2011 Presentation On Snow Loads

ASCE 7-10 Snow Load Provision
Objectives
Introduce changes in the ASCE 7-10
Snow Load provisions
Present reasoning behind changes
Answer Frequently Asked Questions
Answer audience questions (hopefully)
SEAoO Conference
September 2011
Michael ORourke PE , Ph.D.
Rensselaer
Outline
Minimum Roof Snow Load

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Drift Load on Adjacent Roof
Parapet Wall & RTU Drift
Sliding Load on Adjacent Roof
Ponding
FAQs
Clarification
Scenario- roof
load right after
heavy snow w/o
wind
No time for
thermal, no wind
Roof load Pr= Pg
4

Pm = Is Pg
Pg < 20 psf
Pm = 20 Is
Pg > 20 psf

After the single heavy snow storm eventually the wind blows , thermal
effects have time to act, and we then
get Ps on the roof.
This minimum roof load is a separate
uniform load case. It need not be
used in determining or in combination
with drift, sliding, unbalanced or
partial loads
The 20 psf value is our estimate of the

maximum size of a single heavy
snow storm
Outline
Thermal Factor

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
Usually the roof snow load w/o drifting

is less than the ground snow load ,
but with special circumstances pr>pg
Thermal Factor
Thermal Factor
In the SEAW report, biggest differences

were for Freezer buildings going
from hot to cold
Roof Heated Bldg- hot air below
Ground- warm earth below
Roof Open Air Bldg- ambient air below
Roof Freezer Bldg- cold air below
In ASCE 7-10 we now have a new Ct

factor
Unheated and open air Ct = 1.2
Structures intentionally kept below
freezing Ct = 1.3
As a result , for freezer w/ Is=1.0 and
Ce = 1.2 , flat roof load > pg
Outline
10
Unbalanced Loads-Gable Roof

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Parapet Wall & RTU drift
Ponding
FAQs
Upper Limit Roof Slope - change

Lower Limit Roof Slope - simplify
Small Eave to Ridge Distance -change
11
12
Unbalanced- Upper Limit Slope
Unbalanced-Upper Limit Slope
In 7-05 upper
limit slope based
on Cs chart
Unbalance load
for roof slope up
to 70
Angle of repose
for drift same as
fresh fallen snow?
Observations by
TTEA- unbalance
for 6 on 12 & less
Consistent with
max slope of roof
step drifts 1V:2H
Seems drifted
snow has smaller
angle of repose
14
13
Unbalanced-Upper Limit Slope
In ASCE 7-10 we were a bit conservative

For hip and gable roofs with slope
exceeding 7 on 12 (30.2)unbalanced
snow loads are not required to be
applied
Upper Limit Roof Slope

Lower Limit Roof Slope
Small Eave to Ridge Distance
16
15
Unbalanced-Lower Limit Slope
In 7-05 lower limit was complicated slopes less than larger of 70/W +0.5
and 1/2 on 12
Based upon observed occurrence
17
Vertical line
- on 12 limit
Horizontal line - roof too small to care?
Transition
curve fit ?
18
on 12 seems to
be a physical limit
Venturi tube has
angle < 4 avoids
separation
on 12 has angle
> 4 separation ,
wind shadow &
drift
In ASCE 7-10 lower limit relation

simplified
For hip and gable roofs with a slope
less than 2.38 (1/2 on 12)
unbalanced snow loads are not
required to be applied
19
20
Unbalanced-Small Width
Upper Limit Roof Slope

Lower Limit Roof Slope
Small Eave to Ridge Distance
Fig 7-9 originally

for roof steps
lu restriction not a
issue for steps
Fig 7-9 now also
used for gables
lu=25 ft seemed
arbitrary
21
22
The question of whether the lu=25 ft

should apply to gable roof drifts is
complicated by the following issues
Theoretical issue- Fig 7-9 is empirical
relation based on case histories with
a mean value of lu=172 ft
Practical issue-relation gives negative
values for low Pg and small W=lu
hence some limit needed
23
For bldgs with small W , JC/MOR method

was used to simulate max annual drifts
for a # of locations & winters
Big differences between upper Midwest &
Pacific NW
However results suggest that For W
less than 20 ft, use 20 ft in Fig 7-9
24
Outline

