Comparison of Load Combination and Live Load Provision

Alvin John Micaller

Mapua University

CE135-01 Structural Design of Reinforced Concrete

Engr. Angelo Tanbua

October 09, 2021

 I. Introduction

We will be comparing the Load Combination and the Live Load Combination of the following codes: the

National Structural Code of the Philippines 2015 (NSCP 2015), Uniform Building Code 1997 (UBC 1997),

and the American Society of Civil Engineers 7-16 (ASCE 7-16). The comparison will be in two parts, first is

the comparison of the Load Designation and the second part is the comparison of the Live Load Provision.

My learnings will also be presented in the last part of the report.

II. Comparison of Load Designation

Comparing all of the Load Designation of all of the codes, we can see the following:

We can see that the NSCP 2015 has similar load designations from UBC 1997 and ASCE 7-16 (see below

Violet for identical in both, Red for similar in ASCE 7-16, and Blue for similar to UBC 1997).

The UBC 1997 considers critical load combinations despite having fewer combinations amongst the three

codes in this research. ASCE 7-16 is the one closest to the NSCP 2015 with the same number of formulas,

most similar to NSCP 2015. The only thing different from NSCP 2015 amongst the other codes is that NSCP

2015 removed its consideration of the snow load since the Philippines is a tropical country, and it does
not experience any snow. Another difference is the Primary Load, and only the NSCP has considerations

for its Primary Load, the one prioritized by the consideration. By observation, Primary load is the highest

factor or 2nd highest after the dead load.

