Issue: 3.

07

What is roof live load, and why would you want to reduce it? These are both good questions and their determination play a significant role on the design of a building. The International Building code definition of roof live load is stated below. The code also goes on to state that these loads are produced by use and occupancy of the building and do not include construction or environmental loads such LIVE LOADS (ROOF). as wind, snow, rain, earthquake, flood or dead Those loads produced (1) loads. Simply, roof live load on a metal buildduring maintenance by workers, ing is any maintenance load applied after conequipment and materials; and struction. (2) during the life of the
structure by movable objects such as planters and by people. So why reduce it? (IBC 2000, 2003, 2006 Section The code does a good job of allowing reduc1602.)

tions in loads based on the amount of area

Matthew Oakes, P.E. Project Engineer Oakes@nbsin.com

supported. Both wind loads and live loads can take advantage of these reductions. The more tributary area supported by a member, the greater the reduction in load. This is done because the probability of the entire area being fully loaded is reduced as the area increases. For example, a 20 purlin at 5-0 spacing has no reduction in load, however a 100-0 clear span frame at 20 spacing can be reduced down to 12 psf. The code-specified uniform live load is 20 psf with the ability of maximum reduction down to 12 psf for 4:12 or smaller sloped buildings. The formulas to the right illustrate how the reduction is calculated, but this is done by the engineer at the time of design. In short, a reduction in live load will have little or no impact on the roof panel and purlins, however the cost of the frames can be significantly reduced.

Lr = 20 R1R2 where 12 Lr 20 R1 = 1 for At 200 ft2 = 1.2 0.001At for 200 ft2 < At 600 ft2 = 0.6 for At > 600 ft2 R2 = 1 for F 4 = 1.2 0.5F for 4 < F < 12 = 0.6 for F 12 Lr = Reduced Roof Live Load R1, R2 = Reduction Factors At = Tributary area of member under consideration in square feet (ft2). F = Number of inches of rise per foot of run in slope of roof (i.e., 1:12 slope, F = 1).

Thanks, Matt

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