The 1945 American Standard Building Code Requirements for Minimum Design Loads in Buildings and Other Structures (ASA—A58.1-1945), issued in 1945 by the National Bureau of Standards under the sponsorship of the American Standards Association, provides guidelines for the minimum design loads for building and structural design. This document addresses the assumptions necessary for calculating dead, live, wind, and earthquake loads, which are crucial for ensuring the safety and stability of structures.
The code clarifies the definitions and requirements for various types of loads. Dead loads refer to the permanent parts of a building’s structure, including floors, walls, and permanent fixtures. Live loads, on the other hand, include variable forces that buildings experience from their occupants and usage, but not from environmental effects like wind or earthquakes.
Specifically, the code outlines how to calculate and accommodate different types of loads when designing buildings. It includes detailed recommendations for handling live loads depending on the building’s use, ensuring that all structures can safely support typical occupancy activities without exceeding the material stress limits.
Furthermore, the document provides standards for adding to existing structures, stipulating that any modifications must maintain or improve the building’s ability to support all designated loads safely. It also includes provisions for partition weight and concentrated loads, essential for planning in diverse building environments like offices or storage facilities.
Overall, the American Standard A58.1-1945 serves as a crucial reference for engineers and architects, providing the foundational parameters for load calculations and structural integrity in building design, thereby ensuring that structures can withstand both regular and exceptional stresses imposed by their environment and use.
