Corridor Live Load Clarification

[tajmeaw]

We are having discussion in our office about when to use 40psf for multi-family corridors and when to use 100psf and would like to know if anyone has ever gotten word from IBC for a clarification.

The code says that you can use 40 psf for private rooms and the corridors servicing them and 100 psf for public rooms and corridors servicing them. What constitutes a public room, Elevator lobby, storage closets, vending rooms...?

When we have apartment buildings with units only we are using 40 psf for the corridors. It is being argued that when they add an elevator now there is public space so we have to switch to 100psf. Any thoughts?

 

[msquared48]

Elevator Lobby - yes
Storage closets - no as they are ususally locked. However, if these can be heavily loaded, they may require a storage load. If they are only janitor closets, then 40 psf.
Vending rooms - yes

Anthing that is accessible to the public, as a hallway to individual apartments, is 100 psf, but not the hallways within those same apartments - those are 40 psf.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[tajmeaw]

We inquired to the ICC about the corridor/breezeways outside the units that only service rooms and we were told this was 40 psf but if there are any public rooms then it has to be 100 psf, but they were vague to what constitutes a public room. It seems silly to me to have to design the whole corridor as 100 psf just becaus there is a vending machine or an elevator on the floor.

 

[msquared48]

It's not just because there is an elevator or vending area on the floor, it's because the public can access the area. That's the deciding factor here. The corridor leading to the apartments must be designed to 100 psf.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[DonPhillips]

Mike is right on and that is how I would enforce these requirements in my jurisdictions.



Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com