A Question for Miami-Dade Engineers 1

[dengebre]

This question is specifically for structural engineers in Miami-Dade County, Florida:

I have always put the following wind load information on my structural drawings: Design Wind Speed, Risk Category, Exposure Category, the C&C Design Pressures (positive and negative pressures for Zones 1-5), the limits of Zones 1-5, and other pertinent wind design data. I got away from providing the C&C pressures in table form many years ago, nor do I include the isometric drawing, because I do not see the value in doing so. Furthermore, the FBC and FAC cite what information must be included, but they do not mandate the format in which the information is presented. I have not had any problems doing it this way with any jurisdiction in Florida over the past twenty years.

I have a small commercial project in Miami-Dade and my architect is telling me that the C&C pressures MUST be in table format, an isometric drawing MUST be included, and I MUST include a project-specific wall elevation (we are adding one opening to an existing exterior wall) with the pressures shown. He tells me that this is what Miami-Dade requires. Is this for real?

 

[vvaccare]

I have worked on quite a few projects in the Miami-Dade area. The architect is pretty much spot on. Every project I've ever done in Miami-Dade has required the component and cladding wind pressures presented in a table with the associated wall and roof diagrams. You don't need to get as fancy as drawing an isometric or anything. Just need to provide a generic wall "elevation" and the roof diagram presented in the ASCE C&C chapters. Hope this helps.

 

[dengebre]

Thanks vvaccare. Its been awhile since I did a project in M-D, and I couldn't find any such requirement on their website.

 

[EZBuilding]

I would say it is standard practice in the area to have elevations with the components and cladding wall pressures. Isometrics are generally not provided.

Depending on the scope of work, I do think you could get away without having it. Some plan notes adjacent to the opening you are adding might be able to cover you. Do note that building department reviews in Miami Dade County (and most of the underlying municipalities) are more rigorous than in other locations in the country. Also if you are not aware of what a Miami Dade NOA (Notice of Approval) is; it's a county specific evaluation which is required for all enclosure elements on a project. The door, window, or other element you are adding on this elevation must have a NOA. Most of the time, the selection of these systems are done by the architect - but it is good information for you to have as well.

 

[bones206]

The last project I did in Miami had tabulated wind pressures with 2-D diagrams. I do this for most projects anyways and I’m not aware of any special local requirements.

I tend to agree that it’s unnecessary work for the EOR, since most delegated component designers calculate their own wind pressures independently. But having the pressures on the drawings is probably helpful for posterity.

 

[JedClampett]

Don't mess with the Miami Dade Plan Reviewers. They're tough and smart. And if they got an isometric sketch on the last 50 projects, you're going to provide one.
They're in the Saffir Building in a strip mall in Miami. Saffir was the building official in the county, and was the co-author of the Saffir-Simpson Hurrican scale. The place is a general fracas. They hot box you in a small room and the interested plan reviewers (fire protection, mechanical, etc.) pop in, give you instructions very fast and before you can write it down, the next guy (or girl) comes in.