ASCE 7 updateThomas L. Smith
When the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) first
published ASCE 7, "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other
Structures," in 1988 (it previously had been published by the
American National Standards Institute as A58.1), few people in the
construction industry were familiar with the standard. However,
during the past several years, the standard increasingly has been
used to determine design wind loads, in part because the
International Building Code (IBC) began requiring the standard's
use in its 2000 edition.
ASCE 7's 2005 edition (ASCE 7-05)—the most current
edition—is referenced in the International Building Code,
2006 Edition. The next edition of ASCE 7 is scheduled to be
released in 2010.
ASCE 7-05 includes some changes and additions from its 2002
edition that affect the calculation of wind loads on roof
assemblies and rooftop equipment. Unfortunately, the document does
not clearly note what changes have been made, and determining the
changes is a laborious process. I have tracked the changes, and
following is an overview of those changes pertaining to calculating
wind loads on roof assemblies and rooftop equipment.
Additions and changes pertaining to primary structural elements,
such as beams, columns, shear walls and diaphragms that provide
support and stability for buildings, are not...
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