Live loads can be prescribed to any structural element floors columns beams even roofs and will ultimately be factored into a calculation of gravity loads which we ll explain below.
Floor live load explained.
Beams studs joists and rafters act as a structural skeleton and must be strong enough and stiff enough to resist these loads.
The live loading of 100 pounds per square foot means that the entire walking surface is assumed to be loaded this amount.
For the most part live load and dead load values for floor and roof systems are considered distributed loads.
Live load is the lesser of the load for l 360 and total load as determined above minus dead load.
3 ft 10 ft 100 lbs sq ft.
Bridge live loads are produced by vehicles traveling over the deck of the bridge.
Roof and floor live loads are produced during maintenance by workers equipment and materials and during the life of the structure by movable objects such as planters and people.
Live loads are imposed on the building and are temporary and dynamic such as the weight of occupants furniture or anything else that can be moved.
For example if the walking surface were 3 feet wide and 10 feet long the total live load on the walkway would be.
Allowable total load is therefore 173 psf.
Equivalent open aisle live load is 200lbs 3ft.
To determine the minimum design values for strength live and dead loads are added together.
Floors must be able to support two different kinds of weight loads.
We measure uniform live loads as pounds per square foot psf.
Strength and stiffness are equally important.
In other words the weight is distributed or shared uniformly by the members in the floor or roof system.
When considering an open aisle within the cmfs a realistic live load for this aisle is to place a 200 pound person in front of each shelving cabinet i e.
The dead load on the floor is the weight of the floor structure itself and anything else that is permanently attached to the floor.
Allowable total load for floors is the least of load capacities for l 240 bending and shear.
For residential floors the live load is usually considered to be 30 to 40 pounds per square foot psf although this varies depending on the location within the home.
