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Structural Loading
Structural Loading
The choice of the structural system for a building can be complex. It will be influenced by many factors
including:
1. Loadings.
2. Frame and materials.
3. Flexibility and future adaptability.
4. Deflections and tolerances.
5. Vibration.
6. Robustness.
7. Sustainability.
8. Structural fire rating.
Loadings
There are two types of load, live and dead. A live load will be changeable or temporary whereas a dead
load will be constant or permanent.
For a general area: A minimum of 2.5 kN/m2 for floors above ground floor and 3.0 kN/m2 at, or
below, ground floor over approximately 95% of each potentially sub-lettable floor area (source: the
NAD to BS EN 1991-1-1:2002).
The specification of a live load of 7.5 kN/m2 over 5% of the floor area improves the flexibility of
the building to accommodate local storage areas.
For high loading areas, a loading of 7.5 kN/m2 over approximately 5% of each potentially sub-
lettable floor area and not in primary circulation routes.
Historically, UK office buildings have been designed and marketed with live loadings significantly higher
than the British Standard loading threshold of 2.5 kN/m2 (typically 3.5–4.0 kN/m2). Research has shown
this to be an over provision. (Source: Structural floor loading and raised floor specification for office
buildings: Stanhope Position Paper, January 2004.)
Frame and materials
Steel
Relatively lightweight.
Greater depths.
Minimum depth solutions inefficient.
Good for longer spans but depth requirements imply combined structure and services zone.
More efficient on rectangular grids than on square grids.
Inherently good for holes and fixings (into soffit).
Framing of holes and openings straightforward.
Depth and weight may be governed by footfall dynamics.
Fire protection is an additional trade.
Concrete
Relatively heavy.
Shallower depths.
For modest spans, reinforced flat slabs give minimum depths.
Can be efficient on rectangular and square grids.
Holes and fixings can be accommodated but strategy must be considered early. Holes should
avoid pre-stressing tensions.
Mass provides good inherent response to footfall vibration.
Fire protection is inherent.
No need for intumescent paints which can be harmful to the environment.
Exposed concrete soffits can allow the omission of ceilings and improve the thermal
performance of the building.
The relative costs of steel and concrete solutions vary with building form and shape. Cost comparison
between the two should be carried out on a project by project basis at an early stage of
the design development process.
Timber
Sustainable materials
Flexibility and future adaptability
A clear strategy should be developed for building flexibility and future adaptability. Flexibility should be
considered during three phases:
The building structure must stabilise the building. The stability of the structure can have a major influence
on the design, and frequently utilises structural walls located within and around
the service cores. Cores are increasingly constructed using slip forming techniques, which means that
the core must be shaped to allow it to free stand prior to construction of the floors. These requirements
necessitate careful co-ordination of the design.
Deflections and tolerances
Dead load deflections.
Setting out and constructional tolerances for the building structure.
Building frame deflections due to design criteria.
Lift equipment.
Building maintenance units (BMUs) such as cleaning cradles or moving gantries.
Envelope or cladding.
Vibration
The structure of a building can be subjected to a number of actions that can result in vibration. The
primary effect tends to be the footfall-induced vibration of floors. However, there can also be secondary
effects, such as structural-borne vibration arising from the proximity of a railway. Acceptance criteria are
often subjective and will depend on the type and quality of office space being considered.
The effects of vibration may be mitigated by stiffening the floor, increasing mass or damping or, in the
case of structural borne vibration, by isolation of the affected areas.
Robustness
The partial collapse of a block of flats at Ronan Point in 1968 was disproportionate to the event that
caused it. This led to an amendment of the Building Regulations in 1970 to ensure that a degree of
robustness was provided in buildings over five storeys in height. The principal requirement is the
provision of effective vertical and horizontal ties so that alternate load paths may be mobilised in the event
that the structure is damaged.
The Building Regulations were further amended in 2004 so that, in addition to the existing provisions,
many offices will be required to be designed for all abnormal hazards that may be reasonably foreseen
during the life of the building. These hazards are to be identified by a systematic risk assessment and
may include, for example, vehicular impact or terrorist attacks.
Sustainability
Embodied energy
Operational energy
The structure is typically not used as part of the active cooling system (which accounts for a significant
proportion of operational energy), however, there are ways that it can be. These include utilising the
inherent thermal mass of the building and the use of energy piles.
Thermal mass
Climate change
Flexibility
Lean design such as lower loadings or minimum weight design has to be balanced against flexibility when
accommodating future requirements, including potential change of use and possibly
higher load requirements.
Durability
Designing for long life and future flexibility, for example using durable materials and a solid structure, has
to be weighted against designing for a short life and single use (embracing the temporary use of
lightweight materials).
Fire rating