Structural Damage Question

From: Don Maslin <donm_at_cts.com>
Date: Wed Oct 27 17:43:29 1999

On Wed, 27 Oct 1999, Marvin wrote:

>
>
> Steve Robertson wrote:
> >
> > Buildings are designed to withstand both "live" and "dead" loads. A "live"
> > load is one where the load is not constant or is moving. IE: people, wind,
> > etc... A "dead" load is a load that is constant or does not move. IE: the
> > structure itself.
>
> > So, for a 20' X 20' room in your building the allowable load should be:
> > 20 x 20 X 40(psf) = 16,000 lbs.
>
> Just to point out, I believe that psf (pounds per sq foot) implies the load
> should be spread out and not concentrated in one corner of the room :).
> Thanks for those figures; I had always figured about 50 psf as a rule of
> thumb.
>

But likely better concentrated in the corners (or along the walls) than
concentrated in the center. (Makes an assumption that the floor below
is similarly laid out.

                                                 - don
Received on Wed Oct 27 1999 - 17:43:29 BST