Loads in Design Buildings

Building design

Building design refers to the architectural, engineering and technical application to the design of the building. Larger and more complex building projects require the services of professionals trained in specialist disciplines. To support the loads in design building, all elements of the raised floor system should be properly sized. To transfer the lateral and vertical loads from roof, wall, and floor systems to the foundation, the permanent load path should be provided. The load path, which is running through the building, can be thought as “chain”. The load path chain should be connected to the foundation, because all the applied loads must be transferred to the foundation. The chain should be strong enough to transfer loads without breaking, the areas subjected to high winds is especially important for continuous load path. We will discuss about the loads in design buildings in the following paragraph.

Wind Consideration

The areas considered to high wind and earth quake forces can produce unique problems to the designer. If the wind speed is less than 110 miles per hour, the construction should be in accordance with the International Residential Code. If the wind speed exceeds more than 110 miles per hour, the raised floor system should be designed and constructed in accordance with Wood frame Construction Manual (WFCM).

Building Codes

For the safe use of buildings and structures under conditions, the building codes are designed. This code helps in describing exactly how each part of the building should be loaded and designed. These loads are based on snow load, wind speed, seismic coefficient, and collateral load. The loads in design buildings are.

Snow Load

Snow loading is dependent on several factors. These includes roof slope, if the structure is heated, if the structure is insulated, if the slope is slippery.

Wind Speed

As wind blows high, the pressure will build on the buildings, the exact pressure is based on the size and shape of the building.

Seismic Coefficient

In the steel building, this seismic coefficient is the influence of earthquake activity. The building code such as uniform building code (UBC) or the California building code (CBC) it also use seismic zone. These also influence seismic design; zone 0 having the lowest influence and zone 4 having the greatest.

Collateral Load

Collateral load is nothing but, the loading on the building caused by the additional construction materials such as false ceiling, sprinkler system, lighting, heating/Air conditioning duct, etc.

Questions:

• What is building design?
• What are wing speed and seismic coefficient?