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For any parking adjacent a retaining/basement wall, I've always placed a surcharge equal to the equivalent parking garage load for the type of vehicle. Depending on the size of the ambulances, you could either use passenger car (40psf) or go to the truck/buses section (50psf+).

BillyClyde, Great suggestion! Thanks

Now I've had to get out my brand spanking new (looking -- this is probably only the 2nd or 3rd time I've cracked the binding on the 2nd Ed -- didn't even bother with the 3rd ed) LRFD book to read Chapter L. L3.1 -- "Deformations is structural members and structural systems due to service loads...

Actually, the factored loads are only used for the strength calculations -- unfactored loads should be used for deflection calculations. LRFD designs yeild larger real world deflections because you can usually use smaller sections from a strength standpoint. Ie., if the ASD design says a...

I had mixed results with joist tags depends on the manufacturer. I've actually had the opposite experience of LPPE -- in our area it seems that the older buildings will usually say on the tag what the joist is -- the newer buildings usually list the code/piece number. It probably depends on...

Just to clarify -- this isn't a case of not finding an example -- it's more a case of just wanting to better understand the intent of the code. While I like the easy answer much better, I rather expected more along the lines of the 2nd answer. We're in site class D soil, no rock. I suppose...

You basically have two options -- eliminate the soil (ie., create a void) or eliminate the water to below the frost line. Creating a 12" pad of granular doesn't necessarily help if your frost line is 36" and you have clay/silt below -- the clay/silt will heave and just take the granular with...

A little background first -- our firm practices in an area where seismic was not really a design issue until the new IBC 2003 was adopted statewide (Western PA) less than a year ago. So, here's the dumb question -- where is the "Base"? Now, I know the official definition is "the level at which...