1602x
004351
2020-02-24

Question

Is it possible to perform automatic live load reduction in RFEM or RSTAB per the ASCE, IBC, or NBCC?


Answer:
Live load reduction is not considered automatically in RFEM. RFEM and RSTAB are general FEA and framework programs. The program does not understand what is a floor element vs. wall element. Only a general plate element is defined. It is not possible for the program to determine the area of a floor for live load reduction. 

A user must manually consider the reduction by modifying the live load magnitude directly in the load application.