, raised wood platform foundations
can easily accommodate changes," says Bill Tucker, executive
director, Florida Building Materials Association. "For example,
a change in occupancy from an attorney's office to a doctor's
clinic can be easily accomplished. Moving walls and plumbing
is simple." This T-shaped raised floor system started with a
concrete-block stem wall. Treated sill plates of 2x8 pressure-treated
Southern Pine were installed atop the entire wall. Inside the
stem wall, concrete block piers support glued-laminated beams
(5-1/2"x15-7/8") and engineered parallel-chord floor trusses
(16"o.c.) for the main room of the building. Trusses span 40
feet; top and bottom chords are 2x4 MSR Southern Pine 2400f-2.0E.
Sub-flooring is 3/4" T&G plywood. All wall framing is pressure
treated with borates for long-term resistance to decay and termite
attack.
Proper connections for high-wind considerations are also incorporated
for winds up to 110 miles per hour. Exterior walls use 2x6 material;
interior walls are framed with 2x4 lumber. This project was
constructed in accordance with the Standard Building Code and
is rated for A-2 occupancy.
Project Engineer: Brian Sterling
General Contractor: Shiloh Homes
