Floor Live Load Lookup
Pick an occupancy and read the characteristic live load in kN/m².
Inputs
Result
Formula
| Characteristic value | Table 5.1.1 by occupancy |
| Beam reduction | item 1 above 25 m² ×0.9; others above 50 m² ×0.9 |
| Column/foundation | item 1: 25 m² ×0.9, 50 m² ×0.85; others: 50 m² ×0.9, 100 m² ×0.85 |
| No reduction | never when designing the slab itself |
| Separate items | partition weight, equipment, fire engines |
Office floor, 30 m² tributary area: characteristic load 2.0 kN/m²; beams may use ×0.9 = 1.80 kN/m², columns and foundations also 1.80 kN/m² at this area. The slab itself stays at 2.0 kN/m².
FAQ
Is 2.0 kN/m² enough for a home - what about furniture or an aquarium?
2.0 kN/m² is about two adults per square metre: a statistical service load, not a capacity limit. The slab also carries dead load and uses load factors, so real reserve is much higher. But concentrated items need checking: a 1.5 m aquarium holds close to a tonne, roughly 7 kN/m² over 1.5 m², so keep it near a beam or wall and watch the span.
Why no reduction for slabs but reduction for beams and columns?
It is probability. A slab is unlikely to be fully loaded over its small area, so its full intensity is assumed; a beam or column spans several rooms, and the chance of all being packed at once falls as the area grows, which is why the reduction increases with area.
Do partition walls count as live load?
No - partition weight is dead load. Light partitions may be smeared as an equivalent uniform dead load (around 1.0 kN/m² depending on height and spacing), but masonry partitions must be entered as line loads in the analysis.
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Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.