Design loads acting on structures

Table 2.1 Schedule of unit masses of building materials (based on BS 648)

Asphalt
Roong 2 layers, 19 mm thick
Damp-proong, 19 mm thick
Roads and footpaths, 19 mm thick

42 kg m2
41 kg m2
44 kg m2

Bitumen roofing felts

Mineral surfaced bitumen

3.5 kg m2

Plaster
Two coats gypsum, 13 mm thick

22 kg m2

Plastics sheeting (corrugated)

4.5 kg m2

Plywood
per mm thick

0.7 kg m2

Reinforced concrete

2400 kg m3

Blockwork
Solid per 25 mm thick, stone
aggregate
Aerated per 25 mm thick

15 kg m2

Rendering
Cement: sand (1:3), 13 mm thick

30 kg m2

Board
Blockboard per 25 mm thick

12.5 kg m2

Screeding
Cement: sand (1:3), 13 mm thick

30 kg m2

55 kg m2

Slate tiles
(depending upon thickness
and source)

24 78 kg m3

Steel
Solid (mild)
Corrugated roong sheets,
per mm thick

7850 kg m3
10 kg m2

2400 kg m3
1760 + 240/
160 kg m3

Tarmacadam
25 mm thick

60 kg m2

Flagstones
Concrete, 50 mm thick

120 kg m2

Terrazzo
25 mm thick

54 kg m2

Glass fibre
Slab, per 25 mm thick

2.05.0 kg m2

Tiling, roof
Clay

70 kg m2

Gypsum panels and partitions

Building panels 75 mm thick

44 kg m2

Timber
Softwood
Hardwood

590 kg m3
1250 kg m3

Lead
Sheet, 2.5 mm thick

30 kg m2

Water

1000 kg m3

Linoleum
3 mm thick

6 kg m2

Woodwool
Slabs, 25 mm thick

15 kg m2

Brickwork
Clay, solid per 25 mm thick
medium density
Concrete, solid per 25 mm thick

55 kg m

59 kg m2
2250 kg m3

Cast stone
Concrete
Natural aggregates
Lightweight aggregates (structural)

than structures, which generally involves investigating the effects of dead and imposed loads only.

2.2.4 LOAD COMBINATIONS AND

DESIGN LOADS
The design loads are obtained by multiplying the
characteristic loads by the partial safety factor for

loads, f (Chapter 1). The value for f depends on

several factors including the limit state under
consideration, i.e. ultimate or serviceability, the
accuracy of predicting the load and the particular combination of loading which will produce the
worst possible effect on the structure in terms of
bending moments, shear forces and deections.
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