Clemson University : Lofting Guidelines : Lofting Guidelines

Lofting Guidelines

What’s a Loft?

A loft is a raised frame built up from the floor to hold a bed. Students like lofted beds because they provide more floor space for things like futons and TV’s.

Back to Top

You Need to Know...

Clemson’s Housing Office is committed to providing you with a safe and comfortable living environment, and lofts pose many safety problems. Using a lofted bed means that you may be sleeping as much as five feet off the floor, and that’s a long way down. Because of these safety concerns, our enthusiasm for lofts is limited. Many factors are involved in designing a safe loft, and there are significant risks involved in using an improperly designed or constructed loft. Lofts that are not built properly can be dangerous for the people under them as well. Consequently, Clemson University strongly discourages the construction and use of "homemade" lofts.

So many mistakes have been made with lofts, and so many students have become frustrated when they designed their loft before actually seeing their room. It’s better to wait, try out the furniture in your room first, and then decide if you really want a loft. If you decide to build ahead of time, be prepared to make modifications to your loft upon arrival on campus.

Students should note, however, that some room configurations do not readily accommodate lofts. This includes the corner rooms in Byrnes, Lever, and Manning. If you are assigned to Byrnes or Lever, and your room number ends in “4” (for example, 2B4), you are assigned to a corner room. If you are assigned to Manning, and your room number ends in “3” or “4” (for example 2C3 or 2C4), you are assigned to a corner room. If so, you should note that your room will accommodate only one loft. Should you be assigned to a corner room, check with your assigned roommate to make plans for your room design.

Back to Top

Options

As an alternative to constructing a loft, Clemson University offers the following options.

First, much of the bed furniture that we provide is modular and already designed to be bunkable and/or loftable. This furniture has been properly engineered and built with strength and safety in mind. Your RA can show you how it works and provide you with any special connectors needed for lofting or bunking. This is definitely the preferred way to go, both from the standpoint of safety and convenience.

Second, if you want to rent or purchase a loft:

Visit loftconcepts.com to purchase lofts from Collegiate Concepts, Inc. (sponsored by Student Government).

Visit timbernest.com to purchase or rent lofts through a company called Timbernest. You will need to enter the college code "CF74" to see Clemson-specific options.

Back to Top

Guidelines

If you still intend to build your own loft, you must use the following construction guidelines. These guidelines must be followed exactly- for your safety and the safety of others.

In University housing, lofts may be used in all traditional residence hall rooms except Holmes, McCabe ,Stadium Residence Hall, Norris, Simpson North, Simpson South, Bowen, Donaldson, Bradley or Wannamaker. Lofts are also not permitted in Calhoun Courts, Thornhill Village, Lightsey Bridge I or II or the Clemson House. These areas have modular beds that are "bunkable" and/or "loftable".

Back to Top

If you build ...

Liability

Please understand that there are dangers and hazards in the construction, assembly, use and disassembly of a bed loft. The student assumes all related risks and responsibilities.

Students will be required to pay the repair or replacement costs of any University property lost or damaged as a result of loft construction or use.

Back to Top

Specifications

Loft Guidelines The loft must be totally self-supporting and free standing, with no attachments to walls, ceilings, floors, shelves or woodwork. No nails, bolts or screws can be used in room walls, ceilings, floors or University-owned furnishings.

All University furniture must remain in the room, including the bed frame, so most loft structures are built to hold the bed frame intact. The bed frames are approximately 86"x 36". Keep this in mind as you construct your loft.

A ladder or some safe way of getting onto the loft structure must be included in all loft systems. Nails/screws may be used in the construction of ladders. Loft systems must be built and located so that they do not interfere with access to heating, ventilation or air-conditioning units, thermostats, plumbing, pipe chase doors, sinks or fire sprinklers.

Due to fire regulations, lofts may not block any room windows or doors. You must keep a 2.5' clearance/access between the loft and all windows, and doors must be able to swing fully open.

Back to Top

Asbestos

Some areas of University housing have asbestos-containing materials on the ceiling. These materials are managed by a licensed asbestos abatement team. Students, especially those building and using lofts, should be careful not to disturb any sprayed-on ceiling materials. If you have any questions about asbestos materials, locations or hazards, please contact the Asbestos Abatement Program director at 864-656-0242.

Back to Top

Possible Fines/Charges

Students will be required to pay the repair or replacement costs of any University property lost or damaged as a result of loft construction or use.

