Calculating W for earthquake loads
Calculating W for earthquake loads
(OP)
Hi all,
In calculating W for the calculations of earthquake loads, do we have to account for the weight of the partition walls supported directly on the foundations? A colleague of mine thinks that half of that weight should be accounted for. also, how do you account for the weight of masonry partitions? do you calculate the area of these walls and multiply it by the weight per unit area or simply use some UDL value?
Thanks
In calculating W for the calculations of earthquake loads, do we have to account for the weight of the partition walls supported directly on the foundations? A colleague of mine thinks that half of that weight should be accounted for. also, how do you account for the weight of masonry partitions? do you calculate the area of these walls and multiply it by the weight per unit area or simply use some UDL value?
Thanks






RE: Calculating W for earthquake loads
RE: Calculating W for earthquake loads
Even if the walls are sitting on a short crawlspace. I would use the same approach. Not so though with a full basement. Then, the lower half of the wall would be lumped into the lower floor diaphragm and have to be resisted by the concrete foundation walls.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Calculating W for earthquake loads
'Where an allowance for partition loads is included in the floor load design, the actual partition weight or a minimum of 10psf of floor area, which ever is greater', would be included in W.
greater is what we're empahsizing here, but also I'm refering to ASCE 7-02. It is not a relevant code here but I use it for reference. Has this document changed much from 02 to 05?
In my opinion a masonry partition would be a built in or permanent partition or wall and not likely moved over the life of the structure therefore fit into the dead load catagory and not the live load catagory such as movable partitions or unknown partition distribution/location as is typical of office occupancies.