Loads & Truss Design

There are different types of loads that act on structures:

• Live Loads – occupants and moveable objects in or on the structure
• Dead Loads – weight of the building materials and the structure itself
• Environmental Loads – created by snow, wind, and earthquake (seismic) forces

Truss Manufacturers and Designers are not responsible for determining these loads for structures; they must be specified by the Building Designer (see the Technical Info section for more on Design Responsibilities). Publications that aid Building Designers in load determination are ASCE 7 – Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. The following resources are offered to Building Designers to aid in determining loads on structures and to Truss Manufacturing personnel to enhance their understanding of the load determination process.