Roll Up Doors and ASCE 7-10 Opening Definition

[TS59401]

The office is discussing whether a roll up door (10x10) for a maintenance bay should be desiged as open or closed during a design wind event. If open, the building becomes partially enclosed. If closed, the building is enclosed. (as per the ASCE 7-10 Building classification definitions) The door will be closed during the off shift hours, and the maintenance bay continually occupied during the on shift hours. Should the door be viewed as open during a design wind event, or may it be considered closed during a design wind event? I would appreciate any opinions on the subject as it appears to be up for interpretation.

Thank you

 

[EngineeringEric]

During a wind event, the doors should remain closed. If this is a critical or expensive facility then I would design it as partially open, in the case that the door fails.

The wind event we design to is a rare occasion, one in which does not happen often and therefore the office building will have their door closed, IMHO.

This factor is the same thing for most structures with operable windows and doors, if all openings were open during a hurricane one may experience local or larger failures. I recall a project of ours where a hanger door was damaged by projectiles/user errors and then the rest of the building began to experience failures (metal roof panels blew off) from the increase in internal pressures due to wind loads.

 

[msquared48]

Design for the worst case here.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[jrfroe]

I've had this conversation many times as well. Its really up to your engineering judgement. I usually error on the side of caution and assume a building is partially enclosed if most of the openings are on one wall.

 

[Ron]

If you compute the area of the flexible gasket or gap around a roll up or sliding door for such a structure, you'll find that you exceed the requirement for "enclosed". Design for partially enclosed.

 

[Ron]

If you compute the area of the flexible gasket or gap around a roll up or sliding door for such a structure, you'll find that you exceed the requirement for "enclosed". Design for partially enclosed.

 

[msquared48]

OK Ron... Ok, OK!

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[TS59401]

Ron: I had not thought about the gasket around the door, and that is a defendable position for this this building for sure.

I believe that I will indeed opt for the partially enclosed classification. Thank you gentlemen for your insite it is well appreciated.

Tom

 

[Ron]

Hey Mike....Hey Mike....
Just wanted to make sure it stuck
Just wanted to make sure it stuck