Rooftop Assembly Loading

[hdp321]

Does anyone else have past experience seeking a waiver or exemption from a building official related to rooftop live load requirements for assembly space?

I have a client seeking to reinforce an existing roof and hoping to design the roof reinforcement for a lesser
load than the new DL + code required 100 psf LL. They are hoping to seek permission/exemption from the local building official to post occupancy limits to the roof and design for a lesser 60psf or 40 psf LL.

I don’t think I have a problem doing this if there is precedent for it and approved by the building official, but was wondering if anyone else has experience doing this because there is nothing in IBC for this.

 

[jerseyshore]

This reminds me of a post on here last year regarding a mezzanine? live load and posting a sign. I forget what the conclusion was, but I seem to remember nearly everyone saying it was a bad idea and virtually unenforceable.

There are limits for fire safety reasons, but I would never rely on a sign to go below code minimum. If something ever went wrong you'd be toast.

 

[JAE]

"Oh, we took down that sign two years ago. Wasn't sure what it was all about. Something about LL...not sure what it was for. It might be in our storage room somewhere. I could go look..."

 

[RontheRedneck]

I'm with Jerseyshore - You'd be setting yourself up for trouble.