13-52-010 Generally.

   Buildings or other structures hereafter erected shall be designed and constructed to support safely the minimum design loads, including dead loads as required in this section, without exceeding the allowable stresses (or specified strengths when appropriate load factors are applied) required in this Code for the materials of construction in the structural members and connections.

(Prior code § 68-1; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387)

13-52-020 Resource document.

   The American National Standard Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures ANSI-A58.1-1982 provides resource data for the design of buildings and other structures that are subject to the Chicago Building Code requirements. Resource data include guidelines for general structural integrity, reference information on loads including the determination of wind loading on buildings and other structures, diagrams for balanced and unbalanced snow loading and snow drift configurations, typical influence areas and references to substantiating technical data.

(Prior code § 68-1.1; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387)

13-52-030 Permit drawings.

   Design live loads and special loading shall be shown on permit drawings along with the structural materials quality criteria.

(Prior code § 68-1.2; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387)

13-52-040 General structural integrity.

   Through accident or misuse, structures may suffer local damage, that is, the loss of load resistance in an element or small portion of the structure. The building commissioner is concerned that buildings and structural systems shall be able to sustain local damage with the structure as a whole remaining stable and not being damaged to an extent disproportionate to the original local damage.

(Prior code § 68-1.3; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1)

13-52-050 Additions to existing structures.

   When an existing building or other structure is enlarged or otherwise altered, all portions thereof affected by such enlargement or alteration shall be strengthened, if necessary, so that all loads will be supported safely without exceeding the allowable stresses (or specified strengths, when appropriate load factors are applied) for the materials of construction in the structural members and connections.

(Prior code § 68-1.4; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387)

13-52-060 Load tests.

   The building commissioner may require a load test of any construction whenever there is reasonable doubt as to question its safety for the intended occupancy or use.

(Prior code § 68-1.5; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1)

13-52-070 Floor loads.

   Design floor loads shall be determined by the provisions of Sections 13-52-080 to 13-52-210 inclusive.

(Prior code § 68-2; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387)

13-52-080 Dead loads.

   Dead loads comprise the weight of all permanent construction, including walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways and fixed service equipment, plus the net effect of prestressing.

   (a)   Weight of Materials and Constructions. In estimating dead loads for purposes of design, the actual weights of materials and constructions shall be used, provided that in the absence of definite information, values satisfactory to the building commissioner are assumed.

   (b)   American National Standard. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and other structures, A.N.S.I. A58.1 – 1982, Appendix Tables A1 and A2, may be referenced for information on dead loads.

   (c)   Weight of Fixed Service Equipment. In estimating dead loads for purposes of design, the weight of fixed service equipment, such as plumbing stacks and risers, electrical feeders, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, shall be included whenever such equipment is supported by structural members.

(Prior code § 68-2.1; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-83, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1)

13-52-090 Live loads.

   Live loads are those produced by the use and occupancy of the building or other structure and do not include environmental loads such as wind load, snow load, rain load, or dead load.

   (a)   Required Live Loads. The live loads assumed in the design of buildings and other structures shall be the maximum loads likely to be produced by the intended use or occupancy but shall in no case be less than the minimum uniformly distributed unit loads required by Table 13-52-090 set out in this section, reduced as appropriate in accordance with Section 13-52-210, or the concentrated loads required by Table 13-52-130 as set out in Section 13-52-130.

Table 13-52-090 Minimum Uniformly Distributed Floor Live Loads
	Occupancy			Minimum Live Loads (pounds per square foot)
A.	Residential Units.
	(a)	Dwelling units or sleeping rooms		40
	(b)	Public rooms		100
	(c)	Public kitchens		75
	(d)	Corridors
		(1)	Serving dwelling units and sleeping rooms only	40
		(2)	Serving public rooms	100
	(e)	Public stairways		100
	(f)	Balconies (exterior)		100
	(g)	Porches		100
	(h)	Decks		100
B.	Institutional Units.
	(a)	Operating rooms, laboratories		60
	(b)	Private rooms and wards		40
	(c)	Kitchens		100
	(d)	Public spaces		100
	(e)	Corridors
		(1)	First floor	100
		(2)	Above first floor	80
C-1.	Large Assembly Units And C-2 – Small Assembly Units.
	(a)	Auditoriums, theaters and assembly halls
		(1)	Fixed seats	60
		(2)	Movable seats	100
		(3)	Projection room	100
		(4)	Stage floor	150
		(5)	Dressing rooms	40
		(6)	Gridiron floor grating	60
	(b)	Armories and drill rooms		150
	(c)	Courtrooms		75
	(d)	Dancehalls, gymnasiums and dining rooms		100
	(e)	Libraries
		(1)	Reading rooms	60
		(2)	Stack rooms
			Note 1 but not less than	150
	(f)	Kitchens		100
	(g)	Aisles, corridors, lobbies, stairways and other public space		100
C-3.	Schools.
	(a)	Classrooms		40
	(b)	Laboratories		75
	(c)	Shops		100
	(d)	Corridors
		(1)	First floor	100
		(2)	Above first floor	80
	(e)	Stairways		100
D.	Open-Air Assembly Units.
	All structures			100
	Grandstands, stadiums and arena bleachers
	Note 2 but not less than			100
E.	Business Units.
	(a)	Offices – Note 3 but not less than		50
	(b)	Lobbies		100
	(c)	Laboratories		100
	(d)	Public rooms		100
	(e)	Corridors
		(1)	First floor	100
		(2)	Above first floor same as occupancy served
F.	Mercantile Units.
	Retail			100
	Wholesale			125
G.	Industrial Units.
	Light manufacturing			125
	Heavy manufacturing			250
H.	Storage Units.
	(a)	Garages and parking facilities for passenger cars only
		(1)	Parking floor	50
		(2)	Roofs when used for parking (includes snow loads)	75
		(3)	Roofs and all other principal load- carrying elements when used in combination as a deck	100
	(b)	Light storage		125
	(c)	Heavy storage		250
I.	Hazardous Use Units.
	Light manufacturing			125
	Heavy manufacturing			125
J.	Miscellaneous.
	(a)	Private garages: roofs and all other principal load-carrying elements when used in combination as a deck		100
	General All Occupancies.
	(a)	Corridors
		(1)	First floor	100
			Other floors same as occupancy served except as indicated.
	(b)	Balconies (exterior)		100
	(c)	Decks (patio and roof)		100
	(d)	Fire escapes		100
	(e)	Marquees and canopies		75
	(f)	Sidewalks, vehicular driveways, and yards, subject to trucking Note 4		250
	(g)	Stairs and exit ways except as indicated		100
	(h)	Walkways and elevated platforms other than exit ways		60
	(i)	Yards and terraces (pedestrian)		100
Notes For Table 13-52-090.
Note 1 – The weight of books and shelving shall be computed using an assumed density of 65 lb/ft3 (pounds per cubic foot, sometimes abbreviated pcf) and converted to a uniformly distributed load; this load shall be used if it exceeds 150 lb/ft2.
Note 2 – For detailed recommendations, see American National Standard for Assembly Seating, Tents, and Air-Supported Structures, A.N.S.I. / N.F.P.A. 102-1978.
Note 3 – File and computer rooms shall be designed for heavier loads based on anticipated occupancy.
Note 4 – American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials. A.A.S.H.T.O. axle loads should also be considered where appropriate. Refer to Section 13-52-180, special loading.

 

(Prior code § 68-2.2; Added Coun. J. 11-29-89, p. 8387; Amend Coun. J. 10-1-03, p. 9163, § 4.2)