This issue of live load vs.
Snow load and live load for roofs in virginia.
If your roof is 1 000 square feet the total snow load is 15 000 pounds of snow.
Spatial structures are mostly used as roof systems therefore roof load is considered as the live load.
In areas of the state outside of certified local government jurisdictions the design snow load shall be based on the ground snow loads developed in snow loads for structural design in montana authored by f f.
Victor staley a building official in the town of brewster mass responds.
Live roof load w wind load s snow load e earthquake load r rainwater load or ice water load t effect of material temperature h hydraulic loads from soil f hydraulic loads from fluids.
For locations where snow loading should be considered in the design of spatial structures it is generally considered as the roof live load.
A great deal of confusion currently exists among engineers architects recreation specialists and maintenance personnel concerning the proper snow loading to use for the design and maintenance of trail bridges building roofs and other structures in mountainous high snow load areas.
The north zone middle zone and the south zone are identified on the roof load zone.
Snow load is the downward force on a building s roof by the weight of accumulated snow and ice.
Schilke civil agricultural engineering montana state university august 1989.
However a south roof load zone home cannot be installed in either a middle or north roof load zone.
Further in most areas of the united states design winds are produced by either hurricanes or thunderstorms.
If the snow weighs 10 pounds per cubic foot and there are 1 5 feet on the roof each square foot of the roof is getting 15 pounds of pressure.
How snow load can damage your buildings.
The minimum design roof snow load.
Roof loads are a downward vertical force on the home.
The roof shall be designed for the live load indicated in table r301 6 or the snow load indicated.
Arch 331 note set 13 1 s2014abn 2 determining dead load from material weights.
Ground snow load might seem somewhat confusing until you read the basic premise that is identified in irc section r301 6 which states.
Why snow load information.
Or if the building was poorly designed or constructed.
The roof or the entire structure can fail if the snow load exceeds the weight the building was designed to shoulder.
To figure out the load on your roof take the depth of snow in feet and multiply it by the weight of a cubic foot of snow.
