Compilation of structural weight (psf) by bldg type/material?

[hippo11]

This would be quite helpful to use as a check to see if your structural design is reasonable. I'm sure contractors would be interested as well.

Does anyone know of such a publication? For instance, data on the average structural psf of:

steel framed office building, 20 stories
flat plate concrete resideintial, 50 stories
steel joist framed office bldg, 4 stories

etc.

Thanks

 

[MightyPirate]

Never seen one. The ASCE07 as well as Breyer's book on wood design have some good data on typical building material weights and I'm sure you could rough something with that.

MightyPirate, EIT

 

[concretemasonry]

You are proposing to check the structural design by using avergae weights? I never heard of checking using the "Rule of Thumb".

Averages are just that and can include many items.

 

[hippo11]

Of course averages don't tell the whole story, but think about it... for instance, if your design for a simple 4 story steel framed office bldg has a structural weight of 12 psf, and a compilation of other bldgs in a similar seismic zone have roughly 7 or 8 psf, it's a good idea to see if you are overdesigning, to run through your assumptions, etc. Also it will give you a heads up to prepare to justify your design if you are accused of overdesigning by contractors armed with similar data.

Rules of thumb are VERY useful to know where you're at. Ask any experienced structural engineer and he/she would agree that it's useful info.

Also, before you do your design, it's great info to have if you are brainstorming with an architect or contractor.

 

[jike]

Offices, who do alot of one type of building, can go back and obtain historical data but this is alot of work. Often, it is easier to ask the steel supplier for these numbers at bid time or award but keep in mind they can vary all over the place depending upon bracing system, bay size, loads, floor to floor, wall system, etc. Then you need to spell out clearly what to include (beams, columns, joists, deck, girts, misc., bolts, etc.) in all the quanities for consistent comparisons.