Snow Load Calculator Update and Discussion on Third Party Verification
Snow Load Calculator Update and Discussion on Third Party Verification
(OP)
thread724-378838: Snow Load Calculator
I've added a changlog for this calculator since it seems to be slowly evolving and a few of the bug fixes are worth noting:
http://design.medeek.com/resources/snow/changelogs...
Most of the time I think people use these calculators and other third party programs without giving it a second thought. We automatically assume it is giving us the correct answer. I would advise against that tendency however. I had a user notice a small error in this snow load calculator a couple of days ago and I would have never noticed unless he had brought it to my attention (see changelog 09/04/2015). Luckily it did not affect the numbers by more than a few percent but I've had this calculator up for well over a year and half,and I myself have used it as the primary resource for determining my roof snow loads in my own local residential and commercial projects.
I like to use the Forte software for running quick checks on headers and beams however I would advise that if your are checking beams and joists exposed to outside conditions (wet and pressure treated) your answers will not be conservative enough since this software does not allow you to enter in this option. For wet conditions I would suggest using the Woodworks Sizer software.
I guess my point is that one should never absolutely trust any particular software until you either verify manually with your own calcs or check it against other similar softwares.
I've added a changlog for this calculator since it seems to be slowly evolving and a few of the bug fixes are worth noting:
http://design.medeek.com/resources/snow/changelogs...
Most of the time I think people use these calculators and other third party programs without giving it a second thought. We automatically assume it is giving us the correct answer. I would advise against that tendency however. I had a user notice a small error in this snow load calculator a couple of days ago and I would have never noticed unless he had brought it to my attention (see changelog 09/04/2015). Luckily it did not affect the numbers by more than a few percent but I've had this calculator up for well over a year and half,and I myself have used it as the primary resource for determining my roof snow loads in my own local residential and commercial projects.
I like to use the Forte software for running quick checks on headers and beams however I would advise that if your are checking beams and joists exposed to outside conditions (wet and pressure treated) your answers will not be conservative enough since this software does not allow you to enter in this option. For wet conditions I would suggest using the Woodworks Sizer software.
I guess my point is that one should never absolutely trust any particular software until you either verify manually with your own calcs or check it against other similar softwares.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com






RE: Snow Load Calculator Update and Discussion on Third Party Verification
One should absolutely never trust any particular software results until you either verify manually with your own calcs or check it against other similar softwares.
My point being that even if you have no reason to doubt the results of a software that you have used for years, you should still doubt them.
The same applies to manual calculation procedures by the way (perhaps even more so).
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/