Partial Safety Factor On Material and Load Based On IS456, Eurocode &ACI

“Partial Safety factor on Material and Load based on IS456, Eurocode
&ACI”
-Sudip Shrestha
Introduction:
Partial factor of safety is the certain factor that are usually introduced in order to design a
structure with larger load or reduced strength of material. It is very important to use partial
safety factor in the design as we are designing the structure for the future use and due to
uncertainties of anticipated load and strength of material.Hence, Use of the partial factor of
safety keeps the structure safe in future anticipated load as well as the responsibility of engineer
towards the designed structure is safeguarded.
Partial factor of safety for material as per IS 456:2000
The design strength of concrete and reinforcing steel is reduced and obtained by dividing the
characteristic strength by the appropriate partial safety factor. the characteristic strength of a
material as obtained from the statistical approach is the strength of that material below which not
more than five per cent of the test results are expected to fall. However, such characteristic
strengths may differ from sample to sample also.
Clause 36.4.2 of IS 456 states that partial factor of safety concrete and steel should be taken as
1.5 and 1.15, respectively when determining the strength of the structures or structural members
employing limit state of collapse. However, when assessing the deflection, the material
properties such as modulus of elasticity should be taken as those associated with the
characteristic strength of the material.
The partial safety factor for steel (1.15) is comparatively lower than that of concrete (1.5)
because the steel for reinforcement is produced in steel plants and commercially available in
specific diameters with expected better-quality control than while mixing of concrete is done in
site.
Moreover, In the concrete the characteristic strength is calculated on the basis of test results on
150 mm standard cubes. But the concrete in the structure has different sizes. To take the size
effect into account, it is assumed that the concrete in the real-world structure develops a strength
of 0.67 times the characteristic strength of cubes.
Characteristic strength of concrete in structure = 0.67 x characteristic strength of cube
Note: It has been observed in experiments conducted on beams or columns that the strength of
concrete in the compression zone at failure is approximately 0.85 times the strength of cylinders
cast and tested in laboratories (Hognestad, et al. 1955; Rüsch 1960). Furthermore, the cylinder
strength (fc) is about 0.80 of the cube strengths(fck)
Characteristic strength of concrete in structure=0.85xcharacteristic strength of cylinder specimen(fc)
= 0.85*0.8 fck (∴ fc/fck =0.8 )
=0.67 fck
The above expression accounts the size effect. The reason behind reducing the characteristic
strength of concrete used in beam and column is due to the size effect as in reality structural
member or concrete is subjected to the sustained load while the cube or cylindrical specimen are
subjected to the short-term load only.
Finally, after the application of partial factor of safety in concrete
Maximum compressive design strength of concrete = 0.67 fck /1.5

=0.447 fck
Similarly, Design strength of reinforcing steel = fy/1.15

=0.87 fy
Thus, Partial factor of safety incorporates the uncertainties of material behavior, imperfection of
material and manufacturing tolerance.
For serviceability limit state, a safety factor for both concrete and steel is unity because we are
interested i in estimating the actual deflections and crack-widths under the service loads, and not
‘safe’ (conservative) values.
Partial factor of safety for the load as per IS 456:

It is assumed that in ninety-five per cent cases the characteristic loads will not be exceeded
during the life of the structures. However, structures are subjected to overloading also. Hence,
structures should be designed with loads obtained by multiplying the characteristic loads with
suitable factors of safety depending on the nature of loads or their combinations, and the limit
state being considered. These factors of safety for loads are termed as partial safety factors for
loads. Thus, the design loads are calculated as
Design load (Pu) = Characteristic load (P) X Partial safety factor for load γf
Respective values of γf for loads in the two limit states as given in Table 18 of IS 456 for
different combinations of loads are listed below:
Most of the value of factor of safety of load in limit state of collapse is greater than unity (1)
which overestimate the possible load and ensure the safe design. As the multiplication of service
load or characteristic load which has only 5% probability to exceed in the design life of the
structure with partial factor of safety increases the design load.
The dead load factor γdf, which is taken as 0.9 to encounter the two factors:
 Dead load contributes to stability against overturning or sliding, or
 While considering reversal stresses when dead loads are combined with wind or earthquake
loads. In such cases, underestimating the counteracting effects of dead load results in greater
safety.
The partial load factor γf should be taken as unity for all serviceability limit state calculations,
since they relate to the criteria governing normal use.
According to Euro code:
Actions (loads) can be classified as

