The British Columbia Building Code | Section 5.2. | Loads and Procedures

Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 5 – Environmental Separation

British Columbia Building Code 2018 Division B

Section 5.2. Loads and Procedures

5.2.1. Environmental Loads and Design Procedures

5.2.1.1. Exterior Environmental Loads

1) Above ground climatic loads shall be determined according to Subsection 1.1.3.

2) Except as provided in Sentence(3), below ground exterior environmental loads not described in

Subsection1.1.3. shall be determined from existing geological and hydrological data or from site tests.

3) Where local design and construction practice has shown soil temperature analysis to be unnecessary,

soil temperatures need not be determined. (See Note A-5.2.1.1.(3).)

5.2.1.2. Interior Environmental Loads

1) Interior environmental loads shall be determined in accordance with good practice as described in

Sentence 6.2.1.1.(1) based on the intended use of the space. (See NoteA-5.2.1.2.(1).)

5.2.1.3. Environmental Load and Transfer Calculations

1) Calculations related to the transfer of heat, air and moisture and the transmission of sound shall conform to

good practice such as that described in the ASHRAE Handbooks.

2) For the purposes of any analysis conducted to indicate conformance to the thermal resistance levels required

in Article5.3.1.2., soil temperatures shall be determined based on annual average soil temperature, seasonal amplitude

of variation and attenuation of variation with depth.

3) Wind load calculations shall conform to Subsection4.1.7.

5.2.2. Structural Loads and Design Procedures

5.2.2.1. Determination of Structural Loads and Effects

1) Where materials, components or assemblies that separate dissimilar environments or are exposed to the

exterior, or their connections, are required to be designed to withstand structural loads, these loads shall be

determined in accordance with Part 4. (See also Subsection 2.2.5.of DivisionC.)

2) Except as provided in Article 4.1.8.18., the structural loads referred to in Sentence (1) and their related effects

shall include

a) dead loads transferred from structural elements,

b) wind, snow, rain, hydrostatic and earth pressures,

c) earthquake effects for post-disaster buildings, depending on their intended function

(see Note A-5.2.2.1.(2)(c)),

d) live loads due to use and occupancy, and

e) loads due to thermal or moisture-related expansion and contraction, deflection, deformation, creep,

shrinkage, settlement, and differential movement.

3) Where materials, components or assemblies that separate dissimilar environments or are exposed to the

exterior, or their connections, can be expected to be subject to loads or other effects not described in this Subsection

or in Part 4, such loads or effects shall be taken into account in the design based on the most current and applicable

information available.

5.2.2.2. Determination of Wind Load

(See NoteA-5.2.2.2.)

1) This Article applies to the determination of wind load to be used in the design of materials, components and

assemblies, including their connections, that separate dissimilar environments or are exposed to the exterior, where

these are

Part 5 – Environmental Separation Division B: Acceptable Solutions

Division B British Columbia Building Code 2018

a) subject to wind load, and

b) required to be designed to resist wind load.

2) Except as provided in Sentence(3), the wind load referred to in Sentence(1) shall be 100% of the specified

wind load determined in accordance with Article 4.1.7.1.

3) Where it can be shown by test or analysis that a material, component, assembly or connection referred to in

Sentence(1) will be subject to less than 100% of the specified wind load, the wind load referred to in Sentence (1)

shall be not less than the load determined by test or analysis.

4) Except as provided in Sentence(5), the wind uplift resistance of membrane roofing assemblies shall be

determined in accordance with the requirements of CAN/CSA-A123.21, “Dynamic Wind Uplift Resistance of

Membrane-Roofing Systems.” (See NoteA-5.2.2.2.(4).)

5) Membrane roofing assemblies with proven past performance for the anticipated wind loads need not comply

with Sentence(4). (See NoteA-5.1.4.1.(5).)

5.2.2.3. Design Procedures

1) Structural design shall be carried out in accordance with Subsection 4.1.3. and other applicable requirements

in Part 4.