SLIDE 1

Chapter 2 of the NSCP 2015 gives rules for the minimum loads (forces) that buildings,
towers, and similar structures must be designed to handle. These loads include things like
the weight of the building itself, people, furniture, wind, or earthquakes. Minimum Design
Loads: The chapter specifies the types and magnitudes of loads (forces) that structures must
withstand, including:Dead loads (permanent, e.g., weight of the structure).
Live loads (variable, e.g., occupants, furniture).
Environmental loads (e.g., wind, earthquake).
It also explains how to combine these loads in calculations to make sure the structure is
strong enough. There are two ways to design:

Strength Design: Uses higher load values (with safety factors) to ensure the structure is
super strong.
Loads are increased: Instead of just using the actual weight or force (like the building’s
weight or wind pressure), engineers multiply these loads by safety factors (numbers bigger
than 1, like 1.4 for dead loads or 1.6 for live loads). This makes the loads seem "heavier" in
calculations to be extra safe.
Checks ultimate strength: The method focuses on making sure the structure won’t collapse,
even under these exaggerated loads. It tests the structure’s maximum strength.
Example: If a building’s dead load (its own weight) is 1000 kg, strength design might multiply
it by 1.4, so the design assumes 1400 kg. This ensures the structure is strong enough for
extreme cases. Strength design is like building a bridge that can hold much more weight
than it will ever need to, just to be sure it never breaks. It’s a conservative approach to keep
structures safe under the worst conditions.

Allowable Stress Design: Checks that the structure stays safe under normal load
conditions.
Focuses on Stress: Stress is the force a material feels (like how much pressure a beam is
under). ASD checks that the stress in the structure stays below a safe limit, called the
allowable stress, which is a fraction of the material’s maximum strength.
Uses Actual Loads: Unlike strength design, which multiplies loads by safety factors (like 1.4
for dead loads), ASD uses the actual loads (e.g., the real weight of the building, people, or
furniture) without increasing them.
Safety Margin: The safety is built into the allowable stress limit. For example, if a steel beam
can handle 1000 kg before breaking, the allowable stress might only allow it to carry 600 kg
to keep a safe margin.
Example: For a dead load of 1000 kg (the building’s weight), ASD uses 1000 kg directly in
calculations. It then checks if the stress in the structure is below the safe limit for the
material.

ASD is like making sure a ladder can safely hold your weight without bending or breaking
during normal use. It focuses on keeping the structure safe under typical conditions, not
extreme ones like in strength design.
SLIDE 2
Use Actual Weights When Known:When designing a structure, you should use the real
weights of materials and components (like concrete, steel, walls, or roofing) to calculate the
dead load. For example, if you know the exact weight of a concrete slab or a steel beam
from the manufacturer or project details, use those specific values.
This ensures the design is accurate because actual weights reflect the true load the
structure will carry.

Use Minimum Values from Tables 204-1 and 204-2 When Weights Are Unknown:If you don’t
have exact weight information (e.g., the material’s weight isn’t provided or isn’t clear), the
NSCP allows you to use standard weights listed in Tables 204-1 and 204-2 of the code.
SLIDE 3
What Are Partition Loads?Partitions are walls or dividers (often non-structural) that separate
spaces in a building, like office cubicles or room dividers. These can be moved or changed
over time.
Their weight is considered a dead load because they are semi-permanent, even if their
locations might change.
Why lower? Access floor systems are lighter and designed differently, so they need less
extra load to account for partitions. The 0.5 kPa is still a conservative estimate to ensure
safety.
Office Building: If you’re designing a floor in an office where partitions might be moved
around, you add 1.0 kPa to the floor’s dead load. So, if the floor’s own weight (e.g., concrete
slab) is 3.6 kPa, the total dead load might be 3.6 kPa + 1.0 kPa = 4.6 kPa to account for
partitions.
Access Floor System: If the same building has a raised access floor, you add only 0.5 kPa
for partitions. So, if the floor’s weight is 2.0 kPa, the total dead load might be 2.0 kPa + 0.5
kPa = 2.5 kPa.

SLIDES NEXT
Table 204-1: Lists material densities (unit weights) in kN/m³ for raw materials like concrete,
steel, wood, or masonry. Use this when you need to calculate the dead load of a structural
component (e.g., a slab, column, or beam) based on its volume.
Table 204-2: Lists pre-calculated dead loads in kPa (kN/m²) for common building
components like floors, walls, ceilings, or finishes. Use this for standard assemblies where
the load is already provided per unit area.
Table 204-1 (kN/m³) is for structural components (like slabs or beams) where you need to
calculate the weight yourself because their sizes vary. You use density and volume to find
the load.
Table 204-2 (kPa) is for standard components (like tiles or walls) where the weight is already
calculated for a typical setup, so you just need the area to find the load.
Together, they cover different parts of a building:Use Table 204-1 for the main structure (e.g.,
concrete slab).
Use Table 204-2 for finishes or add-ons (e.g., tiles, plaster).