"ASCE702S" --- ASCE 7-02 CODE SNOW LOAD ANALYSIS PROGRAM

Program Description:
"ASCE702S" is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of flat roof snow loading analysis for
buildings and structures per the ASCE 7-02 Code. Specifically, coefficients and related and required parameters
are selected or calculated in order to compute the net design snow loads, including snow drift due on lower roofs
and rain-on-snow surcharge.
This program is a workbook consisting of three (3) worksheets, described as follows:

Worksheet Name

Description

Doc
Snow Load
Snow Map

This documentation sheet

Snow loading analysis for buildings with flat or low slope roofs
Ground snow loads map (Figure 7-1 of ASCE 7-02 Code)

Program Assumptions and Limitations:

1. This program specifically follows Section 7.0, Snow Loads, of the ASCE 7-02 Standard, "Minimum Design
Loads for Buildings and Other Structures".
2. This program assumes only snow loading analysis for buildings with a flat roof, or low slope roof <= 5 degrees.
(Note: for reference, a 1:12 roof slope equates to 4.76 degrees, and the program allows a slope up to 1.05:12.)
3. This program addresses only balanced snow loading, snow drifts on lower roofs, and rain-on-snow surcharge
loading. Unbalanced roof snow loads are not considered.
4. This program assumes the possibility of either leeward or windward snow drifts, and the larger of the two
calculated drift heights per the code is used as the design drift height. Leeward drift results from snow blown
off a high roof onto a lower roof. Windward drift results from snow blown against a projection or wall below a
high roof.
5. This program determines any rain-on-snow surcharge loading when applicable. Rain-on-snow surcharge
loading is not required for ground snow loads, pg > 20 psf, nor for roof slopes >= 0.5:12 (2.38 degrees).
This program conservatively combines the rain-on-snow surcharge loading with snow drift loading. However,
per Code, rain-on-snow surcharge loading need not be combined (superimposed) with snow drift loading.
6. This program contains numerous comment boxes which contain a wide variety of information including
explanations of input or output items, equations used, data tables, etc. (Note: presence of a comment box
is denoted by a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of a cell. Merely move the mouse pointer to the
desired cell to view the contents of that particular "comment box".)

ROGRAM

low slope roofs

E 7-02 Code)

"ASCE702S.xls" Program
Version 1.2

SNOW LOADING ANALYSIS

Per ASCE 7-02 Code for Buildings with Flat or Low Slope Roofs (<= 5 deg.)
Job Name:
Job No:

Subject:
Originator:

Checker:

Input Data:
II
50.00
170.00
100.00
2.10
0.25
1.00
1.00

Building Classification =
Ground Snow Load, pg =
Length of High Roof, Lu =
Length of Low Roof, LL =
Obstruction Height, ho =
Roof Slope =
Exposure Factor, Ce =
Thermal Factor, Ct =

psf
ft.
ft.
ft.
in./ft.

Table 1-1, page 4

Figure 7-1, pages 82-83
Length of Roof Upwind of the Snow Drift
Length of Roof Downwind of the Snow Drift
High Roof - Low Roof Elevations
Roof Slope = Rise/Run
Table 7-2, page 90
Table 7-3, page 91

Results:
Importance Factor, I =
Snow Density, =
Flat Roof Snow Load, pf =
pf(min) =
pf(use) =

1.00
20.50
35.00
20.00
35.00
1.71
0.39
5.13
3.04
0.39
0.23
3.14
3.14
3.14
8.05
0.00
43.05

Balanced Snow Load Ht., hb =

Clear Height, hc =
Leeward Drift Height, hdL =
Windward Drift Height, hdw =
Design Drift Height, hd =
Ratio, hc/hb =
Drift Length, w =
Drift Length, w(max) =
Drift Length, w(use) =
Wt. of Drift at High End, pd =
Rain-on-Snow Surch., prs =
*Total Snow Load, p(total) =

pcf
psf
psf
psf
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft.
psf
psf
psf

I
II
III
IV
pf(use) =
hb =
hc =
hdL =
hdw =
hd =
Ratio: hc/hb =
w=
w(max) =
w(use) =
pd =
prs =
p(total) =

Table 7-4, page 91

= 0.13*pg+14 <= 30 (Eqn. 7-4)
pf = 0.7*Ce*Ct*I*pg (Eqn. 7-1)
pf(min) = pg*I for pg <= 20 , pf(min) = 20*I for pg > 20
pf(use) = maximum of: pf or pf(min) (Section 7.3)
hb = pf(use)/ (Section 7.1)
hc = ho-hb >= 0 (Section 7.1)
hdL = 0.43*Lu^1/3*(pg+10)^1/4-1.5, with Lu>=25' (Figure 7-9)
hdw = 0.75*(0.43*LL^1/3*(pg+10)^1/4-1.5), with LL>=25'
hd = minimum of: (maximum of: (hdL or hdw)) or hc
If hc/hb >= 0.2 , then snow drifts are required to be applied
If hd <= hc: w = 4*hd , if hd> hc: w = 4*hd^2/hc (Sect. 7.7.1)
w(max) = minimum of: 8*hc or LL
w(use) = minimum of: w or w(max)
pd =hd* (maximum value)
prs = 5 - (minimum of: ABS(pf(min)-pf),5) >= 0 (Sect. 7.10)
p(total) = pf(use)+prs+pd (maximum value at high point of drift)

Wind
Lu=170'
(Length of High Roof)

pd=8.05 psf
hc=0.39'
hd= 0.39'

Surcharge Load
Due to Drifting

ho=2.1'

Rain-on-Snow Surch.
prs=0 psf

pf=35 psf

hb= 1.71'
*Note: Rain-on-snow surcharge
need not be combined with
snow drift for total load.

Balanced Snow Load

w=3.14' (drift)
LL=100'

(Length of Low Roof)

Configuration of Snow Drift on Lower Roof

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"ASCE702S.xls" Program
Version 1.2

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FIGURE 7-1: Ground Snow Loads, pg, for the United States (psf)