Dental Office Design Loads
Dental Office Design Loads
(OP)
There isn't anything in the ASCE for design loads of a dental facility. I just picked up a job for one, 1st story is 2,600 sqft and is where everything takes place, 2nd story is for storage and mechanical and is only about 600 sqft. There are only (5) treatment/patient rooms on the first floor.
Design loads I'm assuming out of the ASCE 7:
1st Floor:
Reception area (Lobbies) and first floor corridors: 100 psf
Treatment rooms: 60 psf
2nd Floor
Mechanical/Storage Room: 125 psf
The occupancy is really very limited so the loads for the first floor seam high but are the only relatively close loads I could find in the ASCE 7 tables. Can I decrease these any?
Design loads I'm assuming out of the ASCE 7:
1st Floor:
Reception area (Lobbies) and first floor corridors: 100 psf
Treatment rooms: 60 psf
2nd Floor
Mechanical/Storage Room: 125 psf
The occupancy is really very limited so the loads for the first floor seam high but are the only relatively close loads I could find in the ASCE 7 tables. Can I decrease these any?






RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
I think the second floor live could actually be exceeded in the footprint where they will have the patient records.
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
I would think that the patient rooms could be 40#/sf., but the trick is to pay attention to the concentrated loads which will exist right under treatment chairs, the equipment pedestals which contain all the water and air plumbing and electric hookups, and such things as x-ray machines. This stuff all needs pretty specific plumbing, and physical connection points, so study and lay these out in detail, along with the weight of the equipment and its attachment needs. A nice clean framing scheme with room for the trades to do their work efficiently, will really pay off. The dentist should help you a bit with getting these equipment specs. and his want for room layout, etc.
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
You can't have patient rooms as 40 psf, IMO, because they are treatment areas, not patient beds only.
I don't think it is worthwhile to chase down X-ray equip, etc, because all those machines in dentist office are much smaller and lighter than in hospital, ie it's only to xray the jaw.
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
I do think it is prudent to get better understanding of the records and file storage of the 2nd floor though...that could be a big miss in the design if I don't iron that out more.
Thank you for the input.
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
We would sometimes go clear up to as high as 250 psf for the high density medical file storage areas.
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads
RE: Dental Office Design Loads