Technical buyer's guide

What Load Test Should I Ask for When Buying Adjustable Pedestals?

Updated 2026-09-01 · 8 min read · By Vitaro technical team

When you buy adjustable pedestals, the headline "load capacity" number is only useful if you know how it was tested. A good pedestal load test report answers four questions: how much can one pedestal carry, where the load is applied, for how long, and at what height. This guide gives you the checklist to ask suppliers — and shows how Vitaro's own SGS-tested figures (B 3,500 kg, F 2,200 kg, HE 2,000 kg) should be read with their test conditions and installation density in mind, not as a blank cheque.

1. The load test report you should ask for

Ask the supplier for a third-party load test report (Vitaro uses SGS) that states at minimum:

• Test method — what standard or in-house procedure was used (compression/static axial load).
• Per-pedestal load at minimum height — the certified working load, not a peak or burst figure.
• Finished height the rating applies to — capacity drops as the pedestal is extended.
• Temperature / ambient conditions — polypropylene behaves differently across its operating range.
• Point-load (axial) result — load applied at the centre of the head.
• Long-term / sustained result — if available, a creep test over time.

A number with no method, no height and no lab is a marketing claim, not a specification.

2. Point load vs concentrated vs distributed

These terms decide whether your terrace is safe:

Term	What it means for a pedestal	Why it matters
Point load	Weight on a single spot — e.g. a heavy planter on one pedestal head	The worst case; one pedestal takes it all
Concentrated load	Load focused through a small area (often used interchangeably with point load in pedestal specs)	Drives the per-pedestal rating
Distributed load	Weight spread across many pedestals via pavers/joists	What a finished terrace actually carries

Pedestals are certified for the per-pedestal load. A point load in one corner is the worst case, so design with a safety margin and a tight enough grid that no single pedestal is overloaded. That is why the load capacity guide sizes to about half the rated figure.

3. Long-term compression (creep)

Long-term compression testing applies a sustained load to the pedestal over time to confirm it does not permanently settle or deform under continuous weight. This matters for permanently loaded podiums and terraces. When you review a report, ask:

• Does it include a sustained/creep result, or only a short-duration peak?
• Over what duration and at what percentage of the working load?
• Was settlement (permanent deformation) measured and reported?

A pedestal that passes a one-minute peak test but creeps under a year of load is a different product. Treat the absence of a creep result as a question to raise with the supplier.

4. How to read Vitaro's ratings

Vitaro's published figures are SGS-tested working loads at minimum height:

Series	Height range	Max load / pedestal (min height)	Best for
B Series	20–260 mm	3,500 kg	Standard decks & tiled terraces (highest load)
F Series	20–185 mm	2,200 kg	Low balconies & fine paving
HE Series	25–392 mm	2,000 kg	Tall rooftops & podiums (tallest build)

These are certified working loads quoted at the shortest height. The rating falls as the pedestal is extended, so always read the figure for your finished height — the same point-load principle as above. They are not a guarantee for every project; the real limit depends on height, spacing and live load.

5. Installation density: turning rating into count

Installation density is how many pedestals you place per m² — typically 3–4 for a terrace on a 500–600 mm grid. More pedestals share the load, so each carries less and the floor stays stiff. A taller build or a heavier covering (2 cm+ porcelain) needs a tighter grid. Practical method:

1. Total load = dead load (pavers/joists + pedestals) + live load (people, furniture, planters).
2. Per-pedestal budget = rated load at your height ÷ 2 (safety margin). E.g. B Series at low height: 3,500 ÷ 2 ≈ 1,750 kg to design to.
3. Grid: decking joists ~500 mm centres; pavers one pedestal under each 600×600 mm tile corner (4 per tile).
4. Count: a 500–600 mm grid is roughly 3–4 pedestals per m².

For an exact count and spacing at your height and covering, use the Vitaro calculators or send us the dimensions.

6. Reading a report safely

• Match conditions to your job: same finished height, same material, same temperature range.
• Treat the number as a working load and size to about half of it per pedestal.
• Confirm independence: the report should come from an independent lab and cover the exact series you are buying, stating the test method.

Related guides

Load maths: Load capacity · Choose: How to choose the right pedestal · Install: Installation guide · Vs fixed: Adjustable vs fixed support.
Product specs: Deck pedestals · Paver pedestals · Roof pedestals · Heavy-duty pedestals.

Frequently asked questions