Structural load is a force or other effect a structure must resist, such as its own weight, occupancy, wind, seismic action, soil, or water.
Definition
Structural load describes the forces and other effects engineers account for when evaluating a structure. It can include permanent weight, people and equipment, wind, earthquake effects, soil pressure, and water, depending on the project. Engineers identify relevant loads and assess how they act on the structure under its use, location, materials, and design criteria. For firm owners, load assumptions shape analysis scope, coordination, fee, and the records a client may expect. Some firms distinguish loads by source or duration, while others group them according to the governing design criteria. A structural load is not the same as the structure's capacity to resist it, and naming a load does not establish that a design is adequate. It also does not mean every possible force is included in a particular analysis. The project documents and applicable criteria define which loads and combinations are considered. See ASCE for a professional engineering resource.
How owners use it
- Define which load sources and assumptions are included in a proposal's analysis scope.
- Coordinate load assumptions with the project team when use, site conditions, or criteria change.
- For a simple accounting example, 3 load categories + 2 additional categories = 5 categories to track in a scope checklist.
