CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF PRECAST/PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Design Aid 4.11.2 Ground Snow Loads

In CS areas, site-specific class studies are required to estab-

lish ground snow loads. Extreme local variations in ground
snow loads in these areas preclude mapping at this scale.
Numbers in parenthesis represent the upper elevation limits
in feet for the ground snow load values presented below. Site-
specific case studies are required to establish ground snow
loads at elevations not covered.

To convert lb/ft2 to kN/m2, multiply by 0.0479.

To convert feet to meters, multiply by 0.3048.

0 100 200 300 miles

GROUND SNOW LOADS, pg FOR THE UNITED STATES (lb/ft2)

Source: References 1 and 10.

4–78 First Printing/CD-ROM Edition PCI DESIGN HANDBOOK/SEVENTH EDITION

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF PRECAST/PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES CHAPTER 4

Design Aid 4.11.2 Ground Snow Loads (cont.)

GROUND SNOW LOADS, pg FOR THE UNITED STATES (lb/ft2)

Source: References 1 and 10.

PCI DESIGN HANDBOOK/SEVENTH EDITION First Printing/CD-ROM Edition 4–79

Table 1.5-2 Importance Factors by Risk Category of Buildings and
Other Structures for Snow, Ice, and Earthquake Loads

Risk Snow Ice Importance Ice Importance Seismic

Category from Importance Factor— Factor—Wind, Importance
Table 1.5-1 Factor, I s Thickness, I i Iw Factor, I e

I 0.80 0.80 1.00 1.00

II 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
III 1.10 1.15 1.00 1.25
IV 1.20 1.25 1.00 1.50
Note: The component importance factor, I p , applicable to earthquake loads, is
not included in this table because it depends on the importance of the
individual component rather than that of the building as a whole, or its
occupancy. Refer to Section 13.1.3.
 10.4 ICE LOADS CAUSED BY FREEZING RAIN

10.4.1 Ice Weight. The ice load shall be determined using the
weight of glaze ice formed on all exposed surfaces of structural
members, guys, components, appurtenances, and cable systems.
or horizontal plates.
The ice density shall be not less than 56 pcf (900 kg=m3 ).
members, guys, components, appurtenances, and cable systems. c
On structural shapes, prismatic members, and other similar On flat plates and large three-dimensional objects such as
shapes, the cross-sectional area of ice shall be determined by domes and spheres, the volume of ice shall be determined by

Ai = πt d ðDc þt d Þ (10.4-1) V i = πtd As (10.4-2)

For a flat plate, As shall be the area of one side of the plate; for
domes and spheres, As shall be determined by

As = πr 2 (10.4-3)

It is acceptable to multiply V i by 0.8 for vertical plates and 0.6

for horizontal plates.
3

ð Þ
FIGURE 10.4-1 Characteristic Dimension Dc for Calculating the Ice Area for a Variety of Cross-Sectional Shapes

10.4.6 Design Ice Thickness for Freezing Rain. The design

ice thickness td shall be calculated from Eq. (10.4-5).

t d = tI i f z ðK zt Þ0.35 (10.4-5)

10.4.3 Height Factor. The height factor f z used to increase the 10.4.5 Topographic Factor. Both the ice thickness and
radial thickness of ice for height above ground z shall be concurrent wind speed for structures on hills, ridges, and
determined by escarpments are higher than those on level terrain because of
wind speed-up effects. The topographic factor for the concurrent
 0.10 wind pressure is K zt , and the topographic factor for ice thickness
fz =
z
for 0 ft < z ≤ 900 ft (10.4-4) is ðK zt Þ0.35 , where K zt is obtained from Eq. (26.8-1).
33
where f z = 1.4 for z > 900 ft. Table 1.5-2 Importance Factors by Risk Category of Buildings and
Other Structures for Snow, Ice, and Earthquake Loads
 0.10
z
fz = for 0 m < z ≤ 275 m (10.4-4si) Risk Snow Ice Importance Ice Importance Seismic
10 Category from Importance Factor— Factor—Wind, Importance
Table 1.5-1 Factor, I s Thickness, I i Iw Factor, I e
where f z = 1.4 for z > 275 m.

10.4.2 Nominal Ice Thickness. Figs. 10.4-2 through 10.4-6 I 0.80 0.80 1.00 1.00
show the equivalent uniform radial thicknesses t of ice caused II 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
by freezing rain at a height of 33 ft (10 m) over the contiguous 48 III 1.10 1.15 1.00 1.25
IV 1.20 1.25 1.00 1.50
states and Alaska for a 500-year mean recurrence interval. Also
shown are concurrent 3-s gust wind speeds. Thicknesses for Note: The component importance factor, I p , applicable to earthquake loads, is
Hawaii, and for ice accretions caused by other sources in all not included in this table because it depends on the importance of the
regions, shall be obtained from local meteorological studies. individual component rather than that of the building as a whole, or its
occupancy. Refer to Section 13.1.3.
FIGURE 10.4-2 Equivalent Radial Ice Thicknesses Caused by Freezing Rain with Concurrent 3-Second Gust Speeds, for a 500-Year Mean
Recurrence Interval

72 STANDARD ASCE/SEI 7-16

 FIGURE 10.4-2 (Continued)

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures 73
 FIGURE 10.4-3 Lake Superior Detail

FIGURE 10.4-4 Fraser Valley Detail

74 STANDARD ASCE/SEI 7-16

 FIGURE 10.4-5 Columbia River Gorge Detail

FIGURE 10.4-6 500-Year Mean Recurrence Interval Uniform Ice Thicknesses Caused by Freezing Rain with Concurrent 3-Second Gust
Speeds: Alaska

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures 75
 FIGURE 10.6-1 Temperatures Concurrent with Ice Thicknesses Caused by Freezing Rain: Contiguous 48 States

FIGURE 10.6-2 Temperatures Concurrent with Ice Thicknesses Caused by Freezing Rain: Alaska

76 STANDARD ASCE/SEI 7-16