Significant Changes to the Minimum Design Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 - An Illustrated Guide

Significant Changes to the Design Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 reviews the significant changes to the minimum design load requirements of the newest edition of Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI Standard 7-16. Generally following the organization of ASCE 7-16, this handy reference briefly summarizes changes in ASCE 7-16 that might affect actual practice and/or enforcement and then presents the precise wording of the change. The impact of a change is explained in clear, straightforward language accompanied by diagrams, examples, and/or color photographs and illustrations to enrich the reader’s understanding.

Significant Changes to the Design Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16 translates the changes to in ASCE 7-16 into a form readily accessible by structural engineers, architects, contractors, building officials and inspectors, and allied professionals, and will serve as the primary basis for transitioning to the new standard.

A preview of some of the key changes addressed:

• New Chapter 6 addresses tsunami loads and effects
• Ground snow loads for 7 states have been removed from the Ground Snow Loads map and replaced with tables listing the ground snow load and elevation for specific locations in each state
• The return period for the ice thickness maps has been changed from a 50-year mean recurrence interval to a 500-year mean recurrence interval
• The site coefficients by which mapped seismic ground motion parameters are modified have been changed for the first time since the 1994 Uniform Building Code
• A new vertical earthquake ground motion spectrum has been introduced
• A new alternative design of diaphragms, chords, and collectors has been introduced
• New design requirements are provided for foundations on liquefiable soils
• Major changes have been made in Chapter 13, Nonstructural Components and Chapter 15, Nonbuilding Structures
• Previous Chapter 16, Seismic Response History Procedures, and Commentary have been replaced by new versions
• Chapters 17, Seismically Isolated Structures; 18, Structures with Damping Systems; and 19, Soil-Structure Interaction, and Commentaries have been replaced by new versions
• A new wind speed map has been introduced specifically for Risk Category IV buildings and structures using an MRI of 3000 years
• New provisions have been added for determining wind loads on solar panels
• Significant changes to the component and cladding pressure coefficients (GC_p) for flat and sloped roofs on buildings with h ≤ 60 ft
• New criteria have been added to the wind loads commentary providing guidance on designing buildings for tornado wind loads