Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
(OP)
Hey All,
I am working on a typical office building with loads based on ASCE 7-10. Regarding the live loads for the upper stories, I was wondering what some of your opinions are. For the typical offices I am designing for 50+15psf, but I am wondering what to do for the corridors. Should I be designing for 80+15psf to include the partition? Or should I be using 80psf without the partition? ASCE 7-10 Section 4.3.2 does have the EXCEPTION provision which states that live loads that EXCEED 80 psf do not need to include the partition. I'm wondering what others do regarding this.
I am working on a typical office building with loads based on ASCE 7-10. Regarding the live loads for the upper stories, I was wondering what some of your opinions are. For the typical offices I am designing for 50+15psf, but I am wondering what to do for the corridors. Should I be designing for 80+15psf to include the partition? Or should I be using 80psf without the partition? ASCE 7-10 Section 4.3.2 does have the EXCEPTION provision which states that live loads that EXCEED 80 psf do not need to include the partition. I'm wondering what others do regarding this.






RE: Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
If you knew where all partitions are going then you would not include any 15psf and would include their real DL and effect. So in the corridor you know where all these corridors are going, no where.
RE: Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
RE: Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
RE: Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
I use:
65psf typical (use reduction on ALL 65 as permitted by Code), 80psf corridors (also fully reducible). With the 15psf partition, I do NOT review the initial tenants' fitout plans to distinguish between hallways and offices, this is excessive and not warranted by Code. Tenant space = 65. Common core space = 80. IThis is because offices require keycards to get in, same as hotels and dorm halls. Private corridors use same load rating as the occupancy served.
Also, consider your superimposed DL. 25psf, as many engineers use, is too high for standard office space. 10psf is realistic, 15psf max (2 finish 2 ceiling 2 lights 4 mech).
You'll find that 15 psf partition allowance covers a LOT of partitions, and doesn't warrant additional fluff. Do the math...how many 9' tall 7 psf GWB partitions does it take to yield 15 psf. It's like 6' square cubicles.
RE: Office Live Load - when to NOT include partitions
The actual weight of the partition per foot, is compared to the design live load, and the difference is considered as the added partition load. If a partition weight 40#/ft and is 6" wide, and if the design LL for the floor is 50 psf then the partition load at max would be 40 - 50/2 = 15 psf. If the minimum spacing of partitions is 3', then the max partition load is 5 psf.
The important part is that the partitions be considered as permanent.
From my Drawing Notes:
PARTITIONS SHALL BE FIXED AND PARTITION LOADING IS PREDICATED ON ACTUAL PARTITION LAYOUT SHOWN. ENGINEERING REVIEW REQUIRED TO MODIFY PARTITION LAYOUT
Dik