Minimum Factor of Safety for Overturning for a 8 ft High Solid Fence

[txl4608]

What is the minimum factor of safety for overturning for a 8 ft high solid fence?

 

[Lion06]

1.0 using the load combinations from ASCE 7.

 

[JAE]

i.e. 0.6D + 1.0W

 

[SteelPE]

What FOS against overturning for the equations of 1807.3.2.1 (pole embedment)? Does that equation provide for a FOS of 1.5?

 

[hokie66]

The term "factor of safety" has a historical meaning which I believe should not be used in conjunction with load factors. Some say the load combination 0.6D + 1.0W gives a safety factor of 1.67, but I think that is mixing apples and oranges. Anyway, that load case only really applies with heavy fences, not fences which rely on post and soil interraction.

 

[racookpe1978]

What load do you anticipate hitting the fence?

What is the probability of that load occurring over the life of your fence?

What is the result after failure of your structure?

If the maximum load you "think" will the fence is exceeded by ??? percent (15%, 25%, 35%, 100%, or whatever) what will be the worst possible result when the fence fails? (Hint: If you're protecting a tomato vine from squirrels and feral pigs, there will only be a low impact when a tornado or hurricane wipes out the fence. If your anticipating grade school or pre-school kids running into an expressway when the fence tips down an embankment overlooking a highway, that would be a "high impact" event.)

Design the thing, don't just read a bureacrat's rules.

 

[Ron]

Typical OT moment interaction requires 1.5 SF. Actual wind load moment must be less than 1.5 times resisting moment.