florida building code 9fbc0 2007 live loads canopy

huangyhg

florida building code (fbc) 2007 live loads canopy
what are your thoughts on note 1 for table 1607.1 in fbc 2007?
mqm
reviewing fbc 2007 section 1607 code at link:
assume you are referring to the note lower case "l" of table 1607.1....
are you the engineer of record or are you a delegated engineer for shop drawing/design purposes?
if you are the delegate, then check with the engineer of record for the roof loads that were used on other portions of the site.  he is required by florida law to provide such info to you, but they don't always do so.
otherwise, a canopy is not a "special roof" in my opinion.  it is just a roof subjected to the same loadings as other roofs....it just happens to be over an open structure, so that makes it different, but not special.
i have designed over 700 canopies, over half of them in florida.  i treat them as any other structure, just open.  if the canopy is a free-standing structure then the loads are fairly apparent.  if the canopy hangs off the side of a building, then you have to decide if it's an overhang to that building or some other variation (i generally treat it as an overhang).  in florida we don't have to worry about snow loads, but in other areas, canopies are subjected to the same snow loads as any other part of the structure, and often are subjected to drift loads.