Codes & standards
Typical floor live load values by occupancy
Floor live load depends on use, and codes set minimum values by occupancy. Here is a reference table for offices, homes, retail, storage and more, in kPa and psf.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Category
Codes & standards
What ASCE 7, Eurocode and friends actually ask of an early load check.
Codes & standards
Roof live load vs snow load
A roof carries both a minimum roof live load and a snow load, and the larger governs. Here is the difference, how each is found, and which one to design for.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
Snow load calculation (ASCE 7), explained
ASCE 7 turns ground snow into a roof snow load with a handful of factors. Here is the flat-roof and sloped-roof formula, what each factor means, and a worked example.
Sam Rivera··5 min
Codes & standards
Eurocode load combinations explained (EN 1990)
EN 1990 sets the load combinations for European design. Here are the ULS expressions 6.10, 6.10a and 6.10b, the partial and psi factors, and a worked example.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
Load combination worked example
One column, every gravity combination, worked end to end in both ASCE 7 and Eurocode. See exactly how service loads become a governing factored reaction.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
Eurocode vs ASCE 7 load combinations
ASCE 7 and Eurocode reach similar safety by different bookkeeping. Here is a side-by-side of the gravity combinations, the factors, and a worked comparison.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
ASCE 7 load combinations explained
ASCE 7 gives the factored load combinations that size members. Here are the gravity LRFD and ASD combinations, what the factors mean, and a worked example.
Sam Rivera··5 min
Codes & standards
What is the governing load combination?
The governing load combination is the one that produces the largest design effect on a member. Here is how to find it, why it varies, and a worked example.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
LRFD vs ASD load combinations, explained
LRFD factors the loads up and the strength down; ASD keeps loads near service and limits the stress. Here is the difference, the ASCE 7 gravity sets, and a worked example.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
Factored loads vs service loads, explained
Service loads are the real, unfactored loads; factored loads are them multiplied by load factors for strength design. Here is the difference and when each is used.
Sam Rivera··4 min
Codes & standards
ASCE 7 live load reduction, explained simply
A column carrying ten floors is not realistically loaded to the full design live load on every one at once. ASCE 7 lets you take credit for that. Here is the formula, the K_LL factors, and a worked reduction.
Sam Rivera··6 min
Codes & standards
Partition load allowance explained
Movable partitions are covered by a load allowance rather than counted one by one. Here is what the allowance is, typical values, and when a partition is counted as dead load instead.
Sam Rivera··4 min