III. Learnings Comparison of Uniform Distributed Live load

Use or Occupancy UBC 1997 ASCE 7-16 NSCP 2015

(kN/m2) (converted (kN/m2) (kN/m2)
from psf)
1. Apartments * See Residential *
2. Access Floor Occupancy
a. Office Use 2.4 2.4 2.4
b. Computer Use 4.8 4.8 4.5
3. Armories 7.2 7.2 7.2
4. Assembly Areas and auditoriums and
balconies
a. Fixed Seating Areas 2.4 2.9 2.9
b. Movable Seating and other
4.8 4.8 4.8
Area
c. Stage Areas and enclosed
6.0 7.2 7.2
platform
d. Lobbies and Platforms * 4.8 4.8
e. Others * 4.8 *
1.5 times the
live load for the
area served.
5. Balconies and Decks * *
Not required to
exceed
4.8kN/m2
6. Bowling Alleys, poolrooms, and similar
* 3.6 3.6
recreational areas
7. Catwalk for maintenance access * 1.9 1.9
8. Corridors
a. First Floor * 4.8 *
Same as
occupancy
b. Other Floors * *
served except
as indicated
9. Cornices and marquees 2.9 * 3.6
10. Dining Rooms and restaurants * 4.8 4.8
11. Dwellings * See Residential *
 1.3 (on area of
12. Elevator Machine Room grating * *
50mm x 50mm)
0.9 (on area of
13. Finish light floor plate construction * *
25mm x 25mm)
14. Exit Facilities 4.8 * 4.8
15. Fire Escapes * 4.8 *
a. On single-family dwellings * 1.9 *
16. Garages
a. General Storage and/or repair 4.8 * 4.8
b. Public Parking and Ramps * * 4.8
c. Private or Pleasure-type
2.4 * 2.4
motor vehicles Storage
d. Passenger vehicles only * 1.9 *
e. Helipads * 2.9 *
17. Hospitals
a. Wards and Rooms 1.9 1.9 1.9
b. Laboratories and operating
* 2.9 2.9
Rooms
c. Corridors above the ground
* 3.8 3.8
floor
18. Hotels * See Residential *
19. Libraries
a. Reading Rooms 2.9 2.9 2.9
b. Stack Rooms 6.0 7.2 7.2
c. Corridors above the ground
* 3.8 3.8
floor
20. Manufacturing
a. Light 3.6 6 6.0
b. Heavy 6.0 12 12.0
c. Corridors above the ground
* * 3.8
floor
21. Offices 2.4 2.4
a. Call centers and business
* * 2.9
processing offices
b. Lobbies and ground floor
* 4.8 4.8
corridors
c. Other Offices * * 2.4
d. Corridors above the first floor * 3.8 *
22. Penal institutions
a. Cell blocks * 1.9 *
b. Corridors * 4.8 *
23. Printing Plants
a. Press Rooms 7.2 * 7.2
b. Composing and Linotype
4.8 * 4.8
Rooms
24. Recreational Uses
a. Dance halls and Ballrooms * 4.8 *
 b. Gymnasiums * 4.8 *
c. Stadiums and arenas with
fixed seats (fastened to the * 2.9 *
floor)
25. Residential
a. Basic Floor Area 1.9 * 1.9
b. Exterior Balconies 2.9 * 2.9
c. Decks 1.9 * 1.9
d. Storage 1.9 * 1.9
e. One- and two-family dwellings * *
i. Uninhabitable attics
* .5 *
without storage
ii. Uninhabitable attics
* 1.0 *
with storage
iii. Habitable Attics and
* 1.4 *
sleeping area
iv. All other areas except
* 1.9 *
stairs
f. All other residential
*
occupancies
i. Private rooms and
corridors serving * 1.9 *
them
g. Public rooms and corridors
* 4.8 *
serving them
26. Restrooms
27. Reviewing stands, grandstands,
bleachers, and folding and telescoping 4.8 4.8 4.8
seating
28. Roofs
a. Ordinary flat, pitched, and
* 1.0 *
curved roof
b. Roofs used for roof gardens * 4.8 *
Same as
c. Roofs used for assembly
* occupancy *
occupancies
served
As approved by
d. Roofs used for other the authority
* *
occupancies having
jurisdiction
e. Awning and canopies * *
i. Fabric construction
supported by a * 0.2 *
skeleton structure
0.2
f. Screen enclosure support (nonreducible
* *
frame and based on
the tributary
 area of the roof
supported by
the frame)
g. All other construction * 1.0 *
same as the same as the
area served or area served or
29. Roof Decks for the type of * for the type of
occupancy occupancy
accommodated accommodated
30. Schools
a. Classrooms 1.9 1.9 1.9
b. Corridors above the ground
* 3.8 3.8
floor
c. Ground floor corridors * 4.8 4.8
31. Scuttles, skylight ribs, and accessible
* 0.9 *
ceilings
32. Sidewalks and driveways 12.0 12.0 12.0
33. Stairs and exit ways * 4.8 *
a. One- and two-family dwellings * 1.9 *
34. Storage areas above ceilings * 1.0 *
35. Storage
a. Light 6.0 6.0 6.0
b. Heavy 12.0 12.0 12.0
36. Stores 4.8
a. Retail * 4.8
i. First floor * 4.8 *
ii. Upper floors * 3.6 *
b. Wholesale * 6.0 6.0
37. Pedestrian bridges and walkways 4.8 2.9 4.8
38. Yards and Terraces * 4.8 *
Note: Cells marked with “ * ” is not found in the other codes

IV. Learnings

Upon comparing all of the codes, I noticed the following things:

• Provisions or loads that do not apply to the Philippine setting are either removed or revised to

fit.

• The NSCP 2015 references both codes, considering the NSCP 2015 is the newest amongst the

three codes.
 • The UBC 1997 serves as a guide for the two other codes. UBC 1997 has the fewest Uniform

Distributed Live load considerations closely, and the other two codes seem to have expanded

from the code as mentioned earlier.

• ASCE 7-16 is more detailed in its Live load distribution consideration compared to NSCP 2015

• There is little to no change when it comes to the live load distribution. Updates were made, but

considerations were mainly the same for each code.

In conclusion, in cases where the NSCP 2015 might be unclear, we can use the ACE 7-16 and UBC 1997

as another reference to help us clarify.