ASAE EP378.

3 DEC97

Floor and Suspended Loads on Agricultural Structures

Due to Use

Developed by the ASAE Agricultural Structures Code and Loads
Imposed on Structures Committee; approved by the ASAE Structures
and Environment Division Standards Committee; adopted by ASAE
December 1975; revised March 1977, December 1981, February 1987;
revised editorially December 1987; revised editorially and reconfirmed
December 1991; reaffirmed December 1996; reaffirmed for one year
December 1997.
3.1.9 Cranes and hoists. Procedures and data for structural loads from
cranes and hoists are included in model building codes and Metal
Building Systems Manual.
3.2 The recommended design loads on slotted floors in livestock pens
are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Recommended design floor live loads due to use

1 Purpose and scope
1.1 This Engineering Practice presents probable floor and suspended Solid floors*
loads due to building use and methods of applying the loads in building and floor Slat per
design. support unit length
1.2 This Engineering Practice includes recommended design loads
kg/m2 lb/ft2 kg/m lb/ft
resulting from livestock, suspended caged poultry, vehicles, and manure
stored on a floor. It does not include loads on manure storages or wind Beef cattle
and snow loads. Specifications for these applications are included in Calves to 135 kg (300 lb) 245 50 225 150
ASAE Engineering Practice EP288, Agricultural Building Snow and Wind Feeders, breeders 490 100 370 250
Loads, and ASAE Engineering Practice EP393, Manure Storages, Dairy cattle (see 3.1.1)
respectively. Calves to 135 kg (300 lb) 245 50 225 150
Mature 490 100 370 250
stall area 295 60 370 250
maternity or hospital pen 245 50 370 250
2 Terminology Swine (sec 3.2.2)
2.1 Terms used in this Engineering Practice are defined as follows: to 25 kg (50 lb) 170 35 75 50
90 kg (200 lb) 245 50 150 100
2.1.1 Dead load: Gravitional force due to mass of all material used in
180 kg (400 lb) 315 65 225 150
the building construction. 225 kg (500 lb) 340 70 255 170
2.1.2 Live load: Gravitional force due to mass of equipment, livestock, Sheep
products, and other loads resulting from the use of the structure. Feeders 195 40 150 100
Ewes, rams 245 50 180 120
Horses 490 100 370 250
Turkeys 145 30 37 25
3 Floor and suspended loads Chickens (see 3.1.3, 3.1.4)
3.1 The recommended design live load due to the use of the area is Floor houses 100 20 22 15
listed in Table 1. Greenhouses 245 50
Manure (see 3.1.2) 1040 65
3.1.1 Bulk milk tanks. Design floors under bulk tanks in milkrooms Shops, storage, vehicles (see 3.3)
according to the mass of the tank plus contents and the support system Suspended
of the tank. load
3.1.2 Manure. Where manure can accumulate, increase the design load
kg/m lb/ft
by 1040 kg/m2 (65 lb/ft2) per meter (foot) of manure depth. Chickens (see 3.1.4), suspended
3.1.3 Cages. Base design loads for floor-supported cages on mass and cages per length of cage row
support intervals. Full stair step (double deck,
no dropping boards) 110 75
3.1.4 Suspended poultry cages. Loads for suspended poultry cages Modified stair step (double
are based on 4-row (double deck) or 6-row (triple deck) cages with two deck, with dropping boards) 165 110
birds per 200 mm (8 in.) cage, or three birds per 300 mm (12 in.) cage, Modified stair step (triple
and 50 mm (2 in.) of manure accumulated on dropping boards under deck, with dropping boards) 225 150
upper cages. For other configurations, consult the manufacturer.
3.1.5 Storage. Calculate design load for product storage on the basis of kg/m2 lb/ft2
individual mass but no less than 490 kg/m2 (100 lb/ft2).
Greenhouses (see 3.1.6)
3.1.6 Greenhouses. Bottom chord panel points of roof trusses shall be Crop 20 4
capable of safely supporting a minimum concentrated live load of 45 kg
(100 lb) applied at any panel point. *For floors that are outdoors, add suitable design snow loads on the ground.
3.1.7 Combined. Add equipment and vehicle loads to the animal loads Increase solid floor live load 25% for floors supporting crowded animals (e.g.,
in Table 1 where appropriate. crowding pen, dairy holding pen with automatic gate, handling alleys near
loading chute).
3.1.8 Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) and other
Check slats for 115 kg (250 lb) concentrated load.
equipment. Base design on equipment mass and support system
Per meter of depth.

specified. Per foot of depth.

636 ASAE STANDARDS 1998

3.2.1 An alternate requirement for slats, which may dictate design, is a
single concentrated load of 115 kg (250 lb) located first for maximum
moment, then for maximum shear, in slats and slat supports.
3.2.2 Design slotted floors in farrowing pens for a single concentrated
load of 115 kg (250 lb) located first for maximum moment, then for
maximum shear, in slats and slat supports.
3.2.3 Where slats are interconnected between supports so that three or
more slats must deflect together, design each span of slat between
support and interconnection, and between two interconnections, for the
recommended load per unit length of slat. Design the full span of each
slat for one-half the recommended load per unit length.
3.3 Vehicle loads. The following are for vehicles in storage or slow-
moving vehicles, as in buildings, alleys, emptying manure storages, etc.
3.3.1 Uniformly distributed. The minimum design load on a floor area
used for farm machinery with traffic limited to access and egress should
be 730 kg/m2 (150 lb/ft2). If the area will be occupied by either loaded
farm trucks or large farm tractors [those with a mass exceeding 5900 kg
(13,000 lb) including mounted equipment], the design load should be
975 kg/m2 (200 lb/ft2).
3.3.2 Concentrated. In the absence of specific information, the
minimum design loads due to probable concentrations of loads resulting
from use of a floor area are:
For tractors and implements: 2270 kg (5000 lb) per wheel;
ASAE STANDARDS 1998
tread print=200 mm3300 mm (8 in.312 in.).
For loaded trucks not exceeding 9075 kg (20,000 lb) gross vehicle weight
(GVW): 3630 kg (8000 lb) per wheel; tread print=100 mm3510 mm
(4 in.320 in.)
For loaded trucks exceeding 9075 kg (20,000 lb) GVW: 5440 kg (12,000
lb) per wheel; tread print=150 mm3560 mm (6 in.322 in.).
3.3.3 Loading and processing. In cases where the area (minimum
traffic or driveway) is to serve as a place for loading, unloading, or
processing, increase minimum design loads by 50% and allowable
material stresses as permitted for impact, to allow for impact or vibrations
of machinery or equipment.
3.3.4 On manure tank lids. For vehicle traffic on a manure tank lid, use
4540 kg (10,000 lb) axle load, or a loading equivalent of two 2270 kg
(5000 lb) concentrated loads 1.2 m (4 ft) apart and oriented in any critical
direction on the tank cover.
Cited Standards:
ASAE EP288, Agricultural Building Snow and Wind Loads
ASAE EP393, Manure Storages
References
Last printed in 1988 STANDARDS; list available from ASAE Headquarters.
637