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Sponsored by ASCE Continuing Education and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI).

INSTRUCTOR:  Michael J. O'Rourke, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI,  M.ASCE

Course Length:  1 hour

Purpose and Background

The webinar instructor co-authored an article this year for Structure magazine entitled Do Structural Engineers Design for Rain Loads? It provides evidence suggesting that structural engineers do not commonly calculate roof rain loads. There is currently a lack of continuing education specifically targeting rain loads.  I and a co-author have recently submitted the first draft of a Guide to the Use of the ASCE 7 Rain Load Provision to ASCE Press.  This webinar covers the basic steps for determination of the roof rain load as per ASCE 7. It provides illustrated examples of the required steps.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Knowing the intended site, use online resources to determine the rain hazard in inches per hour
• Knowing the roof geometry, location and type of secondary drains, determine the drainage area and static head
• Knowing the hazard and drainage area, determine the hydraulic head from head-flow tables in the ASCE 7 Commentary
• Determine the rain load knowing the static and hydraulic heads, and check for ponding instability

Learning Outcomes

• Determine a roof rain load following the procedures in ASCE 7
• Determine the rain loads hazard for a site of interest
• Determine the drainage area and static head for the roof geometry on interest
• Determine the hydraulic head of the given hazard and drainage area of interest
• Evaluate the rain load from the static and hydraulic heads and check for ponding instability

Webinar Benefits

• Calculate roof rain loads for a structure in question
• Discuss rain loading, placement of primary and secondary drain, and the like with architects, plumbing engineers, building officials and other professionals

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

• Structural engineers who design buildings
• Building officials
• Architects

Webinar Outline

• Introduction
• Snow vs rain: similarities and differences
• Rain hazard
• Drainage area and static head
• Outlet types and capacities
• Hydraulic head and rain load
• Example problem
• Ponding instability 

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]