Hotel Corridor Live Load 2

[slapjack]

On a typical over-night hotel, rectangular in shape with rooms on each side of the building and a long corridor down the middle, which design load should be used for the corridor?

(a) 40 psf - Private rooms and corridors serving them

or

(b) 100 psf - Public rooms and corridors serving them

The rooms are individual private rooms. However, the corridors are public areas where anyone can access. Also, keep in mind, these corridors would be the main method of exit should there ever be an emergency.

Thanks!

 

[jechols]

I say 40psf unless there is a conference room or something similar served by that corridor. That being said I always design for 100psf (IBC 2003) for corridors. I am usually using the corridor walls as bearing walls so not difficult to get 100psf capacity.

 

[swivel63]

i think 100 psf. it's a common area.

 

[ChipB]

100psf due to fire escape

 

[jechols]

What would be an example of a 40 psf corridor if a corridor serving private rooms is not?

 

[271828]

I'm with jechols.

If this isn't ASCE 7-05's "Private rooms and corridors serving them" = 40 psf then I don't know what is!?!

 

[swivel63]

a corridor in a house or the actual unit itself. that's how i define it.

 

[271828]

swivel63, I think the OP's case clearly meets it also, but it's a free country! If somebody wants to design for 100 psf, then so be it. I sure as heck wouldn't, though.

 

[jike]

This issue was discussed recently on a hotel project. The precaster also confirmed that the corridor is 40 psf LL, unless there is a conference room off of it. The area around the stairs and elevator was 100 psf since this is also considered a public area.

 

[swivel63]

are we talking about a hallway that have that is common to unit owners or a corridor inside of a unit? i've always seen it done by multiple EOR's and also PT vendors as 100 psf. or actually 80 in the HVHZ section of the FBC 2001.

 

[JAE]

swivel63, a "house" isn't an applicable structure under the IBC. It would fall under the IRC.

I would say 40 psf as a minimum UNLESS there are other public rooms along the corridor length -then 100 psf.

 

[archeng59]

In my opinion, the corridor serving rooms in a hotel is typically an egress route. Use the higher live load.

 

[271828]

LOL, I'll type it again:

If this isn't ASCE 7-05's "Private rooms and corridors serving them" = 40 psf then I don't know what is!?!

 

[swivel63]

take it to a building official. like i've said, i've always seen it as 100 psf (80 for us in south florida) just for the reason that archeng59 said. while those units are private....the corridor itself is a public and common area.

 

[WillisV]

The following is a question and response from ICC on this issue which I received around a year ago on this subject:

Q. Table 1607.1 of the 2003 and 2006 IBC states that the minimum uniform live load for private rooms and corridors serving them in hotels and multiple- family dwellings is 40 psf. Does this load apply to the main corridor on a floor which services private rooms/residences?

A. Yes, provided the corridor serves only guest rooms or dwelling units. In the 2003 IBC and 2006 IBC, corridors serving private rooms are designed for 40 psf. Where a corridor serves a public room, it must be designed for 100 psf. This wording was changed in the 2003 IBC to make the language of the IBC table the same as Table 4-1 of ASCE 7.

 

[swivel63]

very interesting. i see it both ways, i'mma have to pitch this to the higher ups to see what they say.

 

[dbuzz]

Good point ChipB. In the event of a fire, the hotel corridor floor may be required to support a significant number of people -- many more than in a private residence.

 

[dik]

National Building Code of Canada... if corridor < 4' wide and not used for assembly occupancy or as an exit, then to match the useage (typically 40)... else 100 psf or useage...

Dik

 

[DonPhillips]

As a building official and plans examiner, I would used to enforce 40 psf, since this is what the code says, and this is all the authority granted to me.

As a designer, I would probably bump it up to reduce the amount of vibrations felt in the rooms - depending on the client. Some clients do not care to spend the money, others insist on making their guest rooms quiet.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[RareBugTX]

Think of the corridor not as a path for "private rooms", think of that corridor as the possible ONLY escape for all the rooms served in the WHOLE building.

I would go with the 100 psf.

I think that the code wording for the "private" means a single room served (to a certain square footage) and not for required egress from the building.