Partition Load for Residential

[coolnes]

In Canada, the Code specifically states that a partition weight of not less than 20 psf be added to the Dead Load unless the partitions are permanent and shown on the drawings.

If you were to calculate the weight of a typical wood stud wall it would only be around 5 psf.

For a hollow core / concrete block building, if you don't show the layout of the walls on the drawings, then you would have to add the 20 psf partition weight.

I've seen other firms drawings and they show 10 psf partition weight.

How have others gotten around the 20 psf requirement?

There is also a section in the Canadian Code for Residential but it doesn't say anything about the partition weight allowance.

 

[seattlemike]

The building code also recommends 20 psf for buildings, and I've seen that used regularly in office buildings. But if you are building with steel deck and concrete or concrete slab, that's no biggie. The 20 psf covers you for future renovation, and where a number of partitions may be centralized over one element. Also, some of these buildings have 10'-13' floor heights, so a higher partition load is not completely out of the question.

With wood construction, 10 psf is common number for lateral analysis. If you add up the weight of the walls on the plan, 10 psf is a reseaonable smear load. Although often times in wood design, individual walls line loads are specifically analyzed.