Hanging a swing to the ceiling

Aj_newbie

Hello Everyone!

I live in a flat (2011 built), and thinking of hanging a swing (Ikea EKORRE swing under consideration at the moment), especially for my daughters. I plan to do this in the open plan kitchen !!! living room.

But being a newbie, I need some advise/guidance about locating stud and drilling holes in the ceiling, so that it can handle upto 70 kgs of weight (that's the capacity of the Ikea product).

1. What sensor is recommended to locate stud in the ceiling? how do I know whether it would be wooden or steel stud?
2. How would I know whether its safe to hang upto 70 kgs?
(In reality, it would be usually 25-30 kgs, assuming both my daughters use the swing together).

Please advise.

Also, please don't hesitate to enlighten me with any other safety issue, which I might have completely ignored.

Many thanks in advance.
A newbie

LEJC

Living in a flat...especially a new build usually comes with a lease. You may want to check the lease to see if it is permitted to hang anything other than a light fitting from the ceiling.

Certainly lots of leases have conditions around noise from things like laminate flooring,will the swing make a noise as it is swung that may be seen as unacceptable to particularly any upstairs neighbours that you have.....I think living in close proximity of neighbours would need to be a consideration especially if it were deemed that you were installing something that traditionally should be used in outside space

peachyprice

LEJC wrote: »

Living in a flat...especially a new build usually comes with a lease. You may want to check the lease to see if it is permitted to hang anything other than a light fitting from the ceiling.

Certainly lots of leases have conditions around noise from things like laminate flooring,will the swing make a noise as it is swung that may be seen as unacceptable to particularly any upstairs neighbours that you have.....I think living in close proximity of neighbours would need to be a consideration especially if it were deemed that you were installing something that traditionally should be used in outside space

It's not really a swing, it's more of a hanging seat.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S19809351/

Furts

Three floor scenarios come to my mind for a 2011 build. Concrete planks, or lattice web metal joists, or I beam timbers. I would not entertain fixing the suggested seat to any of these. If a problem should subsequently arise expect your NHBC Warranty to be void due to your actions.

An in situ concrete floor could cope OK but it is guaranteeing the pull out load. Similarly a good solid timber joist could cope, but putting the seat at mid span would be foolhardy.

On balance I believe the proposal is dangerous, partly because there is always the possibility that a teenager, or adult, would sit and swing.

Hope this helps.

DaftyDuck

I agree with Furts. Without locating the beam from above, and checking it along the whole length, who's to say there's not a split or weak point? The floor above will spread any load over several joists at any time, so this wouldn't be a problem from above, but would be for suspension from below. Short of spreading the load across multiple joists by attaching a cross-beam, I simply wouldn't want to do it, unless I knew the build structure (and quality!!!).

Add to that, a 70kg max load isn't that much.... remember, a child jumping in to it will have twice or thrice their normal weight! Adding swinging from the fixings to weaken them... Falling on the base of the spine could cause serious injury. I'm surprised to find them selling it with so few fitting instructions.

macman

Having a child's swinging seat in a kitchen area sounds like a health and safety nightmare, not to mention the potential noise factor for the flat upstairs as it moves on the ceiling fixings.

teddysmum

macman wrote: »

Having a child's swinging seat in a kitchen area sounds like a health and safety nightmare, not to mention the potential noise factor for the flat upstairs as it moves on the ceiling fixings.

I would also think that a swinging object would be a nuisance in an open area (dog crate doors are, if left open), dangerous, should the child have a hyper moment and jump onboard and the vibration/sound at the connection point would, surely, travel through the buildings structure and so annoy at least one neighbour.

Horizon81

Hanging a swing off a ceiling joist? Sounds like a crazy idea to me. I'd agree with all that Furts says and forget it.

Aj_newbie

Thanks a lot everyone, you just saved me from so many potential issues.
You guys (n gals) are an awesome bunch.

The idea of hanging is scrapped, I will go for some basic swing that doesn't need hanging from the ceiling.

LEJC

I still think that even with a basic swing structure you may run into potential noise issues with neighbours especially if they can hear the constant back and forth motion of it.....sadly new build flats are not always very well insulated against noise and again a repetitive motion might be frowned upon in terms of your lease should a neighbour complain

peachyprice

Aj_newbie wrote: »

Thanks a lot everyone, you just saved me from so many potential issues.
You guys (n gals) are an awesome bunch.

The idea of hanging is scrapped, I will go for some basic swing that doesn't need hanging from the ceiling.

You can get something similar that comes with it's own stand.