Skip to content
ChatProjectCodes

Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Section 1606

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1606.1 General.

Dead loads are those loads defined in Chapter 2 of this code. Dead loads shall be considered to be permanent loads.

1606.2 Weights of materials of construction.

For purposes of design, the actual weights of materials of construction shall be used. In the absence of definite information, values used shall be subject to the approval of the building official.

1606.3 Weight of fixed service equipment.

In determining dead loads for purposes of design, the weight of fixed service equipment, including the maximum weight of the contents of fixed service equipment, shall be included. The components of fixed service equipment that are variable, such as liquid

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

TABLE 1607.1

MINIMUM UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LIVE LOADS, L0, AND MINIM MUM CONCENTRATED L LIVE LOADS
OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE UNIFORM
(psf)		 CONCENTRATED
(pounds)		 ALSO SEE
SECTION
1. Apartments (see residential) Apartments (see residential) — — —
2. Access floor systems Office use 50 2,000 —
2. Access floor systems
Computer use		 100 2,000 —
3. Armories and drill rooms Armories and drill rooms 150b — —
4. Assembly areas Fixed seats (fastened to floor) 60a — —
4. Assembly areas Follow spot, projections and control rooms 50 50 50
4. Assembly areas Lobbies 100a 100a 100a
4. Assembly areas Movable seats 100a 100a 100a
4. Assembly areas Stage floors 150b 150b 150b
4. Assembly areas Platforms (assembly) 100a 100a 100a
4. Assembly areas Bleachers, folding and telescopic seating and grandstands 100a
(See Section 1607.19)		 100a
(See Section 1607.19)		 100a
(See Section 1607.19)
4. Assembly areas Stadiums and arenas with fixed seats
(fastened to the floor)		 60a
(See Section 1607.19)		 60a
(See Section 1607.19)		 60a
(See Section 1607.19)
4. Assembly areas Other assembly areas 100a 100a 100a
5. Balconies and decks Balconies and decks 1.5 times the live load
for the area served, not
required to exceed 100		 — —
6. Catwalks for maintenance and service access Catwalks for maintenance and service access 40 300 —
7. Cornices Cornices 60 — —
8. Corridors First floor 100 — —
8. Corridors Other floors Same as occupancy
served except as indi-
cated		 Same as occupancy
served except as indi-
cated		 Same as occupancy
served except as indi-
cated
9. Dining rooms and restaurants Dining rooms and restaurants 100a — —
10. Dwellings (see residential) Dwellings (see residential) — — —
11. Elevator machine room and control room grating
(on area of 2 inches by 2 inches)		 Elevator machine room and control room grating
(on area of 2 inches by 2 inches)		 — 300 —
12. Finish light floor plate construction (on area of 1 inch by 1 inch) Finish light floor plate construction (on area of 1 inch by 1 inch) — 200 —
13. Fire escapes Fire escapes 100 — —
13. On single-family dwellings only 40 40 40
14. Fixed ladders Fixed ladders See Section 1607.17 See Section 1607.17 —
15. Garages Passenger vehicles only 40c See Section
1607.7		 —
15. Garages Trucks and buses See Section 1607.8 See Section 1607.8 See Section 1607.8
16. Handrails, guards and grab bars Handrails, guards and grab bars See Section 1607.9 See Section 1607.9 —
17. Helipads Helipads See Section 1607.6 See Section 1607.6 —
18. Hospitals Corridors above first floor 80 1,000 —
18. Hospitals Operating rooms, laboratories 60 1,000 1,000
18. Hospitals Patient rooms 40 1,000 1,000
19. Hotels
(see residential)		 Hotels
(see residential)		 — — —
20. Libraries Corridors above first floor 80 1,000 —
20. Libraries Reading rooms 60 1,000 —
20. Libraries Stack rooms 150b 1,000 Section
1607.18

(continued)

