Wind Load - Arched Greenhouse
Wind Load - Arched Greenhouse
Wind Load - Arched Greenhouse
NATIONAL GREENHOUSE
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
STANDARDS FOR DESIGN
LOADS IN GREENHOUSE STRUCTURES
STRUCTURAL LOADS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD .................................................................................................................. i
HISTORY OF NGMA DESIGN LOAD STANDARD .................................................. ii
STANDARD FOR DESIGN LOADS IN GREENHOUSE STRUCTURES ................ I
1. General .................................................................................................... I
2. Combination of Loads ............................................................................. 2
3. Dead Loads ............................................................................................. 2
4. Live Loads .............................................................................................. 2
5. Wind Loads ............................................................................................. 3
6. Snow Loads ............................................................................................ 9
COMMENTARY ............................................................................................................ 18
C1. General ....................................................................................................... 18
C2. Combination of Loads ................................................................................ 18
C3. Dead Loads ................................................................................................. 18
C4. Live Loads .................................................................................................. 19
C5. Wind Loads ................................................................................................. 20
C6. Snow Loads ................................................................................................ 20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................. 24
STATEMENT OF POLICY - GREENHOUSE RETROFIT ........................................ 25
Copyright 1985
Revised 1994
Revised 1996
STRUCTURAL LOADS
FOREWARD
STRUCTURAL LOADS
On November 5, 1968, NGMA adopted its first structural standard. Seven years later on
November 12, 1975, a revised version of the first standard was adopted. Both these original
standards were brief documents which defined loads to be used in the design of greenhouse
structures throughout the country. The load values and requirements of the standard were
based on years of experience in manufacturing and construction of greenhouses, on consideration of characteristics that are unique to greenhouse structures, and on the history of successful structural performance of thousands of greenhouses constructed during the past 50
years.
Following adoption of the revised standard in 1975, NGMA made an effort to have its
requirements included in several recognized building codes. However, it was found that specific NGMA requirements adopted by each of these codes often varied. As a result, NGMA
submitted its standard to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for incorporation
into ANSI A58.1, Building Code Requirements for Minimum Design Loads in Buildings and
Other Structures. In a draft of ANSI A58.1 dated March 10, 1982, most of the NGMA
requirements were covered either as part of the code itself or as part of the appendix to the
code.
In a continuing effort to improve and further standardize greenhouse design and construction,
NGMA has developed this current expanded structural load standard. The standard is based
on the currently proposed ANSI A58.1 and in fact follows the same notation, and much of the
same wording. However, any ANSI requirements that do not apply specifically to greenhouse-type structures have been deleted. In addition, several sections, while keeping in line
with the ANSI intent, have been modified and simplified. In 1996, Section 6.0 snow load, was
revised to follow the notation and wording of the BOCA National Building Code, 1993.
ii
STRUCTURAL LOADS
1.0 GENERAL
1.1 Scope: This standard provides load requirements for
design of greenhouse structures and their components. The
loads specified herein are to be used in conjunction with the
allowable stresses recommended in current design specification for aluminum, steel, wood, glass, concrete or any other
conventional structural material used in the construction of
greenhouses.
1.1.1 Definitions: The following definitions are intended to
apply only to greenhouse structures and their components.
Free-Standing Greenhouse: an independently
erected greenhouse set totally apart from other buildings and structures. Free-standing greenhouses are
usually symmetrical about a longitudinal centerline
(even-span) with either a pitched or an arched roof.
Attached Even-Span Greenhouse: a greenhouse
structure similar to a free-standing greenhouse except that one or both gable ends or sides are eliminated and are attached to an adjacent structure.
Lean-to Greenhouse: a greenhouse structure which
depends on its attachment to another building for
much of its support. A lean-to greenhouse appears
as a free-standing greenhouse bisected in half along
its longitudinal centerline with the missing side provided by the building against which it is supported.
Gutter-Connected Greenhouse: a series of two or
more free-standing greenhouses joined together at
their eave line. A gutter is provided at the common
eave of adjacent greenhouses to allow collection and
run-off of rain or melting snow. Usually the common sides of two adjacent gutter-connected greenhouses are omitted to provide greater uninterrupted
interior growing space.
Gable Ends: the two exterior walls of a free-standing greenhouse which are oriented perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the greenhouse.
1.3 General Structural Integrity: Through accident or misuse, a greenhouse structure capable of safely supporting the
required design loads may suffer local damage, i.e., the loss
of load resistance in an element or small portion of the structure. In recognition of this, the greenhouse structure shall
possess general structure integrity, i.e., the quality of being
able to sustain local damage with the structure as a whole
remaining stable and not damaged to an extent disproportionate to the original local damage.
