ASCE 7-10, Enclosed or Open Building? 1

[Redfish205]

I am reviewing a submittal package as the owners representative and the EOR and I seem to be at odds over the enclosure classification. The proposed structure is a truck inspection canopy with partially open sides and ends(siding at the upper portions of the walls with open bottom). It is a pre-engineered metal building with some siding at both ends and sides, however there will not be a means to close the structure via overhead doors, etc. The EOR has submitted calculations that show that the area of openings don't exceed 80% of the gross area as well as area calculations to support that it is not partially enclosed and has therefore classified this as a enclosed building. Again, my argument is that because there is never a means for enclosing the building, how can it be classified anything other than open.
Comments welcome

 

[UcfSE]

Enclosed and open are only vague descriptions so we have something to call the categories. The true issue is the value of internal pressure to be used for design. Just because there's an opening(s) that are permanent doesn't mean the internal pressure will drop enough to call the structure open. That's why we have code limits on what we call open and enclosed. If the EOR has shown that the openings result in a classification of enclosed, in my opinion you would verify if those calculations meet the code and are performed correctly.

 

[Redfish205]

Thanks for the reply