It's kind of a book-keeping problem. We design multi-structure water or wastewater treatment plants. On the structural general notes, we used to put the design wind speed. We also have to put the design wind speed in the specifications for the electrical and mechanical equipment suppliers to use. Some of the buildings have different Design Categories (some are storage only, some have hazardous chemicals in them, etc.), so we might have Category II, III or IV on the same project. Now instead of one working level wind load and assigning Importance Factors, technically we need to give different wind speeds for each structure. Add to that the fact that the suppliers need to adjust the wind loads by the .6 load factor is just something else to add to the confusion.
I actually don't mind the whole concept and having site unique site specific wind speeds is pretty awesome. And it's not any harder to use than ASCE 7-05. I just have a problem with the fact that just because we have bigger computers that we need to add several layers of complications to the code that was OK. I'm carrying wind pressures to three figures for pity's sake. Does the wind know that?
