ESTIMATION OF

LIVELOADS
By
Engr. Richard A. Badiola, RMP, M. Eng., D.Eng.(CAR)
 LIVE LOADS

• These loads are produced by the use and occupancy of a building or structure and
do not include construction loads, environmental loads (such as wind loads, snow
loads, rain loads, earthquake loads, and flood loads), or dead loads (IBC 202).
NOTES

a.) Structural members are designed on the basis of the maximum effects due to
application of either a uniform load or a concentrated load and need not be designed
for the effects of both loads applied at the same time.
b.) Partitions that can be relocated (i.e., those types that are not permanently
attached to the structure) are considered to be live loads in office and other
buildings. A live load equal to at least 15 psf (0.72 kN/m2 ) must be included for
movable partitions if the nominal uniform floor live load is less than 80 psf (3.8
kN/m2).
 SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO CHAPTER 2
MINIMUM DESIGN LOADS
• Additional live load designations for parking, garage, and ramp live loading
LOADING: LIVE LOADS
SPECIAL LOADS
 REDUCTION IN LIVE LOADS

Because live loads are transient in nature, the probability that a structural
member will be subjected to the full effects from nominal live loads decreases as
the area supported by the member increases. Except for uniform live loads on
roofs, the minimum uniformly distributed live loads L0 are permitted to be
reduced in accordance with the methods in IBC 1607.10.1 or NSCP 2015.
A1 = 4 At for column or 2 At for beam or Panel area of two way slab or
Span x flange width for pre cast beam
L not less than 50% of Lo of members receiving the load nor less than 40% of Lo for other
members
• Where Lr = is the reduced roof live load per square foot of horizontal roof projection
and
• R1 = reduction factors based on the tributary area At of the member being considered
and R2 = reduction factors based on the slope of the roof
• Where
• F = the number of inches of rise per foot for a sloped roof
(In SI: F = 0.12 × slope, with the slope expressed as a percentage)
= the rise-to-span ratio multiplied by 32 for an arch or dome.

Note:
• The reduced roof live load cannot be taken less than 12 psf (0.58 kN/m ), and it need not exceed
20 psf (0.96 kN/m ).
 NOTES
1.)Live Loads are found in NSCP used to determine the nominal live loads on the basis
occupancies. Live load reductions are taken wherever applicable.
2.) Alternate floor live load reduction.: floor live loads are permitted to be reduced in
accordance with the following provisions.
Such reductions shall apply to slab systems, beams, girders, columns, piers, walls and
foundations.
a. A reduction shall not be permitted in Group A occupancies.
b. A reduction shall not be permitted where the live load exceeds 100 psf (4.79 kN/m2)
except that the design live load for members supporting two or more floors is
permitted to be reduced by 20 percent.
Exception:
For uses other than storage, where approved, additional live load reductions shall be
• permitted where shown by the registered design professional that a rational approach has
been used and that such reductions are warranted.
CONT. NOTES:
3.)A reduction shall not be permitted in passenger vehicle parking garages
except that the live loads for members supporting two or more floors are permitted to
be reduced by a maximum of 20 percent.
4.)For live loads not exceeding 100 psf (4.79 kN/m2), the design live load for any
structural member supporting 150 square feet (13.94 m2) or more is permitted to be
reduced in accordance with Equation 16-23.

Such reduction shall not exceed the smallest of:

• 1. 40 percent for horizontal members;
• 2. 60 percent for vertical members; or
CONT. NOTES:
6.) Partition loads. In office buildings and in other buildings where partition
locations are subject to change, provisions for partition weight shall be made,
whether or not partitions are shown on the construction documents, unless the
specified live load exceeds 80 psf (3.83 kN/m2). The partition load shall not be
less than a uniformly distributed live load of 15 psf (0.74 kN/m2).

7.) The joists support their own weight plus the superimposed dead and live loads
along their span lengths. Because the joists are supported by the beams, the
reactions from the joists are transferred to the beams. Thus, the beams support
the dead and live load reactions from the joists plus their own weight and transfer
these loads to the columns
LIVE LOAD REDUCTION
Thank you for listening!