The effects due to snow load are described in the American standard ASCE/SEI 7-16 and in Eurocode 1, Parts 1 through 3. These standards are implemented in the new RFEM 6 program and the Snow Load Wizard, which serves to facilitate the application of snow loads. In addition to this, the most recent generation of the program allows the construction site to be specified on a digital map, thus allowing the snow load zone to be imported automatically. These data are, in turn, used by the Load Wizard to simulate the effects due to the snow load.
The reinforced concrete design for fire situations is carried out according to the simplified method based on EN 1992-1-2, Clause 4.2. The "zone method" described in Annex B.2 is used: The cross-section is subdivided into a number of parallel zones of equal thickness, and their temperature-dependent compressive strength is determined. The reduced load-bearing capacity in the event of fire exposure is thus represented by a reduced structural component's cross-section with reduced strengths.
If the wind load for buildings or structures is to be determined by the simultaneous assumption of aerodynamic pressure and suction coefficients on the windward and leeward sides of the building, the correlation of the wind pressure on zones D and E of the wall surfaces may be taken into account.
Wind is the only climatic load acting on every type of structure in every country in the world, unlike snow. The wind speed depends on the geographic location of the building. Currently, this is one of the main reasons for the necessity of regional division (wind zone) and consideration of the altitude stipulated within the official standards; the variation of the dynamic pressures according to the height above the ground for a "normal" site deprived of masking effect should be taken into account as well.
According to DIN EN 1990/NA:2010‑12 - NDP to A.1.2.1(1) Comment 2, it is possible to neglect the combination of snow as a collateral action in cases of wind/snow combination with wind as the leading action in wind zones III and IV.