LOADING

BS 6399: Part 1: 1984 Code of practice for dead

and imposed loads
....
3. Dead loads
Dead loads are calculated from the unit weights
given in BS 648 or from the actual known
weights of the materials used.
Where permanent partitions are shown in the
plans, their actual weights are included in the
dead load.
The weights of tanks and other receptacles, are
considered as dead loads. These loads need to be
calculated for the cases when a tank or receptacle
is full and when it is empty.
4. Imposed floor and ceiling loads
4.1 Floors. The loads appropriate to the different uses to
which the parts of a building or structure may be put
given in table 1. A key to the groups in these tables is
given in table 1.The Distributed loads are the uniformly
distributed static loads per square metre of plan area and
provide for the effects of normal use.
Where, in tables 5 to 12, no values are given for
concentrated load, it may be assumed that the tabulated
distributed load is adequate for design purposes.

Table 1. Occupancy class index

Class Typical structure in class* No. of table

containing usages
and loads
Residential:
Type 1 Self contained dwelling units 5
Type 2 Apartment houses, boarding houses, guests houses, hostels 5
lodging houses, residential clubs and communal areas
in blocks of flats
Type 3 Hostels and motels 5
Institutional and educational Prisons, hospitals, schools, colleges 6
Public assembly Halls, auditoria, restaurants, museums, libraries, 7
non-residential clubs, theatres, broadcasting studios,
grandstands
Offices Offices, banks 8
Retail Shops, departmental stores, supermarkets 9
Industrial Workshops, factories 10
Storage Warehouses 11
Vehicular Garages, car parks, vehicle access ramps 12

*
The lists are not intended to be exhaustive but merely to indicate the type of structures included in the classes.
5. Reduction in total imposed loads
5.1 No reduction should be made for any plant or Table 2. Reduction in total distributed
machinery which is specially allowed for, or for imposed floor loads with number of storeys
buildings designed fro storage purposes.
5.2 Except as provided in 5.1 and 5.3 the Number of floors, Reduction in total
reductions given in table 2 may be applied to the including the roof, carried distributed imposed
by member under load on all floors
total imposed floor load (including the additional construction carried y the member
partition loading allowance given in 4.1) in under consideration
designing columns, piers, walls, beams and their
supports and foundations. Where the floor load %
given in table 5 to 12 exceeds 5 kN/m2 the 1 0
reductions given in table 2 may be taken 2 10
provided that the loading assumed is not less 3 20
than it would have been if all floors had been 4 30
designed for 5 kN/m2 with reductions. 5 to 10 40
over 10 50
The reductions given in table 3 do not apply to
roofs.

Table 4. Horizontal loads on parapets and balustrades

A point load applied to
Use A Horizontal A UDL applied
part of the infill
UDL to the infill of:
All occupancy classes except public

kN/m run kN/m2 kN

(a) Light access stairs, gangways and the like not more than
600mm wide 0.22 N/A N/A

(b) Staircase, balconies, ramps, landings or floors within, or

0.36 0.5 0.25
serving exclusively, one dwelling

(c) Staircases in residential buildings not covered by (a) or (b) 0.36 1.0 0.50
assembly

(d) Staircases, landings, floors, balconies, flat roofs with access,

walkways and edges of sunken areas not covered by (a) to (c) or
(e) to (i) 0.74 1.0 0.50

(e) Balconies or parts of balconies, stands, etc, having fixed

seating* within 530mm† of the barrier 1.5 1.5 1.5

(f) Staircases, ramps, landings or floors in theatres, cinemas,

concert halls, assembly halls, stadium, etc 3.0 1.5 1.5
Public assembly class

(g) ‘Designed’ stadia See note N/A N/A

(h) Footways or pavements, within buildings cartilage,

1.0 1.0 1.0
adjacent to access roads, basement or sunken areas

(i) Pavements or areas not less than 3m wide adjacent

3.0 1.5 1.5
to sunken areas, e.g. light wells, basement areas

*
Fixed seating is seating where removal and the use of the space for other purposes is improbable
†The dimension of 530mm is taken to be the mininmum distance measured from any part of the fixed
seating to the barrier. Tip-up seats should be considered in the up position.
NOTE: Designed stadia are those requiring a safety certificate under the Safety of Sports Ground Act 1975
(see also BS6180)