Understanding Dead Loads and Live Loads in Residential Construction
In residential construction, structural safety and integrity are of utmost importance. To ensure the building can withstand the forces acting upon it over time, engineers and architects consider various types of loads that the structure will experience. Two critical types of loads in this context are dead loads and live loads. Both play vital roles in determining the stability and durability of a building, but they differ significantly in nature, source, and behavior. In this article, we’ll explore what these loads are, how they differ, and provide examples of each type in residential construction.