Floor Live Load Explained

The live loading of 100 pounds per square foot means that the entire walking surface is assumed to be loaded this amount.

Floor live load explained.

The dead load on the floor is the weight of the floor structure itself and anything else that is permanently attached to the floor. The live load is the weight of furnishings people and anything else that the floor needs to support but which isn t permanently attached. 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. Allowable total load is therefore 173 psf.

3 ft 10 ft 100 lbs sq ft. For example if the walking surface were 3 feet wide and 10 feet long the total live load on the walkway would be. Live load is the lesser of the load for l 360 and total load as determined above minus dead load. To determine the minimum design values for strength live and dead loads are added together.

We measure uniform live loads as pounds per square foot psf. 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. Allowable total load for floors is the least of load capacities for l 240 bending and shear. 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.

Floors must be able to support two different kinds of weight loads. Strength and stiffness are equally important. Equivalent open aisle live load is 200lbs 3ft. Bridge live loads are produced by vehicles traveling over the deck of the bridge.

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. In other words the weight is distributed or shared uniformly by the members in the floor or roof system. Beams studs joists and rafters act as a structural skeleton and must be strong enough and stiff enough to resist these loads. The house acts as a structural system resisting dead loads weight of materials live loads weights imposed by use and occupancy like snow loads and wind loads.