PART 4 — STRUCTURAL DESIGNUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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4.1.5.5.Loads on Exterior Areas (See Note A-4.1.5.5.)
(1) Exterior areas accessible to vehicular traffic shall be designed for their intended use, including the weight of
firefighting equipment, but not for less than the snow and rain loads prescribed in Subsection 4.1.6.
(2) Except as provided in Sentences (3) and (4), roofs shall be designed for either the uniform live loads specified in
Table 4.1.5.3., the concentrated live loads listed in Table 4.1.5.9., or the snow and rain loads prescribed in Subsection
4.1.6., whichever produces the most critical effect.
(3) Exterior areas accessible to pedestrian traffic, but not vehicular traffic, shall be designed for their intended use, but
not for less than the greater of,
(a) the live load prescribed for assembly areas in Table 4.1.5.3., or
(b) the snow and rain loads prescribed in Subsection 4.1.6.
(4) Roof parking decks and exterior areas accessible to vehicular traffic shall be designed
(a) for the appropriate load combination listed in Sentence 4.1.3.2.(2) with a live load, L, consisting of either a
uniformly distributed live load as specified in Table 4.1.5.3. or a concentrated live load as listed in Table 4.1.5.9.,
whichever produces the most critical effect, and a companion snow load, S, as prescribed in Subsection 4.1.6., but
with the companion-load factor reduced to 0.2, and
(b) such that the load combination in Clause (a) is not less than the snow and rain loads prescribed in Subsection 4.1.6.
with the live load taken as zero.
(5) Roof parking decks that are used for the long-term storage of vehicles shall be designed for the appropriate load
combination listed in Sentence 4.1.3.2.(2) with a live load, L, consisting of either a uniformly distributed live load as
specified in Table 4.1.5.3. or a concentrated live load as listed in Table 4.1.5.9., whichever produces the most critical
effect, and a snow load, S, as prescribed in Subsection 4.1.6.
This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.
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Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.