STRUCTURAL LOADS
D
D+L
D+S
D+W
D+L+W
D+S+W
3.4 Special Considerations: Factors that may result in differences between actual and calculated values should be considered when determining dead loads. In addition, any permanent loads such as hanging baskets, planters, etc., that are
to be supported by structural members for an extended time
period (Section 4.1) shall be included as part of the dead load.
4.0 LIVE LOADS
4.1 Definitions: Live loads are temporary loads produced by
the use and occupancy of the greenhouse. Live loads do not
include wind load, snow load, or dead load. Exterior live
loads on greenhouse roofs are the temporary loads workmen
and temporary equipment such as scaffolds. Interior live loads
are temporary loads imposed on the structure by hanging
objects. Any live load shall be considered permanent and
therefore included as part of the dead load (Section 3.4)if it is
imposed on the structure for a continuous period of 30 days
or more.
Where:
D = Dead Load
L = Live Load
S = Snow Load
W = Wind Load
4.2 Minimum Roof Live Load: Pitched and arched greenhouse roofs shall be designed to safely support the minimum
live load specified in the following equation or the snow load
specified in Section 6, whichever is greater.
L = 20 R1 R2 12
STRUCTURAL LOADS
a:
b:
d:
Cp :
Cpi:
G:
STRUCTURAL LOADS
I:
Importance coefficient
Kz:
P:
Ph:
Pz:
q:
qh :
qz:
r:
V:
z:
Table 5.1
DESIGN WIND PRESSURES (P)
For the main wind-force resisting system:
P = qGCp - qh (GCpi)
where:
q:
qz for windward wall
qh for leeward wall and roof
G:
given in Table 5.4
Cp :
given in Table 5.5 and 5.7
(GCpi): given in Table 5.8
For components and glazing:
P = qh (GCp) - qh (GCpi)
where:
qh :
evaluated using Exposure C for all terrains
(GCp): given in Tables 5.6A, 5.6B and 5.7
(GCpi): given in Table 5.8
or outward normal to the surface.
5.3 Velocity Pressure:
(2)
(3)
V:
I:
Kz:
STRUCTURAL LOADS
Table 5.2
IMPORTANCE COEFICIENT (I)
Exposure C: open terrain with scattered obstructions having heights generally less that 30 ft. This
category includes flat, open country and grasslands.
Exposure D: flat unobstructed coastal areas directly
exposed to wind blowing over large bodies of water.
This exposure shall be used for those areas representative of Exposure D extending inland from the
shoreline a distance of 1500 ft.
Notes:
Note:
Note:
5.3.4 Shielding: Reductions in velocity pressures due to apparent direct shielding afforded by buildings, structures and
terrain features is not permitted.
5.4 Gust Response Factors: Gust response factors are employed to account for the fluctuating nature of the wind and
its interaction with the structure. In design of the main windforce resisting system for greenhouses, the gust response factor, G, is taken from Table 5.4 evaluated at the structures
mean roof height, h. In design of the components and glaz-
STRUCTURAL LOADS
Table 5.5
EXTERNAL PRESSURE COEFFICIENTS
FOR AVERAGE LOADS ON MAIN
WIND - FORCE RESISTING SYSTEM
STRUCTURAL LOADS
NOTES:
1. Notes apply to
both Tables 5.6A
and 5.6B
2. Vertical
denotes (GCp) to
be used with qh.
3.
Horizontal
scale
denotes
tributary area,
A (ft2)
4. a = smaller of
10% of min-imum
width and 0.4h,
but larger than 4%
of minimum width
and 3 ft
Table 5.8B
EXTERNAL PRESSURE COEFFICIENTS FOR LOADS
ON COMPONENTS AND GLAZING (ROOFS)
STRUCTURAL LOADS
STRUCTURAL LOADS
Table 5.7
Table 5.8
INTERNAL PRESSURE COEFFICIENTS (GCpi)
* When the rise to span ratio is (0.2r0.3), alternate coefficients given by (6r-2.1) shall also be used for the windward
quarter.
Notes: (1). Values listed are for determination of average
loads on main wind force resisting system.
(2). For components and glazing at roof perimeter
use external pressure coefficients in Table 5.6B with
based on spring-line slope and qh based on Exposure C.
(3). For components and glazing in roof areas away
from the perimeter use the external pressure coefficients of this table multiplied by 1.2 for (GCp) and
qh based on Exposure C.
(4). Definition of terms as follows: