During the recent Technical Committee meeting at the end of February, I discussed SPRA’s intention to run one day training courses on Wind Load Protocol for Calculation (WLPC) through this year, at convenient locations around the UK.
This however was before onset of the Covid-19 virus in the UK, which as we know is curtailing many gatherings and meetings as I write this blog, and no one can be certain when such courses could actually take place.
However, we see this course as assisting in the competency development of all working with wind load calculations and therefore the planning of the course content and format will continue even if course dates and locations for the moment cannot be finalised.
Towards the end of last year SPRA published S11b-19 (Wind loading; protocol for calculation). The development of this piece of guidance marked a milestone in industry collaboration, with SPRA members of the Technical Committee working with external consultants to produce an industry leading wind loading document. The new WLPC course will be based on this and the rest of the suite of wind loading guidance available from SPRA covering previous guidance also.
S11b-19 is intended to be used in conjunction with S11a-16 (Wind Loading- A guide to reduced risk; A checklist of the parameters required for calculation) and S11b-17 (Wind Load-Design requirements). Both of these guidance documents provide important information and are referenced and used in the WLPC course.
S11a-16 ensures that all the required parameters are available in the correct units and as the title of the document indicates, it is a checklist which includes guidance notes for the person supplying the parameters required for calculation.
S11b-17 highlights SPRA best practice guidance with respect to membrane and insulation attachment requirements, to provide resistance to wind uplift. It supplements guidance provided within the ‘SPRA Design Guide’ and references other appropriate industry documents to ensure that SPRA members are fully informed of the appropriate design and installation requirements.
In conclusion there are now a number of important guidance documents that form the package for the assessment of wind loading from SPRA and the WLPC course will use information and reference each document as appropriate. It is recommended that the full suite of SPRA wind load guidance documents are consulted to review and assess any individual project.
The WLPC course will therefore be based on the following SPRA wind load guidance documentation;
- SPRA Design Guide – (latest edition)
- S11a-16 (Wind Loading – A guide to reduced risk; A checklist of the parameters required for calculation)
- S11b-17 (Wind Load – Design requirements)
- S11b-19 (Wind loading- Protocol for calculation)
- Site pull-out test – Protocol for flat roofs
Each document has a specific role to play in the overall assessment of flat roof wind loading. Together they provide a comprehensive package of tools to reduce risk and enhance design and subsequent performance of single ply roofing systems.
The new WLPC course will enable discussion and practice in using the new S11b-19 guidance together with the existing SPRA guidance to provide comprehensive coverage on wind load calculation.
Please keep a look out for further information on the SPRA website for course dates and venues
Dr Ronan Brunton B.Sc MBA GMICE
Technical Manager