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Lateral load for a grating platform

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WWTEng

Structural
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Nov 2, 2011
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Aprox 40'x60' platform with industrial grating over WF beams over 4 HSS columns. About 16' tall. Purpose: to provide some protection to the existing small pump station below from falling ice from an adjacent tower.

My question is about the lateral force I need to design this new structure for. Self weight is not that much, and seismic design category is B so seismic loads are low. Is there something in the code or good rule of thumb for a minimum lateral load I should design for. I was thinking about 10% of live load/snow over the platform.
 
Is the structure inside another building? So no wind load?

M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensed Structural Engineer and Licensed Professional Engineer (Illinois)
 
It sounds like this is outside, if so. You would have wind load. The question is - if the bottom is exposed, you may have wind load on each joist/beam or there may be some shielding depending on spacing. But the question always is, how much and should it even be considered.

EIT
 
If it is outside, there are sections in ASCE 7 as well as a special document on petro chemical facilities that address wind loading on open steel framing.

I've designed open steel framing power plant structures and we certainly had to design for the wind on the steel framing. It is isn't too much, but it still needs to be considered.

M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensed Structural Engineer and Licensed Professional Engineer (Illinois)
 
Don't forget about the stability loads (the amount needed to make the top of the column act braced). It's 2% of the vertical load, but it's not the place to cut corners.
 
Issac, the structure is exterior and yes wind will be applied to the face of the structure. I'll look into ASCE 7 for open structure and take into account the 2% vertical load Jed mentioned. I think I need to do some more research.
 
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