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
In ASCE 7-05 a
truncated drift
required if lower
adjacent roof
within 20 ft. of
higher level roof
In ASCE 7-05
roofs A,B & C all
get drifts
26
25
Drfit Load on Adjacent Roof
In reality drift
only if lower roof
in wind shadow of
upper roof
In ASCE 7-10 we
assume a 1(V) to
6(H) wind shadow
after Tablers work
on snow fences
Leeward drift if
s < 20 & s < 6h
(in wind shadow)
Drift height
smaller of hd and
(6h-s)/6
Drift length
smaller of 6hd
and (6h-s)
28
27
Outline
Windward drift if
s < 20
Truncated drift
hd windward
drift height
based on fetch
for lower roof

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
29
30
In ASCE 7-05
upwind fetch for
parapet wall
clear
In ASCE 7-05
upwind fetch for
RTU unclear
In reality for North wind Drift North of

RTU is windward drift w/ fetch = LN
Drift South of RTU is leeward drift w/
effective fetch < LN
31
32
Outline
ASCE 7-10 clarifies and simplifies the

RTU case by specifying windward drift
for both sides
For roof projections ,lu shall be taken
equal to the greater of the length of
the roof upwind or downwind of the
projection

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
34
33
Sliding load on
lower roof in 7-05
Surcharge taken
as 0.4pfW
Applies to slopes
greater than
on 12(slippery) or
2 on 12(non-slip)
New provision
Sliding load on
adjacent if s<15
and h>s (45
sliding shadow)
Load pro-rated
0.4pfW(15-s)/15
35
36
Outline
Ponding

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
In ASCE 7-05 a
ponding analysis
was required
only for roof
slopes less than
on 12
Envisions a free
draining eave
38
37
Ponding
Outline
New provision in
7-10 account for
impounded water
in susceptible
bays w/ any
slope
Problems arise
w/o SE/ME/Arch
interaction

Thermal Factor
Unbalanced Load
Ponding
FAQs
39
40
FAQ #1 Elevated RTU
FAQ # 2 Combined Loads
For a new heavy RTU on a large ,

existing roof , how can I avoid snow
drift loads adjacent to the unit?
For the step sketched below should sliding

and drifting loads be combined?
For normal sized RTUs( not billboards)

specify a 2 foot gap between the
bottom of the dunnage/framework and
the top of the balanced snow
41
42
No in ASCE 7 both the drift load and the

sliding load are intended to be 50 year MRI
events . While it is possible to have some
drift and some sliding simultaneously on a
roof , that load combination is not
envisioned in ASCE 7. The return period for
the simultaneous occurrence of the 50 year
drift and the 50 year sliding load would be
much larger than the 50 year MRI
envisioned by the ASCE 7 Provisions.
If the two events were completely

independent , the return period would be
2500 years. Actually r neither 1 nor 0.
For a leeward drift (wind from left to right )
, the sliding snow and the drifted snow
come from the same source area- the
upper level roof.
For a step , ASCE 7 is clear in that the
larger of the windward and leeward applies
provisions based on observation.
43
FAQ # 3 Awing Drift
44
FAQ # 3 Awing Drift
A design load for a small awing over a

doorway in the end wall of a tall gable
seems excessive . Should it be
designed as a roof step ?
45
FAQ # 3 Awing Drift
46
FAQ # 3 Awing Drift

If h is large , one
expects smaller
drifts due to lower
trapping efficiency
If the horizontal
extent of the awing
is small drift
limited by angle of
repose of drifted
snow.1:4 shown
typical but not
conservative
Yes failures have

been observed for
cases where h
is moderate ( ~5
to 15 ft.) .
47
48
FAQ # 4 Odd Drift Geometries
ASCE 7 specifies drifts for simple

geometries based on the size of the
upwind snow source area ( fetch and
ground snow )
For more complex geometries, a
reasonable approach is to match the
cross-sectional area of the odd
shaped drift to that for a roof step
with the same fetch and ground load
Approach used for

gable roof drifts in
7-05
Area for roof step
drift is A = 2(hd)
For a triangular
gable drift with a
1:S slope , areas
match
49
50
Roof step with a

sloping lower level
roof
hd is drift height for
windward or leeward
roof step with same
fetch and ground load
Applies for slopes less
than 3:12 for typical
angle of repose
Step with nonvertical separation

