Residential Wood Frame Construction Partition Load 2

[Struct123ure]

In Canada, the Code specifically states that a partition weight of not less than 1kPa (20psf) (NBCC 2015 CL4.1.4.1.3)) be added to the Dead Load.

That’s a lot of load to add to residential wood stud suburban home. Considering that the self-weight (wood joists +subfloor) ~0.3kPa (6psf). And the fact that a 3m (10’) tall partition of 38x90 @400 would be in the range of 0.7kN/m (50lb/ft).

Am I missing something or it is what it is?

Additionally, this kills the building for Earthquake design.

 

[phamENG]

I don't know anything about Canadian codes, but I will say that when the US codes talk about "partitions" like that, it's usually talking about office partitions and cubicles. It does say that it's for "other than permanent partitions". I would call a wall between two bedrooms in a house a permanent partition and not subject to that. Also, it's 20psf over the floor area, not the wall. It's not saying the wall weighs that much.

 

[Craig_H]

For typical residential construction I use a partition dead weight of 0.3 kPa (studs, 1/2" drywall two sides), and assume that they are 8' tall and at 10' on center resulting in a floor pressure of 0.25 kPa which I spread over the entire floor area. That way the architect can rejig their floor plan quite a bit and I stay unconcerned.

I agree with pham that the above is meant for moveable partitions (office cubicules, for example). Those can weight quite a bit more and that might explain the 1 kPa allowance for those cases.

 

[XR250]

I almost never add non-load bearing walls into my designs unless they are parallel to the framing and the joist spans are longish - then I will add a double.
My designs are usually pretty conservative from a deflection standpoint though.
I think the IRC does not require any heroics under non-bearing walls (less than 100 PLF).

 

[Struct123ure]

Craig_H yes 0.3 kPa in the vertical plane is around what I get.
You hit on my main concern which is I don't want to include partitions as line loads on the floor, because the Architect moves the partition walls around dozens of times until IFC, but 1kPa is way too much.
I guess the Canadian code here is referring to office partitions as mentioned by phamENG. Permanent partitions should be analyzed in the position that they are in, because otherwise I didn't find anything in the code that says otherwise (ex. 0.5kPa floor pressure).

Craig_H the "floor pressure of 0.25 kPa which I spread over the entire floor area" is that coming from anywhere in the code (American code or Canadian) or is it your calculation based on an average bedroom size?

 

[Brad805]

It is not common for most to add a 1kpa partition loads to a residential design. Many will use the loads from Part 9. Partition loads are standard in commercial designs.

I moved our 1976 farm house. It is single storey 1,800sqft conventionally framed house with rooms typical of that era. The movers had bags on the trailer and it weighed 80,000lb once loaded. There was about 5,000lb of stuff in the building when it was moved.

 

[dik]

It is high... you can reduce it slightly by taking away the stud wall footprint for live loading.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[Craig_H]

Craig_H the "floor pressure of 0.25 kPa which I spread over the entire floor area" is that coming from anywhere in the code (American code or Canadian) or is it your calculation based on an average bedroom size?

That's my own calculation of a relatively small room size (walls 10' apart), intended to be slightly conservative so as to produce a floor pressure that I am confident won't be exceeded.