Pedestrian Bridge Load Rating

[Strengi]

We are starting up a project in which we will be performing a load rating of a pedestrian bridge - a covered bridge, actually, that won't be subject to vehicular loading. Does anyone have any guidance as to what uniform loading equates to a number of people? If the bridge is adequate for an 85 psf uniform loading, we don't intend to post for the maximum number of people, but if it turns out to be 50, I'd like to have what this equates to given the area of the bridge deck (i.e. maximum number of occupants = 100). The bridge might be used for special events (wedding receptions, political ceremonies, etc). Any help or guidance in reference to this would be more than appreciated.

 

[civilperson]

Snow and ice are additives. Passage for emergency vehicles may be required. Code live load for "passageway" and "assembly"is 100 psf.

 

[ChipB]

I was involved with one in the past. Developer ended up getting a prefabricated bridge. I was responsible for the foundations. The LL used for the design was 85psf. I believe the mfr was "Big R". It wasn't wide enough to consider vehicular loading. You could stack a bunch of people and never get to 85psf. Had I done the design, I would have used 80psf based on corridors above the first floor. If you classify it as some type of other occupancy, your loading may change to 100 as civilperson states.

If IceNine reads this, he can verify. I'm no longer there.

 

[Taro]

The number of occupants doesn't correlate precisely to the structural load capacity. Allowable occupant load is usually specified by the building code in the egress section and by the fire marshal.