wall
hd is height for
windward or leeward
drift at step with same
fetch and ground load
Applies for slopes
steeper than 3:12 for
typical angle of repose
51
FAQ # 5 Drift at Addition
52
FAQ#5 Addition-Snow Bay
For an addition adjacent to an

existing lower lever roof , how do I
avoid the roof step drift ?
There are three approaches ; snow bay,
new walls to trap and/or shield snow,
and exotic measures. Some work well
, others not so.
53
Leeward &
windward drift on
new roof !
Lower head room
for portion of
addition "
From a structural
engineering
standpoint this
works
54
FAQ # 5 Addition- New Walls
FAQ # 5 Addition- Trapping

Wall or step traps a
portion of upwind
snow , even w/
excess drift space
available
Trapping efficiency
typically about
50% at leeward
step, less at
windward
Fixes include new wall @ roof step

(trap) or far upwind wall (shield)
Trapping- some snow upwind of the
wall is trapped by the wall
Shielding- all of the snow for a
distance downwind of the wall,
shielded by the wall
55
FAQ # 5 Addition-Shielding
56
FAQ # 5 Wall Implementation
Wall will shield all

snow within a
certain distance
downwind of wall
10 ho rule is
conservative for Ce
factor
Measurements
suggests 5 ho is
conservative for
shielding
One proposed fix

involved a number
of shielding walls
Still have windward
drift
Due to cost , owner
decided to
reinforce existing
roofs
57
FAQ # 5 Exotic Measures
58
FAQ # 5 Exotic Measures
Reduce space for drift accumulation with

light geofoam blocks or a false roof
Set of baffles which redirect wind and

minimize leeward drift. May have difficulty
convincing the local code official since
approach isnt codified. Still have windward
59
60
ASCE 7-10 Snow Load Provision

Additional questions either
Contact M. OR at [email protected]
Buy Snow Loads A Guide to the
Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 710
ASCE Press
61

2011 Presentation On Snow Loads

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2011 Presentation On Snow Loads

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

2011 Presentation On Snow Loads

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are some of the changes made to the thermal factor provisions in ASCE 7-10?

What are some of the changes made to the thermal factor provisions in ASCE 7-10?

How does ASCE 7-10 simplify the provisions for unbalanced loads on lower slope roofs?

How does ASCE 7-10 simplify the provisions for unbalanced loads on lower slope roofs?

ASCE 7-10 Snow Load Provision

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Minimum Roof Snow Load

The 20 psf value is our estimate of the

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Usually the roof snow load w/o drifting

In the SEAW report, biggest differences

In ASCE 7-10 we now have a new Ct

Unbalanced Loads-Gable Roof

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Upper Limit Roof Slope - change

Unbalanced- Upper Limit Slope

Unbalanced-Upper Limit Slope

Unbalanced-Upper Limit Slope

Unbalanced Loads-Gable Roof

In ASCE 7-10 we were a bit conservative

Upper Limit Roof Slope

Unbalanced-Lower Limit Slope

Unbalanced-Lower Limit Slope

Unbalanced-Lower Limit Slope

Unbalanced-Lower Limit Slope

In ASCE 7-10 lower limit relation

Unbalanced Loads-Gable Roof

Upper Limit Roof Slope

Fig 7-9 originally

The question of whether the lu=25 ft

For bldgs with small W , JC/MOR method

Drift Load on Adjacent Roof

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Drfit Load on Adjacent Roof

Drift Load on Adjacent Roof

Drift Load on Adjacent Roof

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Parapet Wall & RTU Drift

Parapet Wall & RTU Drift

In reality for North wind Drift North of

Parapet Wall & RTU Drift

ASCE 7-10 clarifies and simplifies the

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Sliding Load on Adjacent Roof

Sliding Load on Adjacent Roof

Minimum Roof Snow Load

Minimum Roof Snow Load

FAQ #1 Elevated RTU

FAQ # 2 Combined Loads

For a new heavy RTU on a large ,

For the step sketched below should sliding

For normal sized RTUs( not billboards)

FAQ # 2 Combined Loads

FAQ # 2 Combined Loads

No in ASCE 7 both the drift load and the

If the two events were completely

FAQ # 3 Awing Drift