TECHNICAL BULLETIN

February 2008
Bulletin TB-102

Information About Duration of Load

Introduction
The contents of this technical bulletin consist principally of text quoted from Appendix B of the National Design
®
Specification for Wood Construction , ANSI/AF&PA, NDS-2005, January 2005, American Forest & Paper Association.

Adjustment of Reference Design Values for Load Duration (NDS Section B.1)
Load duration reflects the unique ability of wood to support higher stresses for short periods of time, as well as lower
stresses for extended periods of time. To account for this phenomenon, applicable mechanical properties of wood are
adjusted using a load duration factor consistent with the intended application.

Normal Load Duration (NDS Section B.1.1)

Normal load duration contemplates fully stressing a member to its allowable design value by the application of the full
normal design load for a cumulative duration of approximately 10 years, and/or the application of 90% of the full design
load continuously throughout the remainder of the life of the structure, without encroaching on the factor of safety. No
adjustment of design values is required for normal load duration.

Other Load Durations (NDS Section B.1.2)

Tabulated design values for normal load duration shall be multiplied by load duration factors, CD, for other load durations.
Load duration factors do not apply to modulus of elasticity design values, E, nor to compression design values
perpendicular-to-grain, Fc , based on a deformation limit.
- When the member is fully stressed to the allowable design value by application of the full design load permanently
or for a cumulative total of more than 10 years, tabulated design values for normal load duration (except E and
Fc , based on a deformation limit) shall be multiplied by the load duration factor, CD = 0.90.
- Likewise, when the duration of the full design load does not exceed the following durations, tabulated design
values for normal load duration (except E and Fc , based on a deformation limit) shall be multiplied by the
following load duration factors:
Load Duration CD
2 Months 1.15
7 Days 1.25
10 Minutes 1.6
Impact 2.0

- The 2-month load duration factor, CD = 1.15, is applicable to design snow loads based on ASCE 7. Other load
duration factors shall be permitted where such adjustments are referenced to the duration of the design snow load
in the specific location being considered.
- The 10-minute load duration factor, CD = 1.6, is applicable to design earthquake loads and design wind loads
based on ASCE 7.
- The impact load duration factor, CD = 2.0, shall not apply when the member has been pressure-treated with
waterborne preservatives to the heavy retentions required for "marine" use, nor when the member has been
pressure-treated with fire-retardant chemicals. The impact load duration factor shall not apply to connection design
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values. For questions regarding applications that may require the use of preservative treated iLevel Trus Joist
structural composite lumber products, which treated product is best for a particular application, or a list of
treatments that are compatible with iLevel® Trus Joist® products, please consult an iLevel® Representative or refer
to the iLevel® preservative treatment guide (Reorder TJ-1020).

Combination of Loads of Different Durations (NDS Section B.2)

When loads of different durations are applied simultaneously to members that have full lateral support to prevent
buckling, the design of structural members and connections shall be based on the critical load combination determined
from the following procedures:
- Determine the magnitude of each load that will occur on a structural member and accumulate subtotals of
combinations of these loads. Design loads that are established by applicable building codes and standards may
include load combination factors to adjust for probability of simultaneous occurrence of various loads (see section
B.4). Such load combination factors should be included in the load combination subtotals.

Weyerhaeuser, iLevel® and Trus Joist® are registered trademarks of Weyerhaeuser. © 2008 Weyerhaeuser Company. All rights reserved.

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 TECHNICAL BULLETIN
February 2008
Bulletin TB-102

- Divide each subtotal by the load duration factor, CD, for the shortest duration load in the combination of loads
under consideration.
Shortest Duration of Load Duration
Load in the Factor, CD
Combination of Loads
Permanent 0.9
Normal 1.0
Two Months 1.15
Seven Days 1.25
Ten Minutes 1.6
Impact 2.0

- The largest value thus obtained indicates the critical load combination to be used in designing the structural
member or connection.
Example: Determine the critical load combination for a structural member subjected to the following loads:

Dead Load, DL Established by summing the weights of all the permanent structural components
Live Load, LL Established by applicable building code or design standard
Snow Load, SL Established applicable building code or design standard
Wind Load, WL Established applicable building code or design standard Table Data

The actual stress due to any combination of the above loads shall be less than or equal to the allowable design
value modified by the load duration factor, CD, for the shortest duration load in that combination of loads:
Actual Stress Due to Governing Load Duration
Load Combination: Factor, CD
D ≤ (0.9) x (Design Value)
D+L ≤ (1.0) x (Design Value)
D+W ≤ (1.6) x (Design Value)
D+L+S ≤ (1.15) x (Design Value)
D+L+W ≤ (1.6) x (Design Value)
D+S+W ≤ (1.6) x (Design Value)
D+L+S+W ≤ (1.6) x (Design Value)
The equations above may be specified by the applicable building code and shall be checked as required. Load
combination factors specified by the applicable building code or standard should be included in the above
equations.
All iLevel® Structural Frame Software handles load duration analysis in this matter.

Mechanical Connections (NDS Section B.3)

Load duration factors, CD, less than or equal to 1.6 apply to design values for connections, except when connection
capacity is based on design of metal parts.

Load Combination Reduction Factors (NDS Section B.4)

Reductions in total design load for certain combinations of loads account for the reduced probability of simultaneous
occurrence of the various design loads. Load duration factors, CD, account for the relationship between wood strength
and time under load. Load duration factors, CD, are independent of load combination reduction factors, and both may be
used in design calculations.

Weyerhaeuser, iLevel® and Trus Joist® are registered trademarks of Weyerhaeuser. © 2008 Weyerhaeuser Company. All rights reserved.

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