Live Load on Tiki (Chickee) Hut 1

[Lutfi]

Long time since I came here answered and posted any questions.

Do any of you have experience in the design of Tiki/Chickee huts? If so, what do you use for roof live load? I know the code call for 20 psf which can be reduced based on tributary area and the slop of he roof. I mean the roof will have palm fronds. These are not suitable to walk on. These huts use solid circular Cypress, number 1 logs. I am attaching a photo that I took recently of such tiki.

Regards,
Lutfi

 

[Lomarandil]

Yeah, for something like this, I would design primary roof members for a worker point load and ignore the uniform roof live load. Call it engineering judgement or common sense, but as you pointed out, there is no walking on the fronds.

Presuming the regulatory environment would allow this of course. Hopefully any reviewer would be able to see the logic. They might make you post a sign?

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just call me Lo.

 

[dhengr]

Lutfi:
I’d have a good long talk with the local AHJ about this bldg., this type of structure, and what is going to be required (and allowed) by them, to get this thing permitted. Do this before you spend to much time on the project, make a list of your important design questions. All of the various load conditions, connection details (uplift, lateral etc. ), fire proofing, what engineering judgement leeway the might allow you, etc. What started out as a interior decorating idea 30 years ago, may not fly today, as an entire structural system, meeting the current bldg. code.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Hi, Lutfi, long time no see. I would offer to the building official that at Tiki huts falls into the same general category as "fabric construction supported by a skeleton structure". I don't know where, but I'm pretty sure building codes address this type construction.

 

[Lomarandil]

Ah, good call SRE. ASCE 7 has the provision for 5psf (nonreducible) on the fabric in that case, or the 300lbf worker load on the skeleton.

----
just call me Lo.

 

[Lutfi]

@SlideRuleEra, so good to see you still hanging around here. I plan to call AHJ and see what they will accept. I am thinking of the fabric awning as it is in the Florida Building Code.

@Lomarandil, I am aware of the awning live load. It is in Florida Building Code. It may be a good idea to bring it up with AHJ. Certainly 300# to account for the fellow who installs the fronds etc.


Regards,
Lutfi

 

[EZBuilding]

In FBC 2020 102.2 these types of huts are exempted from the Florida Building Code, if built by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida or the Seminole Tribe of Florida. I agree that the call to the AHJ should be a first step...

 

[Lutfi]

@EZBuilding, very true. However, the same provision goes by the way side if there is electric and plumbing FBC 102.2(h. Many municipalities doe not recognize that provision as it contradicts their planning and zoning.

Regards,
Lutfi

 

[EZBuilding]

Lutfi - I was thinking closer along the lines that it's unlikely these buildings can be designed to the FBC and so they need to be exempted for construction by the respective tribes.