Residential Floor Loading Standards

To determine the dead load value for a given floor or roof system the weight of all permanently installed materials in a given component are added together.

Residential floor loading standards. Load types loads used in design load equations are given letters by type. The dead load on a floor is determined by the materials used in the floor s construction. They are legally backed by the engineering profession. However if the attic is intended for storage the attic live load or some portion should also be considered for the design of.

For example historically uk office buildings have been designed and marketed with live loadings of 3 5 4 0 kn m2 however this may be an over provision. For example a floor joist at 16 spacing s that can carry 53 pounds per linear foot would translate into a 318 pound single point load at its center. B first floor girder conditions. The minimum floor live loads shall be the greatest actual imposed loads resulting from the intended use or occupancy of the floor and shall not be less than the uniformly distributed load patterns specified in sec 2 3 4 or the concentrated loads specified in sec 2 3 5 whichever produces the most critical effect.

2 5 kn m2 for floors above ground floor and 3 0 kn m2 at or below ground floor over may be more appropriate with 7 5 kn m2 over 5 of the floor area to allow for future flexibility. Location and configuration of heavy loads should be looked at on a case by case basis. Different design methods are used but they typically defined the load cases or combination stress or strength limits and deflection limits. For a floor system you can find the individual weights of drywall strapping floor joists subfloor underlayment and carpet in an architectural handbook like architectural graphic standards.

For especially heavy loads it is recommended to have a structural engineer research the floor framing. D dead load l live load l r live roof load w wind load. Pitched roof measured on slope clay tiles plain. The center beam carries half of the floor load the partition load and half of the second floor load.

2attic loads may be included in the floor live load but a 10 psf attic load is typically used only to size ceiling joists adequately for access purposes. The weight of the partition is listed in the architectural graphic standards as 10 pounds per square foot. D pa m nt of housing a nd u ban dv lopm t by. 2 residential structural design guide.

Loads should be determined in accordance with this chapter. Standard loads of materials. 2000 edition pr epa rd for the u s. A typical wood frame floor covered with carpet or vinyl flooring has a dead load of about 8 pounds per square foot.

1minimum design loads for buildings and other structures asce standard 7 98 american s ociety of civil e ngi eers rest va 1999.