1️⃣ CODES TO BE FOLLOWED (INDIA)
For a steel warehouse, you must use:
IS 800:2007 – General Construction in Steel (Limit State Method)
IS 875 Part 1 – Dead Loads
IS 875 Part 2 – Imposed Loads
IS 875 Part 3 – Wind Loads
IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016 – Earthquake Loads
IS 807 – Design of light gauge sections (if cold-formed)
IS 801 – Cold formed light gauge steel
For crane shed:
IS 875
IS 800
IS 3177 (Crane loads reference)
2️⃣ TYPICAL INDIAN STEEL WAREHOUSE SYSTEM
Components:
Tapered rafter
Tapered column
Roof purlins (Z or C)
Wall girts
Eave strut
Sag rods
Roof bracing
Wall bracing
Load path:
Roof → Purlin → Rafter → Column → Base plate → Foundation
3️⃣ LOAD CALCULATION AS PER INDIAN STANDARDS
3.1 DEAD LOAD (IS 875 Part 1)
A. Self Weight of Steel
Density of steel:
3
78.5 kN /m B. Roof Sheeting Load
Typical Indian values:
Material Load (kN/m²)
GI sheet 0.15–0.20
Sheet + insulation 0.30–0.50
Solar panel roof 0.25–0.40 extra
Convert to line load on purlin:
w= Areaload × spacing
Example:
0.30 × 1.4 = 0.42 kN/m
C. Accessories Load
Turbo ventilator
Cable trays
Lighting
Fire line pipes
Usually:
0.10 – 0.20 kN/m² (collateral load)
3.2 IMPOSED LOAD (IS 875 Part 2)
For roof:
If roof slope < 10°:
2
0.75 kN /m
Reduction allowed:
¿=0.75−0.02(θ−10)
Minimum = 0.4 kN/m²
For inaccessible roof (maintenance only):
0.4 kN/m² minimum
3.3 WIND LOAD (IS 875 Part 3 – VERY IMPORTANT)
Wind governs most Indian warehouses.
STEP 1: Basic Wind Speed (Vb)
From wind map of India:
Example:
Chennai → 50 m/s
Mumbai → 44 m/s
Delhi → 47 m/s
STEP 2: Design Wind Speed
V z=V b × k 1 × k 2 × k 3
Where:
k₁ = Risk coefficient
k₂ = Terrain & height factor
k₃ = Topography factor
STEP 3: Design Wind Pressure
2
P z=0.6 V z
(Unit: N/m²)
Convert to kN/m².
STEP 4: Design Pressure on Surface
Pdesign =(C pe−C pi )× P z
Cpe = External pressure coefficient
Cpi = Internal pressure coefficient
Internal Pressure (Very Critical in India)
If building has:
Opening Condition Cpi
Small openings ±0.2
Medium openings ±0.5
Large openings ±0.7
Always check both + and -.
Roof Pressure Zones
Edge zones have highest suction.
Edge zone suction can be:
-1.2
-1.5
This causes uplift failure.
3.4 SEISMIC LOAD (IS 1893:2016)
Usually wind governs low rise shed.
But must check.
Base Shear
V = Ah× W
Where:
ZI Sa
Ah =
2 Rg
Z = Zone factor
I = Importance factor
R = Response reduction factor
For industrial building:
I = 1.0
R = 4 (OMRF steel)
Distribution
2
W i hi
Q i= 2
∑ W i hi
3.5 CRANE LOAD (IF PRESENT)
Vertical Load:
Add 10–25% impact.
Horizontal Surge:
10% of lifted load.
Apply at crane beam level.
4️⃣ LOAD COMBINATIONS (IS 800:2007 – LIMIT STATE)
Ultimate Limit State:
1. 1.5 (DL + LL)
2. 1.5 (DL + WL)
3. 1.2 (DL + LL + WL)
4. 0.9 DL ± 1.5 WL
⚠ 0.9 DL – 1.5 WL is critical for uplift.
Serviceability:
1. DL + LL
2. DL + WL
6️⃣ HOW LOADS ACT ON MEMBERS
PURLINS
Major bending
Wind uplift → reverse bending
Check lateral torsional buckling
RAFTERS (Portal Action)
Rafters experience:
Axial compression
Major bending
Minor bending
Shear
They are beam-columns.
COLUMNS
Carry:
Axial compression
Bending moment
Base moment
Check interaction:
P M
+ ≤1
Pd M d
As per IS 800 clause 9.
BRACING
Designed for:
Longitudinal wind
Stability
Tie force
Axial tension/compression only.
7️⃣ CRITICAL GOVERNING CASES IN INDIA
Most critical combinations:
✔ 0.9 DL - 1.5 WL → Uplift
✔ 1.5 (DL + WL) → Compression
✔ 1.2 (DL + LL + WL) → Combined case
8️⃣ DEFLECTION LIMITS (Indian Practice)
Roof:
L / 240
Purlins:
L / 180
Drift:
H / 300
Serviceability combination only.
9️⃣ PROFESSIONAL DESIGN INSIGHTS (INDIAN PROJECTS)
🔹 Wind Uplift Governs Coastal Regions
Chennai, Vizag → uplift controls rafter size.
🔹 Internal Pressure Often Ignored
If shutter opening exists → use Cpi = ±0.5.
🔹 Light Roof → Uplift Failure Risk
Less DL → more uplift.
Sometimes add ballast.
🔹 Always Check Base Plate Uplift
Anchor bolts must resist uplift from:
0.9 DL - 1.5 WL
🔹 Sag Rod Importance
Without sag rods:
Purlins fail in lateral buckling.
🔹 Do Not Ignore Secondary Member Load Transfer
Rafter should not directly take sheet load.
10️⃣ ADVANCED ENGINEER LEVEL KNOWLEDGE
For expert-level design:
Use P-Delta analysis
Check local buckling (Class 3/4 sections)
Check web crippling (tapered sections)
Check shear lag
Check frame stability (K factor)
Check foundation uplift