62 LOADS IN STRUCTURES 



or a warehouse for general merchandise the character of 

 which is yet unknown, it is customary to assume the live 

 load to be a certain number of pounds per square foot of 

 floor space and to design the structure tor this load. The 

 following table gives the loads per square foot of floor space 

 often employed: 



LIVE LOADS PER SQUARE FOOT IN BUILDINGS 



The load of 70 Ib. will probably never be realized in 

 dwellings; but inasmuch as a city house may at times be used 

 for some purpose other than that of a dwelling, it is- not 

 generally advisable to use a lighter load. In a country 

 house, a hotel, or a building of like character, a live load 

 of 40 Ib. per sq. ft. of floor surface is ample for all rooms 

 not used for public assembly. For assembly rooms, a live 

 load of 100 Ib. will be sufficient. If the desks and chairs 

 are fixed, as in a schoolroom or a church, a live load of 

 more than from 40 to 50 Ib. will never be attained. Retail 

 stores should have floors proportioned for a live load of 

 100 Ib. and upwards. Wholesale stores, machine shops, etc. 

 should have the floors proportioned for a live, load of not 

 less than 150 Ib. per sq. ft. The floors of printing houses and 

 binderies should be proportioned for a live load of at least 

 250 Ib. per sq. ft. Special provision should be made in such 

 floor systems tor heavy presses, trimmers, and cutters, and 

 the beams should be proportioned for twice the static load 

 likely to occur from such machines. The static load in 

 factories seldom exceeds from 40 to 50 Ib. per sq. ft. of floor 



