Loft Policy

The College has developed the following policy for students who wish to personalize their rooms through a student constructed loft. Students assume full responsibility for verifying the condition of their lofts on a regular basis and for tightening nuts and bolts, replacing parts, or reassembling lofts as may be necessary.

These guidelines are for the protection of residents and their guests.

  1. Lofts are permitted in residence hall rooms and The Commons units but are not permitted in College Apartments.
  2. Residents of the room are responsible for loss of or damage to College property caused by the construction, installation, use, or removal of a loft.
  3. Lofts must be freestanding. Lofts may not rest on any College furniture or be nailed, screwed into, or other wise attached to walls, ceilings, or floors. Lofts may be connected to each other for support.
  4. No loft may extend the entire width of a room. Lofts may not exceed the floor area of the beds they replace. A minimum of one-half of the room area air space must be kept clear. Lofts may not span (either parallel or adjacent across) any window. Lofts may not obstruct the functioning of any window, and their placement may not impede rapid egress from anywhere within a room.
  5. Flammable materials such as paneling, tapestries, curtains, posters, fishnet, etc. may not be above, attached to, or enclose a loft. The area below the loft may not be used for storage of combustible material.
  6. Removal or remodeling of electrical fixtures, outlets, or any secured room furniture or equipment is not allowed. No wiring may be attached to the loft.
  7. Painting or staining of lumber for the loft should be done outside of the residence hall prior to bringing it into the room for assembly.
  8. Coffin; or deck lofts are not permitted. Students may not construct their lofts so that the sleeping area is below the top surface of the loft and individuals or furniture rest above the sleeping area.
  9. We recommend no more than one loft per room, since not all rooms have sufficient wall space for two lofts.
  10. Loft construction specifications:
    1. Legs must be made from 2x4 or larger lumber.
    2. Side rails must be made from 2x4 or larger lumber
    3. Loft side rails may not be the sole means of support for the bed main-frame. The College strongly recommends that the bed mainframe be secured to the loft frame with threaded bolts and nuts when applicable. Some bed mainframes do not have the capability of being secured in this manner. Plywood (minimum of 5/8" thickness) is to be used to span the loft side rails to support the mattress or box spring for these types of bed mainframes. NOTE: The College does not provide any storage of furniture including bed frames, ends, mattresses, and box springs. Students are responsible for storing these items in a secure location at their own risk and expense. Students remain responsible for the condition of these items until the time of check out.
    4. If the bed mainframe is not used, at least three crossbars of 2"x 4" lumber must be placed under the plywood that supports the mattress or box spring.
    5. The top surface of the loft, including mattress, must be a minimum of 24 inches from the ceiling.
    6. Threaded bolts and nuts with washers MUST be used to fasten the loft together.
    7. Nails and other fasteners may be used to supplement the threaded nuts and bolts; however, they must be flush with the surfaces on which they are used.
    8. Bracing should be placed on the legs in such a manner that the loft does not wobble more than 1" in any direction. Angle bracing works best and is highly recommended by the College.
    9. Green lumber must not be used (e.g., cutting saplings to use as corner posts, safety rails, etc.).
    10. Posts and/or lumber designated for outdoor use may not be used (i.e. penta-treated or creosote lumber).
    11. Most College provided mattresses are 36" x 80". Allow additional space for the bed mainspring.
  11. All lofts must be removed from the residence hall when the resident(s) check out of the room. Lofts may not be stored in the residence hall. A service charge of $100 will be levied against room occupants for failure to remove the loft, in part or whole, plus any cost for damage to College property. The College does not accept responsibility for any lofts or materials left in the room once check out procedures are completed. Any College issued bed that is disassembled or removed from the room to accommodate the assembly of a loft must be returned to the room and be fully re-assembled to avoid a charge.

Students who are constructing a loft from scratch or have purchased a used loft must submit a Loft Construction Registration Form to the Residential Life Office within two days of completing construction. Lofts will be checked for compliance with this policy by staff from Residential Life and the Buildings and Grounds department. Normally, loft checks are completed within the first three weeks of classes in the Fall. Staff complete additional loft checks as they are informed of the existence of the loft, normally within one week. If a loft is found to have been constructed in violation of the above stated policy, the occupants of the room will be informed. The occupants will then have two (2) days to make the noted corrections. If the owner(s) fail to comply, the loft will be removed by the College at the owner's expense.

When the loft is considered in compliance with this policy, it will be considered registered with the College. The College will not tag or provide notification to residents that lofts have been approved as the College does not make any guarantees about the safety of individual lofts.

Loft Construction Registration Form