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ASCE 24-24 Explained: What’s New in Flood-Resistant Design for 2024 Building Codes
ASCE 24-2024 - Flood-Resistant Design for 2024 Building Codes The newly released ASCE 24-24, Flood Resistant Design and…
Understanding the Topographic Factor in Wind Design – ASCE 7 Chapter 26.8 Explained
Why Topography Matters in Wind Design Not all building sites are flat. When a structure is located near…
How To Calculate Porosity of a Louver – Sign – Fence Per ASCE 7
Porosity - How 'Open' A Surface Is - Explained The porosity of open structures is defined in ASCE-7…
Eave Height and Mean Roof Height – Per ASCE 7 – Building Codes
ASCE Mean Roof Height - An Introduction A building's height plays a large role in calculating the magnitude…
ASCE 7 Risk Categories Explained
ASCE 7 Risk Category Summary What Are The ASCE-7 Risk Categories? ASCE 7 provides the information needed to…
ASCE 7 WIND EXPOSURE CATEGORIES AND HOW EXPOSURE ‘D’ WORKS
Wind Exposure Category OverviewASCE-7 is the governing referenced standard for design loads on buildings & other structures for…
ASCE 7 Wall Zones 4 & 5 Explained
Understanding Wall Zones 4 & 5 Wind speed converts to wind pressure using a formula with many variables.There…
Mean Roof Height (ASCE 7)
Per ASCE 7, the Mean Roof Height (h) is defined as the average of the roof eave height and…
ASCE 7 Least Horizontal Dimension – Minimum Building Width
From ASCE 7 (ASCE 7-22,16, 10 & previous standards): The "Least Horizontal Dimension" can be taken as…
ASCE 7 Basic Wind Speed
Per definition by ASCE 7-22, ASCE 7-16 & ASCE 7-10, Section 26.2 is defined as: BASIC WIND…
About ASCE 7’s Directionality Factor Kd
The directionality factor (Kd) used in the ASCE 7 wind load provisions for components and cladding is a…
ASCE 7 Main Wind Force vs. Components & Cladding Explained (MWFRS vs. C&C)
ASCE 7 separates wind loading into three types: Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS), Components and Cladding (C&C),…
How to Find Wind Speed & Snow Using the ASCE and ATC Hazards Tools by Location Websites
The 2 Ways To Find Wind Speed, Snow & Related Values For Projects in the US There are…
ASCE Wind Speed Risk Category To Use with Signs – Fences & Building Components On-Off Buildings
This topic has been merged with our main ASCE 7 Risk Category Knowledge Base Article. See this page…
Did the wind loading requirements change for rooftop structures for ASCE 7-22 – ASCE 7-16 & The Florida Building Code?
Regarding ASCE 7-16 & the 2020 Florida Building Code (FBC) Also Applies for ASCE 7-22 & 2023 Florida…
FAQ: Where can I find the flood zone my house or project is in?
How To Find Your Flood Zone Understanding your property’s flood risk is essential for design, construction, insurance, and…
Differences Between Designing a Railing For General Use vs. Rooftop Mechanical Equipment
Installing A Railing Around Mechanical Equipment? It could be easier than you think. Railings around mechanical equipment, as…
Understanding Fence Design: Key Considerations and Code Requirements
Fences - An Overview Fences serve multiple purposes, from enhancing privacy and security to defining property boundaries and…
The Ultimate Guide To Creating A Window – Door Retrofit Permit Package In South Florida
How To Apply For A Retrofit Window-Door-Garage Door Permit In South Florida Dade, Broward & Palm Beach Counties…
How To Determine Uplift Reactions For Canopies-Carports-Pergolas
Canopies & Wind Uplift - An Introduction First, Understand ThisA backyard canopy or pergola, trellis, or a lightweight…
What wind speed should I use for my project?
How To Determine The Design Wind Speed For Your Project To determine the wind speed to use for…
How To Obtain a Building Permit
The journey from project idea to completion is not just about building; it’s about understanding construction codes and…
Understanding Ice – Icing In Building Products Infrastructure
When designing structural components, a variety of environmental factors need to be taken into account depending on the…
Open, Closed, Partially Open, and Partially Enclosed Structures.
Open, Closed, Partially Open & Partially Enclosed Structures When designing buildings subject to wind loads (e.g., according to…
Whats the difference between the Miami Dade NOA Quality Assurance Date and the Building Code Expiration Date?
Learn How To Quickly Spot And Use QA Expiration & Code Dates On a Miami Dade NOA Why…
What’s the difference between ground and roof snow load for patio covers?
