Peer-to-Peer Standards Exchange

  • 1.  ASCE 7-16 Code interpretation

    Posted 12-11-2024 02:56 PM

    When a building is qualified as Seismic Design Category A based on ASCE 7-16 Section 11.6 by using Table 11.6-1 only because S1 is less than 0.75, do I still required to use Cs to determine the lateral load base shear? Or I can simply use Fx= 0.01 Wx from Section 1.4 to calculate the lateral load?



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    John Wang P.E., M.ASCE
    Midwest Structure Engineering
    West Allis WI
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  • 2.  RE: ASCE 7-16 Code interpretation

    Posted 12-12-2024 10:23 AM

    John,

    It has been a while.  I am interested in an interpretation of that code section as well. I asked one of the ASCE code writers, not of this particular section, what the intent of that same section was in ASCE 7-10 while attending a code seminar (approximately year 2012) in which they were presenting.  They did not know at the time and I did not get a follow up response.  I have thus been conservatively using the calculated Cs vs Fx = 0.01 since that time for potential "Category A" buildings.

    Carl Fink, P.E.

    Fink Horejsh, LLC

    New Glarus, WI



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    Carl Fink P.E., M.ASCE
    Fink Horejsh, LLC
    New Glarus WI
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  • 3.  RE: ASCE 7-16 Code interpretation

    Posted 12-16-2024 11:03 AM

    Carl:

    Thanks for the input. It's been a while! The project I am dealing with is quite a large project. I would like to be more precise rather than go too conservative. Thanks again.

    John Wang



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    John Wang P.E., M.ASCE
    President
    Midwest Structure Engineering
    West Allis WI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: ASCE 7-16 Code interpretation

    Posted 12-16-2024 11:03 AM

    Michelle:

    Thanks for your input. That is my interpretation, too. Cs calculation is meant to be for Category B, C, D and E only. I am hoping ASCE staffs can also share their opinion and give us some official guideline. 



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    John Wang P.E., M.ASCE
    President
    Midwest Structure Engineering
    West Allis WI
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: ASCE 7-16 Code interpretation

    Posted 12-12-2024 10:24 AM

    Per  section 11.7 of ASCE 7-16, "Buildings and Other structures assigned Seismic Category A need only comply with section 1.4", except tanks in Risk category IV which shall satisfy the freeboard requirement in section 15.6.5.1.  All Nonstructural components in seismic design category A are exempt from seismic design requirements.

    Section 1.4 shows lateral forces to be calculated from the equation 1.4-1 and states "in each direction the static lateral forces at all levels shall be applied simultaneously"

    So from my interpretation for buildings and other structures you would simply use Fx=0.01Wx for Seismic Category A, all other buildings and structures of Seismic Design Category B,C,D,E,F would need to follow other guidelines to calculate base shear as outlined in the code.



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    Michelle Hudson EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Design Engineer
    Altoona IA
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