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mechanical railing

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 opposed to general use pedestrian railings, can be designed to a different standard. These types of railing include those that protect: •  Roofs of commercial buildings •  Industrial facilities •  Mechanical rooms Railing systems of all kinds …

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The Updated Saffir-Simpson Scale

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 …

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Glossary of Engineering Terms

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 …

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Enclosed Structures Explained

Enclosed Structures Explained Determining whether a structure is classified as an enclosed building is a key step in wind-load design. The enclosure classification determines the internal pressure coefficient (GC pi) and therefore affects how much internal wind pressure is considered when sizing components like walls, windows, doors, roofs, and connections. Definition(ASCE 7-16 ) An enclosed …

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Open Structures Explained

Open Structures Explained Determining if a structure qualifies as an open building is a fundamental step in wind design. The classification directly affects how internal pressures (GCpi) are applied per ASCE 7-16 Section C26.2, ensuring that the correct wind load assumptions are used for safety and performance. Definition(ASCE 7-16 / FBC Reference) A building is …

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Partially Enclosed Structures Explained

Partially Enclosed Structures Explained Understanding whether a building is partially enclosed is a critical step in wind design. This classification determines the internal pressure coefficients (GCpi) used in ASCE 7 and directly affects the loads applied to components such as windows, doors, roofs, and wall systems. Definition(ASCE 7-16 / FBC Reference) A structure is considered …

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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 fury at the maximum force at all areas at the same time… Therefore, the larger the opening, the lesser that opening will all receive the full force of a windstorm at the same time. ASCE-7 contains provisions …

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