When designing outdoor structures like patio covers, one of the most critical factors to consider is the ability…
Performance Limitations for Mechanical Equipment & TER Certifications
Summary of Building Code & Research Intent The intent & provisions of the 2018 International Building Code (IBC),…
Snow Build-Over On Pergolas, Trellises & Mechanically Louvered Roofs (Cornice Effect)
Beware of Snow Buildup On Open Roof Areas An important and frequently overlooked requirement for checking snow loads…
Performance Requirements Typically Requested On Project Specifications
For shop drawings requested for structural permit by this office, the following are typical specifications requested. Engineering Express…
FAQ The building department is asking for design wind speed – risk category – exposure – address on my plan – performance evaluation – TER What do I tell them?
In the case of Performance Evaluation Plans and Technical Evaluation Reports, product evaluations, master plans, and technical evaluation…
FAQ I need a wind load chart for window – door – garage door installation. What do I do?
Visit This Link on our Plan Store to find wind pressure charts for each of these items.…
Residential & Commercial Terms & Engineering Design Differences 101
Residential & Commercial Glazing Differences & Common Terms 101 Engineering Express is typically asked what the difference…
About Door Product Pressure Ratings and Water Infiltration
Why Door & Window Wind Pressure Ratings Are Not What They Appear Your installation may NOT be rated…
Instructions for proper use of rooftop equipment wind pressure calculator
HELP PAGE For the Engineering Express®Rooftop Equipment Wind Pressure CalculatorNote: See Limitations & Conditions of Use at the…
Understanding Canopies: Design and Load Considerations
A canopy is an overhead structure that offers protection from weather elements like rain, snow, and sunlight.Canopies can…
The Updated Saffir-Simpson Scale
First, it needs to be said that there is a complicated formula that converts wind velocity to wind…
Is Steel or Reinforcing or Fibermesh Required in Posts & Footings of Building Components?
INTRODUCTION The main purpose foundations serve is to distribute and resist the forces or loads experienced by the…
Is a large missile impact window or door automatically approved for small missile impact?
Overview Changes to the 2020 Florida Building Code for Porous Impact Protection Devices Porous Impact Protective Systems: ASTM…
What wind information is required for construction documents?
From the 5th, 6th &7th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2014, 2017, 2020) section 1603.1.4 as well…
What are porosity and closure angles when defining a porous building opening?
Explanation: In the event of a high wind event, it is the concern of building codes ASCE-7 and…
Directory of Firms We Work With & Refer Out To
The information contained herein is offered as an unbiased list of firms and services that complement the services…
Glossary of Engineering Terms
Glossary of Building Component Engineering Terms & Abbreviations These terms are published by Engineering Express to coincide with…
2020 FBC Product Evaluation Updates
There are many updates to the Florida Building Code 7th Edition (2020), but several of them directly impact…
Starter List in Evaluating Your Building Component For Product Approvals & TER’s
The Ultimate Starter Checklist for Evaluating Your Building Component Before a product can be approved, installed, or even…
Flood Engineering Glossary
FLOOD GLOSSARY The following is provided as a curated summary of terms taken from the referenced standards that…
Flood Resistant Design & Floodproofing of Buildings
An engineer's walk through of the design requirements for flood resistant design of building components With Engineering Express's…
Wind Speed vs. Wind Pressure Explained
Many don’t understand how wind works & state that a product is rated to a specific wind speed. …
Designing Interior Glass? Here are some engineering code items to consider
Interior Glass: Not Just For Looks When designing interior glass, you must consider both structural concerns and code…
Case Study: Phantom Screens – Is a Florida Product Approval Required?
Product Approvals for building components are the general rule in Florida. Building officials, architects, insurance companies, even homeowners…
Frost Protection For Concrete Footings On Grade – Heave Explained
Footings Move When Soil Freezes. Let's Explain. Building codes describe the design requirements of shallow foundations in regions…
Enclosed Structures Explained
Enclosed Structures Explained Determining whether a structure is classified as an enclosed building is a key step in…
Open Structures Explained
Open Structures Explained Determining if a structure qualifies as an open building is a fundamental step in wind…
Partially Enclosed Structures Explained
Partially Enclosed Structures Explained Understanding whether a building is partially enclosed is a critical step in wind design.…
How do I calculate the effective opening area on window or door products? – What opening area should be used for wind pressure determination on a multi-panel product?
Understanding The 'Effective Opening Area' For Wind Pressure Design The theory goes that Mother Nature cannot blow her…
The One-Third (1/3) Stress Increase: Where Is It Now?
While the 1/3 stress increase is all but a memory, this article explains its history & origin. The…
Should a professional utilize the ASD (Allowable Stress Design) method or the LRFD (Load Resistance Factored Design) method when calculating the required wind pressure for use with tested-approved systems?
What's The Difference Between ASD & LRFD Design? Put in layman's terms, think of a wood plank designed…