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Load Settings and Options

Importance Category

This input is in Concept mode as well as Beam and Column Mode.

Sizer allows you to input the importance category for the structure and applies the appropriate ultimate limit states and serviceability states factors to live, wind, snow, and earthquake loads. The dropdown shows the Ultimate limit state factor for the load currently selected, however the category applies to all loads input, and in Concept Mode, to all members in the structure.

This selection can be saved as default for new member files and saved for each member file. The default value is Normal.

Part 9 Snow Loads

For structures meeting the requirements of Part 9 of the NBC, many users design using Part 4 but with snow loads specified using Part 9, In this case, the importance factor is 1.0 for serviceability (deflection) rather than the 0.9 Part 4 importance factor shown in O86 Table 5.2.3.2. For this reason there is an Importance category called Normal, Part 9 snow. When this is selected, the factors are the same as for the Normal importance category, except that for snow loads are selected the serviceability limit state (SLS) factor is rather than 0.9.

Live and Snow Loads on Exterior Surface

To comply with NBC 4.1.5.5, a setting allows you to create a set of load combinations without live and snow loads in the same combination. This is used to model a member supporting a surface such as a roof terrace or parking area, that can be expected to have direct live and snow loading.

When the setting is checked, the program will omit those combinations that have both live (L, Ls or Lf) loads and snow (S) loads. If the program would ordinarily create combinations with L + S together but not separately, then the L-only or S-only combination is created.

Refer to the sections under Canadian Load Combinations help for the precise load combinations created when this setting is checked.

In Concept Mode, those members on the roof level of the structure have this property set to “true”. For those on other levels of the building, it is “false”.

This option saved as default for new member files and saved for each member file. The default value is that it is not checked.

Sustained Live Load

This input is in Concept mode as well as Beam and Column Mode.

A load with the sustained live load type means that Sizer will use the load factors given in NBC 4.1.3.2 5) for controlled fluids and NBC 4.1.3.2 6) for storage and equipment, and a load duration factor typical of permanent loads such as dead loads (0.65).

You choose which application via the Sustained Live load due to... dropdown. This selection applies to all loads on the member, it is not possible to create storage loads and fluid loads on the same member. In Concept mode, all sustained loads on the structure are either controlled fluid loads or storage loads, according to the setting when the Design button is pressed.

Note that Sustained live loads in Sizer were called Permanent Loads previous to Sizer 7.

This option saved as default for new member files and saved for each member file.

Refer to Sustained Load Combinations for more information.