A Beginner's Guide to ASCE 7-10

Chapter 1 - General Information

© 2012, T. Bartlett Quimby

BGASCE7-10 Section 1.6

Load Tests

Last Revised: 11/04/2014

When in doubt about the strength of an existing structure, the structure can be proven to strong enough by subjecting it to physical load tests.  As the dead load is already present, the applied load needs to be representative of the other anticipated loads and in the applicable combinations.  Gravity loads are the easiest to mimic during load testing.  Lateral loads are much more difficult.

Load testing for compliance is a rare event, but allowed. These tend to be structures which have been designed to a lower standard but now are reclassified to a higher on either through change in use/occupancy or by a need to upgrade the building to current standards as the result of building modifications.

Load testing an entire building for applicable load cases is not generally done as it is quite cost prohibitive and expensive.  These tests are an extraordinarily rare event. Generally, this can be avoided by doing some strategic testing of only those structural elements which don't appear to meet current standards.

Load testing of components that support smaller tributary areas for gravity loads only is much more reasonable.