All wood scraps, trash, sawdust, etc. must be taken directly to disposal sites outside the buildings and not left in the hallways or deposited in hall trash cans. Builders who fail to clean up properly will receive a bill for cleaning services.

If you do not take apart your loft and dispose of it according to the guidelines, the Housing office will charge you to have it removed.

Back to Top

Materials

Students are responsible for obtaining their own construction materials, building tools and equipment. All lumber used must be treated with fire-retardant paint, or you must furnish the room with a 2.5-lb. ABC fire extinguisher. The extinguisher must be mounted on the loft. Keep the receipt when you buy the fire-retardant paint; it serves as proof that you have treated the lumber. (If you buy a loft from another student, or if you painted it with fire retardant paint last year, you must still show the receipt, or you will have to buy the fire extinguisher.)

Your finished loft must leave at least 30 inches of clearance from the ceiling to the top of the mattress. Our mattresses are typically 6" thick, so you will need to consider that in determining the finished height of your loft structure.

Loft vertical supports (legs) must be built using a minimum of 4" x 4" lumber. Two 2" x 4"s bolted together suffice as a 4" x 4". All horizontal load bearing supports must be built using 2" x 4" lumber. Each corner must be braced by either 2" x 4" lumber or thick metal straps, from each leg support to the horizontal load-bearing support. Nuts and bolts are required for assembly of the loft.

Back to Top

Loft Checklist

Make sure your loft meets all of these requirements:

2.5 lb ABC Fire Extinguisher mounted onto the loft or proof of purchase for fire retardant paint/wood
Vertical support legs are a minimum of 4x4 lumber
Horizontal supports are a minimum of 2x4 lumber
Other framing is a minimum of 2x4
Components of loft are bolted together
Loft is self-supporting and free standing
The bed frame is supported and intact
The loft has a means of safe access
Loft is not obstructing room fixtures, equipment or exits (including windows)
Loft has a minimum of 30 inches clearance from top of mattress to ceiling

Back to Top

Putting It Up

If you plan to build a loft, we suggest that you wait until you arrive on campus to do so. The height of the ceiling and the location of room fixtures and furnishings often cause problems when you try to fit the loft into place.

Often, rooms will vary slightly from the standard layouts/diagrams published in the University Housing booklets and on the Housing website. So, if you build it ahead of time, be prepared to make modifications to your loft when you arrive on campus.

All painting/staining or fireproofing must be completed before you bring the lumber or materials on campus. All construction/assembly must be completed by the dates assigned by the Housing Office. (You will see a posted notice of dates in the hallways.) You may work on building your loft between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Before, during and after construction, building materials may not be stored in public areas, hallways, lobbies or other areas outside the immediate area of the builder’s room. All University-owned furniture and equipment must remain in the student’s room.

All wood scraps, trash, sawdust, etc. must be taken directly to disposal sites outside the buildings and not left in the hallways or deposited in hall trash cans. Builders who fail to clean up properly will receive a bill for cleaning services.

Back to Top

Taking It Down

You may not take apart your loft during strict quiet hours unless the Housing Office tells you otherwise. All materials must be removed from University property and put into an appropriate trash container. You must put the room and furnishings back to the way they were when you came, and they must be clean. Bed frames must be put back together and fully secured. If you do not take apart your loft and dispose of it according to the guidelines, the Housing office will charge you to have it removed.

If you discard your loft, please use the recycling containers provided during move-out.

Back to Top

Diagrams

A 2.5 lb. ABC fire extinguisher must be attached to the loft. Or, the loft may be constructed of fire retardant wood or painted with fire retardant paint. The wood must be stamped with the fire retardant label or proof of purchase, i.e. sales slip for the paint, must be in the possession of the resident.
	Any other framing, such as bracers and stretchers, must be a minimum of 2x4 lumber.
Vertical Supports (Legs) Must Be Minimum Of 4X4 Lumber.
	Loft must be bolted together. Two (2) 2X4's bolted together suffice as a 4X4.
Loft must be self-supporting. It cannot rest on any furniture, lean against the wall, nor be attached to the wall or floor.
	Horizontal supports must be a minimum of 2x4 lumber.
Bed frame must be supported and intact.
	There must be a safe means of access. A ladder or some other accommodation must be incorporated into the design. These guidelines do not allow for climbing on furniture, jumping out of the loft, etc.