Example 3.

A commercial building shown in Fig. 3.46 has 7 storeys. The roof is accessible and all the floors
are used as offices. Calculate the load on interior column BC on 2nd floor and AB on first floor,
assuming spacing of columns in the perpendicular direction as 4m.
The live load on each floor is = 2500N/m2
The live load on roof, with access = 1500N/m2
Assuming 125mm thick slab, Dead load = 3125N/m2
Add dead load of floor finish, etc.(say) = 1000N/m2

Fig. 3.46 Live Load reduction on a seven storey building

Total dead load = 4125N/m2

Height of each storey = 3m

Solution

Loads from the various floor levels are computed as below. The live load has been reduced as
per IS: 875 (part 2).
5+6
Area contributing load to each column = 4 × ( 2 ) = 22 𝑚2
Live load on roof = 1500 N/m2 =1.5 kN/m2
Live load on floors = 2500 N/m2 =2.5 kN/m2

Table 3.41

Column Floor Live load kN Dead load kN Load on column, kN

GH Roof 1.5 × 22 = 33 4.125× 22 = 90.75 33 +90.75 = 123.75
FG 7th floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 55) × 0.9 + 90.75 × 2= 260.70
EF 6th floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 2 × 55) × 0.8 + 90.75 × 3= 386.65
DE 5th floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 3 × 55) × 0.7 + 90.75 × 4= 501.60
CD 4th floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 4 × 55) × 0.6 + 90.75 × 5= 605.55
BC 3rd floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 5 × 55) × 0.6 + 90.75 × 6= 729.30
AB 2nd floor 2.5 × 22 = 55 4.125× 22 = 90.75 (33+ 6 × 55) × 0.6 + 90.75 × 7= 853.05
Design load on column BC = 1.5× 729.30 = 1093.95 kN
Design load on column AB = 1.5 × 853.05 = 1279.58 kN
Note that if the live load reduction is not considered, the load on column AB will be 1.5(123.75
+ (55 +90.75) × 6) = 1497.375kN
Thus there is an increase of 15% load. Also note that the dead load on the roof in a real structure
may be more due to the type of weathering course adopted.