Secure compressor to pad

[SteveSarasota]

Hello,

I typically tell buyers to have their condensing units attached to the concrete pad to avoid potential refrigerant leaks due to excessive vibration of the unit loosening the soldered lines.

Is there a code that requires that?

Any idea how long its been in use?

Thank you for your time,

[hausdok]

Hi,

I usually find them bonded to the pad by a huge blob of silicone. Don't laugh, I used this stuff once to reattach a rubber impeller to a steel shaft in a washing machine pump. The danged thing held up until the washing machine wore out!

Anyway, I just took a quick glance in my HVAC CodeCheck and didn't see anything. Maybe one of the code gurus with something more in-depth immediately at hand can give you a better answer.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Terence McCann]

The main reason for the pad is to give it a level surface and to keep it out of the wet soil, no need to bolt to the pad. Bolting it down will not help prevent leaks, no condensing unit should be vibrating that much, if it is you've got bigger problems.

[Scottpat]

I have never seen them attached to the pad. I have seen them with steel cages built over them to keep them from walking off however!

I agree with Terry, if it is vibrating enough to make it move it has bigger problems!

[Home Pride]

Steve,

Here in Florida it is required. The code specifies how many anchors per side (usually 3) but if they've bolted it down at each foot I'm happy.

Dom.

[SteveSarasota]

Dom,

Should I call or email the Code-God of FABI for this one?

Mr Hooper can probably recite the code # and section in his sleep.

Thank you,

[Home Pride]

It's FBC, Mechanical Section 301.13

Dom.

[Terence McCann]

Originally posted by Home Pride

Steve,

Here in Florida it is required. The code specifies how many anchors per side (usually 3) but if they've bolted it down at each foot I'm happy.

Dom.

Is that because it is considered a high wind area? Also, what are the pads made out of?

[Paul MacLean]

In Central Texas condensing units are never secured to the pad. And I have never seen a resulting problem.

Paul in Austin

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Home Pride

Steve,

Here in Florida it is required. The code specifies how many anchors per side (usually 3) but if they've bolted it down at each foot I'm happy.

Dom.

What a strange requirement. Around here, the pads are made of foam. I'm not sure it'd be possible to bolt anything to them in the first place. Even if it were bolted, it wouldn't stop anything from moving. The foam would just move with the unit.

I presume that, in Florida, the pads have to be concrete?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Scottpat]

I know on the MS Gulf Coast the pads must be made from concrete so they would not float off in a storm surge. So you just loose the entire house but the pad remains in place!

[Home Pride]

The pads are poured concrete, and the condensers are bolted down with one of several special clips, or just plain concrete screws (Tapcon or similar).

I've seen those foam pads, some pool contractors install the pump equipment on them. Those things are cheap and flimsy.

Dom.

[Terence McCann]

Originally posted by Home Pride

The pads are poured concrete, and the condensers are bolted down with one of several special clips, or just plain concrete screws (Tapcon or similar).

I've seen those foam pads, some pool contractors install the pump equipment on them. Those things are cheap and flimsy.

Dom.

Why is it code though?

[Les]

In Michigan the "pad" might be most anything and I have never seen a unit secured on one. My personal house a/c has it sitting on four patio blocks for past twenty years. Garter snakes live under it and wife won't let me change it.

[evergreeninspections]

Could hurricane requirements have anything to do with it? I have a friend who used to be the county engineer for Hernando County (Tampa), and he would tell me about some crazy requirements to keep things from flying around.

Jim - I can't recall seeing any pads of a foam material. All the ones I've seen have always been concrete, and most of those need to be re-leveled.

Kirk

[Home Pride]

Terry:

It's part of the "Wind Resistance" requirements. They also require protection for these units from floods in flood zones.

Dom.

[SteveSarasota]

FBC-Mechanical

301.13 Wind Resistance

• Mechanical equipment and supports exposed to wind shall be designed and

installed to resist the wind pressures on the equipment and supports.

• Ground Mounted Units for R3 applications may be anchored with #14 screws

with gasketed washers according to the following:

1. Unit with sides less than 12 inches, 1 screw at each side.

2. Units between 12 and 24 inches 2 screws per side.

3. Units between 24 and 36 inches 3 screws per side.

4. Units greater than 36 inches or 5 tons anchorage shall be

designed in accordance with 301.13.

Thanks Dom!

The code was basically created to avoid more flying objects in case of Hurricane Force Winds.

[Scottpat]

Do they allow privacy fencing in FL? When Katrina hit Mississippi those 1x6 and 4x4's were like Scud missiles. I had a section of fence fly away and later I think we found it impaled in a garage door down the street.

[Bill Kibbel]

I haven't seen a concrete pad in a decade. They are either UV resistant plastic, fiberglass or fiber reinforced cement coating over polystyrene around here.

Regarding anchoring because of vibration, it's not necessary. Shoot, I gave mine legs and it's never walked away.

http://uploads/inspecthistoric/200681212551_P8010001.JPG

[Focal Point]

All we use is concrete. I have never seen a uv, or fiberglass pad... ever!

I did not know that you were supposed to attach the unit to the pad either, seems to me this would have a higher likeleyhood of causing more damage to the unit versus a free standing application.

The silicone makes good sense as it could act as a shock absorber as well as an adhesive.

So what is the general concensis?

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by evergreeninspections

. . . Jim - I can't recall seeing any pads of a foam material. All the ones I've seen have always been concrete, and most of those need to be re-leveled.

Kirk

Actually, I'll bet that you have seen them. They look very, very much like concrete pads.

Now that I think on it, maybe they're not actually foam, but plastic as Kibble describes above.

Rap on one with your knuckle. The plastic/foam/whatever ones sound like EIFS.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[swarga]

So what is the general concensis?consensus (spelling)

Required in Florida.

Rarely done anywhere else.

In AZ we also have plastic forms filled with concrete used as a base for the units. Concrete pads are the most common, then the filled form. then the composite. I have seen the composite ones bend in the summer time.

[Bill Kibbel]

"So what is the general consensus?"

How about we apply some common sense? If in an area where there is a potential for flying, floating or walking equipment, advise that it be anchored.

[Richard Stanley]

Also required to be attached to pad here. Many of them are not.

[Focal Point]

spell check is for wussies!!!

sorry, I'll try harder next time.