b'THE OFFICIAL NFBA MAGAZINEMAJOR UPDATES TO SNOW LOAD DESIGN IN ASCE 7-22RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGYByDimitry A. Reznik, PETimber Tech Engineering, LLCT he 2022 edition of ASCE 7 (ASCE 7-22),load combinations, and revisions which forms the basis for load requirementstoseismicweightcalculations. in the 2024 International Building CodeConsequently, engineers must adapt (IBC), introduced the most significant changestheir design practices to incorporate to snow load requirements since the standardsthese new ground snow load maps, consider inception.Key revisions include the adoption ofadditional parameters such as the winter wind reliability-targeted, ultimate ground snow loadsfactor and updated thermal factors, and address based on an expanded national dataset. ASCE 7-22potentially higher structural demands in affected replaces the previous use of a single ground snowareas.Atthesametime,miscommunication load map and importance factors with separatein specifications during the transition period, maps for each building Risk Category, allowing forwhen older versions of the standard are still in more precise and risk-appropriate design values.wide use, is likely.This article outlines the key This shift aligns with similar updates made torevisions to snow load provisions and discusses wind load provisions in ASCE 7-10 and mirrorstheirpracticalimplicationsforengineers, the approach used for other environmental loads.building officials, and the design of structures.These updates, among others, have resulted inWhy the change?substantial increases in ground snow loads for some regions, modifications to snow load developmentEarlier versions of ASCE 7 specified ground snow calculations,adjustmentstoASDandLRFD 24 / FRAME BUILDER - VOL6 4'