The Ultimate Guides to ASCE 7 Load Provisions

In civil engineering, design loads represent the maximum amount a structure can handle. The American Society of Civil Engineers ' Standard ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, is pivotal to structural engineering. It provides comprehensive guidelines for determining design loads and assessing load combinations, including wind, seismic, tsunami, snow, and rain. The latest editions, ASCE 7-22 and ASCE 7-16 are essential references for the industry. ASCE supports practicing engineers with detailed guides that describe the load provisions in depth. These guides demonstrate how to apply the provisions to real-life design scenarios through working examples, making them indispensable resources for engineers, architects, construction professionals, and building officials working on load-bearing structures.

Below are brief introductions to each load guide published for ASCE 7-22 and ASCE 7-16, emphasizing significant updates and practical design examples:

ASCE 7-22 Guides

Wind Loads: Guide to the Wind Load Provisions of ASCE 7-22 provides a comprehensive overview of the wind load provisions in ASCE/SEI 7-22, focusing on planning and designing residential and commercial buildings. It includes updates such as simplified roof pressure coefficients, new wind speed maps, and a revised Wind-borne Debris Region definition. With 19 real-life design examples, this guide is an essential reference for structural engineers.

Snow Loads: Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-22 offers detailed explanations of the snow load provisions in ASCE/SEI 7-22. It covers key concepts for designing new and existing structures that might accumulate falling or drifting snow. Significant updates include revisions to ground snow loads, drift load provisions, and snow loads for solar-paneled roofs. Real-life design examples and FAQs make it an invaluable resource for professionals in snow-prone regions.

ASCE 7-16 Guides

Seismic Loads: Guide to the Seismic Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 is essential for professionals in seismically active areas; this guide explains the seismic design provisions in ASCE/SEI 7-16. It includes examples of identifying occupancy and seismic design categories, determining seismic requirements, and selecting structural systems. Expanded examples cover Equivalent Lateral Force Analysis, Modal Response Spectrum Analysis, and Linear Response History Analysis.

Rain Loads: Guide to the Rain Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 describes the rain load provisions in ASCE/SEI 7-16, addressing issues such as drainage area determination, head-flow relationships, and ponding loads. It includes over 35 examples illustrating the correct application of rain load provisions and discusses the rain load hazard in detail. This guide addresses nonroutine rain loading issues not explicitly covered in ASCE 7-16.

Wind Loads: Guide to the Wind Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 delves into the wind load provisions of ASCE/SEI 7-16, crucial for addressing the rise in tropical storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. It covers changes such as modified wind speed maps, revised methodologies for determining exposure categories, and new provisions for rooftop solar arrays, canopies, bins, tanks, and silos. This guide is vital for understanding and applying ASCE 7-16 wind load provisions in project designs.

Snow Loads: Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 examines the impact of snow on structures, including provisions for flat and sloped roof loads, partial loads, and conventional drift loading. Updates in ASCE/SEI 7-16 address ground snow load tables for seven states, seasonal changes in snow density, and snow loads on air-supported structures. It includes 35 worked examples and FAQs.

Tsunami Loads: Guide to the Tsunami Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 is based on data from tsunamis in Chile (2010) and Japan (2011). This guide addresses the new tsunami load provisions in ASCE/SEI 7-16. It assists engineers in understanding these provisions by demonstrating the application of tsunami risk categories and design procedures. The guide includes numerous examples and a comprehensive tsunami design for a prototype building.

Significant Changes to the Minimum Design Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 highlights for readers the most noteworthy developments within the design load provisions of the newest edition of ASCE 7. The authors—four subject matter experts with in-depth knowledge of the new provisions—summarize and explain the major differences between ASCE 7-10 and 7-16.