A canopy is a structure which provides overhead protection from the elements such as rain, snow, or sunlight. Canopies can be attached to a structure or they can be free standing with their own supports. They can be constructed of a variety of materials including steel, concrete, aluminum, wood, or even fabric. According to ASCE …
What is a canopy awning & which wind forces should I use to design? Read More »
First, it needs to be said that there is a complicated formula that converts wind velocity to wind pressure. Many wind pressure values can exist from a single wind velocity which vary based on roof height, topography, terrain, even code version, and more. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based …
This is provided to inform clients of the dissimilar metal protection requirements of the 2015 Aluminum Design Manual, Chapter M – Section M.7 Structures of the alloys covered by the Aluminum Design Manual are not ordinarily painted. Surfaces shall be painted where: 2014-T6 alloys are exposed to corrosive environments. Aluminum alloy parts are in contact …
How to Avoid Contact With Aluminum & Dissimilar Metals Read More »
When an anchor is installed into concrete, there is an area surrounding the anchor called a cone of influence in which the anchor is affecting and it is affected by. When two anchors are spaced too closely to one another and/or too closely to an edge, the anchor’s cone of influence reduces or becomes interfered …
Why are spacing, edge distance, and embedment important for concrete anchors? Read More »
Canopies & Wind Understand this – A backyard canopy attached to the back of your house, a pergola/trellis, or a lightweight sunroom/screen room comprise of relatively very little weight and is of lesser construction than the structure to which they are attached. Also, consider that a wall of a house continuously supports a roof, …
How To Determine Uplift Reactions For Canopies-Carports-Pergolas Read More »
INTRODUCTION The main purpose foundations serve is to distribute and resist the forces or loads experienced by the host structure due to wind, rain, snow, seismic, & other load conditions. When it comes to building components such as generators, signs, and fences the code leaves a gray area for foundation design. This happens because most …
ASCE 7 separates wind loading into three types: Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS), Components and Cladding (C&C), and Other Structures and Building Appurtenances. MWFRS is defined as “(a)n assemblage of structural elements to provide support and stability for the overall structure.” Typically, members that receive loading from two surfaces are designed to resist MWFRS …
ASCE 7 Main Wind Force vs. Components & Cladding Explained (MWFRS vs. C&C) Read More »
Here’s a description and illustrations we’ve created for footing types we frequently reference in our work for sunrooms, pergolas, carports, screen rooms, signs, and similar at-grade building component structures. Photos of each appear below. An isolated footing is used to support a single post. Isolated footings are independent footings which are provided for each …
ASCE 7 Risk Category Background Building codes require that buildings be classified by their level of importance in determining the risk taken with safety factors against their failure under critical design loads. Calculations for the structure’s overall stability, flexure, and fatigue are all based on the assumption of a given risk category design level. ASCE …
Here are some useful sites to check the seismic criteria for a location: https://www.fema.gov/earthquake-hazard-maps https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/designmaps/ – USGS https://seismicmaps.org/ https://www.seaoc.org/page/seismicdesignmaptool– Structural Engineer Association of California
ASCE 7-16 is introduced into the 2018 International Building Code and 7th Edition Florida Building Code (2020) as the new referenced standard for wind design. This standard introduced an enhanced section for the conversion of wind velocities to roof wind pressures for roof components attached to buildings and freestanding structures such as sunrooms, overhead canopies, …
Wind Speed to Wind Pressure For Sunrooms – Canopies – Pergolas Using ASCE 7-16 Read More »
The 2 Ways To Find Wind Speed, Snow & Related Values For Projects in the US There are currently two websites as of January 2024 that allow access to finding a location’s ASCE wind speed, snow load, as well as other code minimum requirements. This article helps you find and navigate each site. Method 1: …
How to Find Wind Speed & Snow Using the ASCE and ATC Hazards Tools by Location Websites Read More »
Explanation: In the event of a high wind event, it is the concern of building codes ASCE-7 and ASTM specifications that windows and doors don’t fail and develop an opening breach in the building. An opening would allow more wind to enter the structure and pressurize the inside of the building, leading to other doors …
What are porosity and closure angles when defining a porous building opening? Read More »
The term lag bolt implies a large diameter fastener with a bolt head square or hexagonal head, and the term lag screw indicates a fastener with a wood screw tread. Both terms refer to the same type of fastener and are relatively large diameter fasteners. The National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS) refers to …
About Lag Bolts-Screws In Wood – Size – Pullout – Shear Read More »
ASCE 7-10, ASCE 7-16 Wind Pressure Information and Wind Pressure Calculators In terms of determining the risk category to a building component mounted to a building, the component ‘inherits’ the design properties of the structure. So a sign attached to a risk category II structure would be risk category II. If the sign is freestanding …
ASCE Wind Speed Risk Category To Use with Signs & Building Components On-Off Buildings Read More »
Glossary of Building Component Engineering Terms & Abbreviations These terms are published by Engineering Express to coincide with help menus for our online tools & published articles and as they relate to the Building Component Design industry. See also our FLOOD ENGINEERING GLOSSARY for more terms related to flood engineering. See Also SUNROOM TERMINOLOGY for …