16-10 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

TABLE 1607.1—continued

MINIMUM UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LIVE LOADS, L0, AND MINIMUM CONC CENTRATED D LIVE LOADS
OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE UNIFORM
(psf)		 CONCENTRATED
(pounds)		 ALSO
SEE SECTION
21. Manufacturing Heavy 250b 3,000 —
21. Manufacturing Light 125b 2,000 2,000
22. Marquees, except one- and two-family dwellings Marquees, except one- and two-family dwellings 75 — —
23. Office buildings Corridors above first floor 80 2,000 —
23. Office buildings File and computer rooms shall be designed for heavier loads based on
anticipated occupancy		 — — —
23. Office buildings Lobbies and first-floor corridors 100 2,000 2,000
23. Office buildings Offices 50 2,000 2,000
24. Penal institu-
tions		 Cell blocks 40 — —
24. Penal institu-
tions		 Corridors 100 100 100
25. Recreational
uses		 Bowling alleys, poolrooms and similar uses 75a — —
25. Recreational
uses		 Dance halls and ballrooms 100a 100a 100a
25. Recreational
uses		 Gymnasiums 100a 100a 100a
25. Recreational
uses		 Ice skating rinks 250b 250b 250b
25. Recreational
uses		 Roller skating rinks 100a 100a 100a
26. Residential One- and two-family dwellings: — Section
1607.22
26. Residential Uninhabitable attics without storage 10 10 10
26. Residential Uninhabitable attics with storage 20 20 20
26. Residential Habitable attics and sleeping areas 30 30 30
26. Residential Canopies, including marquees 20 20 20
26. Residential All other areas 40 40 40
26. Residential Hotels and multifamily dwellings:
26. Residential Private rooms and corridors serving them 40 40 40
26. Residential Public roomsa and corridors serving them 100 100 100
27. Roofs Ordinary flat, pitched, and curved roofs (that are not occupiable) 20 — Section
1607.14.2
27. Roofs Roof areas used for assembly purposes 100a — —
27. Roofs Roof areas used for occupancies other than assembly Same as
occupancy
served		 — —
27. Roofs Vegetative and landscaped roofs: Vegetative and landscaped roofs: — —
27. Roofs Roof areas not intended for occupancy 20 — —
27. Roofs Roof areas used for assembly purposes 100a — —
27. Roofs Roof areas used for other occupancies Same as
occupancy
served		 — —
27. Roofs Awnings and canopies: Awnings and canopies: — —
27. Roofs Fabric construction supported by a skeleton structure 5a — —
27. Roofs All other construction, except one- and two-family dwellings 20 — —
27. Roofs Primary roof members exposed to a work floor: Primary roof members exposed to a work floor: Section
1607.15.2
27. Roofs Single panel point of lower chord of roof trusses or any point along
primary structural members supporting roofs over manufacturing,
storage warehouses, and repair garages		 — 2,000 2,000
27. Roofs All other primary roof members — 300 300
27. Roofs All roof surfaces subject to maintenance workers — 300 300

(continued)

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

TABLE 1607.1—continued

MINIMUM UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LIVE LOADS, L0, AND MINIMUM CON NCENTRATED D LIVE LOADS
OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE OCCUPANCY OR USE UNIFORM
(psf)		 CONCENTRATED
(pounds)		 ALSO SEE
SECTION
28. Schools Classrooms 40 1,000 —
28. Schools Corridors above first floor 80 1,000 1,000
28. Schools First-floor corridors 100 1,000 1,000
29. Scuttles, skylight ribs and accessible ceilings Scuttles, skylight ribs and accessible ceilings — 200 —
30. Sidewalks, vehicular driveways and yards, subject to trucking Sidewalks, vehicular driveways and yards, subject to trucking 250b 8,000 Section
1607.20
31. Stairs and exits One- and two-family dwellings 40 300 Section
1607.21
31. Stairs and exits All other 100 300 Section
1607.21
32. Storage areas above ceilings Storage areas above ceilings 20 — —
33. Storage ware-
houses (shall be
designed for
heavier loads if
required for antici-
pated storage)		 Heavy 250b — —
33. Storage ware-
houses (shall be
designed for
heavier loads if
required for antici-
pated storage)		 Light 125b 125b 125b
34. Stores Retail: —
34. Stores First floor 100 1,000 1,000
34. Stores Upper floors 75 1,000 1,000
34. Stores Wholesale, all floors 125b 1,000 1,000
35. Vehicle barriers Vehicle barriers See Section 1607.10 See Section 1607.10 —
36. Walkways and elevated platforms (other than exitways) Walkways and elevated platforms (other than exitways) 60 — —
37. Yards and terraces, pedestrian Yards and terraces, pedestrian 100a — —
38. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5]Storage racks and wall-hung cabinets. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5]Storage racks and wall-hung cabinets. Total
loadsd		 — —

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 square inch = 645.16 mm 2, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m 2, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kN/m 2, 1 pound = 0.004448 kN,

1 pound per cubic foot = 16 kg/m 3 . a. Live load reduction is not permitted. b. Live load reduction is only permitted in accordance with Section 1607.12.1.2 or Item 1 of Section 1607.12.2. c. Live load reduction is only permitted in accordance with Section 1607.12.1.3 or Item 2 of Section 1607.12.2. d. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] The minimum vertical design live load shall be as follows:

pound per cubic foot = 16 kg/m 3 . a. Live load reduction is not permitted. b. Live load reduction is only permitted in accordance with Section 1607.12.1.2 or Item 1 of Section 1607.12.2. c. Live load reduction is only permitted in accordance with Section 1607.12.1.3 or Item 2 of Section 1607.12.2. d. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] The minimum vertical design live load shall be as follows:

Paper media: 12-inch-deep (305 mm) shelf 33 pounds per lineal foot (482 N/m) 15-inch-deep (381 mm) shelf 41 pounds per lineal foot (598 N/m), or 33 pounds per cubic foot (5183 N/m 3 ) per total volume of the rack or cabinet, whichever is less. Film media: 18-inch-deep (457 mm) shelf 100 pounds per lineal foot (1459 N/m), or 50 pounds per cubic foot (7853 N/m 3 ) per total volume of the rack or cabinet, whichever is less. Other media: 20 pounds per cubic foot (311 N/m 3 ) or 20 pounds per square foot (958 Pa), whichever is less, but not less than actual loads.

16-12 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. ▸Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
    Overview
    1. Section 1601
    2. Section 1602
    3. Section 1603
    4. Section 1604
    5. Section 1605
    6. Section 1607
    7. Section 1606
    8. Section 1608
    9. Section 1609
    10. Section 1610
    11. Section 1611
    12. Section 1612
    13. Section 1613
    14. Section 1614
    15. Section 1615
    16. Section 1616
    17. Section 1617
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.