Structural Design

General — Construction Documents

Construction documents must show structural member sizes, locations, floor levels, column centers, and design loads per Sections 1603.1.1 through 1603.1.9.

Load Combinations

Structures must be designed for load combinations per Section 1605.2 or 1605.3, considering dead, live, roof live, snow, wind, earthquake, and flood loads.

Live Loads

Minimum live loads per Table 1607.1. Design live loads must reflect intended use/occupancy but not less than table minimums.

Snow Loads

Ground snow loads vary significantly across Alaska from 40 psf (Anchorage minimum) to 160+ psf (Valdez). Roof snow loads (Pf) must be calculated per ASCE 7-16. Drift loads, unbalanced loads, and sliding snow considerations required. Alaska experiences some of the highest snow loads in North America. Site-specific values must be determined - do not use generalized maps for design.

Wind Loads — General

Buildings must be designed for wind loads per ASCE 7, for both main wind force resisting system (MWFRS) and components and cladding (C&C).

Wind Speed Maps

Basic wind speeds from Figures 1609.3(1) through 1609.3(4) based on Risk Category. Hurricane-prone regions include hurricane wind speeds.

Definitions — Wind Loads

Defines key wind load terms in Chapter 2 including Basic Wind Speed, Exposure Category, Hurricane-Prone Region, Wind-Borne Debris Region, MWFRS, and C&C.

Ultimate Design Wind Speed

Ultimate design wind speed V determined from Figures 1609.3(1)-(3) based on Risk Category. Coastal interpolation based on distance from coast.

Importance Factor

Wind load importance factor (Iw) from Table 1604.5 based on building risk category per Section 1604.5.

Flood Loads — General

All new construction, substantial improvement, and substantial damage restoration within flood hazard areas must resist flood hazards and loads per this section.

Earthquake Loads

Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Most areas are Seismic Design Category D, E, or F per ASCE 7. Site-specific seismic hazard analysis typically required. Special structural detailing, connections, and anchorage required. Foundation design must account for potential liquefaction and slope stability. Commercial construction only (residential exempted from IBC).