Hanging heavy load on steel stud wall

[NPloysa]

Here is a question for you engineers and carpenters:



I work at the wildlife museum. My project now is to figure out a way to hang a 600-700 pound elephant head on a steel stud (2x6), 3/4 plywood, finished with 5/8 sheetrock. The head came with an 8x11" 1/2" thick plate with a hook to hook into the edge of a lip internal to the elephant. The plate has 6 holes for bolts but obviously that would just pull out of the wall. We are going to make another larger plate to spread out the load, bolt the small plate to that, then secure the combination to the wall. The large plate will probably be 4-4. 5 square feet in area. The plate will also angle up and rest on top of the window sill (the wall runs up to wrap around windows).



Now, the question is how to secure it to the wall. Combination of lags and mollys? Try to secure it to the studs? I think the weight spread out over all that area should be enough.



Any ideas?



Thank you guys.

 

[Idaho CTD]

Do you have access to both sides of the wall? If not what is behind the wall? If it is brick or concrete I would use some big concrete anchors. If you have access to both sides you might consider a plate on both sides of the wall that way it will spread the load better and not try to tear out out of the wall.

 

[JPope]

What is the guage of the studs (20ga, 16ga, typical, could be 14ga. ) stud spacing (16"o. c. , 24"o. c. ), height of studs, supported to another wall or free standing. Do the studs have horizontal supports (black iron channel for example) at what spacing). All of this affects loading capacity. In a public facility, the local code official will have a say, and can offer recommendations, by looking up the information noted previously in the stud manuals, and applicable building codes and confirm acceptability. Metal backing or plywood can be used to provide attachment support and distribute the load to all of the studs. Check with the code official to find out what they will accept and minimize potential issues (including seismic requirements for one possible concern) if something untoward ever happens. lots more can/could be done but gets into $$$, and anything may require some dismantling to do right.

 

[NPloysa]

Figured it out

We talked to the engineer and gave us a architectural drawing of the wall interior.



It is 5/8" sheet rock, 5/8"ply wood, 6" studs, 3" air space, then 10" pre-fabbed concrete panel. We are going to lengthen the plate with some steel with flanges on the end, and use 6 epoxy anchor bolts to secure it directly to the wall so that when it stands up and out, the front of the plate will sit flush with the front of the sheet rock.



Next is trying to get the elephant, sitting on its end (shoulder mount) to upright WITH the ears and tusks bolted on, since they bolt on from the interior. The trunk is in the down position so the top of the backbone area of the elephant will be about 10'6"-11" high.



I need to figure out something with the pallets and a wood brace and framework to get it to pivot upwards. Still in the process of working on it.



Nick