 Permanent actions (G): These are fixed values such as the self-weight of the structure and
the weight of finishes, ceilings, services and partitions.
 Variable actions (Q): These are imposed loads due to people, furniture, and equipment etc.
on floors, wind actions on the whole structure including roofs and snow loads on roofs.
 Accidental actions (A): These are loads due to crashing of vehicles against the building,
bomb blasts and other forces
The characteristic value of an action (load) is its main representative value defined by a nominal
value which is normally expected to have a 95% probability of not being exceeded
The characteristic loads used in design are as follows:

1. The characteristic permanent action Gk is given by a single value as its value does not vary
significantly during the lifetime of the structure.
2. The characteristic variable action Qk is represented as follows.
 Combination value ψ0 Qk is {used for irreversible ultimate limit states or both the
persistent and transient design situations
 Frequent value ψ1 Qk is {used for reversible limit states or {Used in conjunction with
accidental actions}
 Quasi-permanent value ψ2 Qk is used for calculating long term effects such as deflection due
to creep and other aspects related to the appearance of the structure.
Note that combination factor ψ is a device for reducing the design value of variable loads when
they act in combination.
The design value of an action is a product of the representative value and a load factor γFi.
Then, For Permanent actions,
∴Design value = γFi Gk.
For variable actions,
∴Design value = γFi ψi Qk
where i = 0, 1, or 2 depending on whether it is a combination value, a frequent value or a quasi-

permanent value.
The value of γFi can be different for different Qk and different from that for Gk
Table that gives the ψ values for different imposed loads
Combining the design loads will vary with the design situations. Partial safety factors are used to
combine loads and produce the worst design situation for a building or element
In the above the symbols denote as follows
ξ = reduction factor for unfavorable permanent actions G
The load factors to be used are:
γG,j = 1.35 (unfavorable), 1.00 (favorable)

Qk, 1 = leading variable action
γQ, 1 = 1.50 (unfavorable), 1.00 (favorable)
Qk ,i = accompanying variable actions
γQ, i = 1.50 (unfavorable), 1.00 (favorable)
ξ = 0.85 (U.K. adopts 0.925)
 All load factors γG and γQ are taken as unity for the limit state of the serviceability as per
Eurocode 2
Partial factors for materials as per Eurocode 2

For persistent and transient design situations, γc for concrete = 1.5,
For reinforcing and prestressing steel γs = 1.15.
For accidental design situations, γc = 1.3 and γs = 1.0.
Design strength for concrete is therefore fcd = fck/ γc
for steel fyd = fyk/ γs
where fck and fyk are respectively the characteristic cylinder compressive strength
of concrete and yield stress of steel.
The partial factor for materials takes account of
1. Uncertainties in the strength of materials in the structure
2. Uncertainties in the accuracy of the method used to predict the behavior
of members
3. Variations in member sizes and building dimensions
Safety Provision on the load and material as per ACI
Structures, components, and foundations shall be designed so that their design strength equals or
exceeds the effects of the factored loads in the following combinations.
Design strength >=Factored Loads
ϕD >= U
Effects of one or more loads not acting shall be considered. Wind and seismic loads need not be
considered to act simultaneously. Refer to Sections 1.4, 2.3.6, 12.4, and 12.14.3 for the specific
definition of the earthquake load effect E. Each relevant strength limit state shall be investigated.
1.4D
2. 1.2D + 1.6L + 0.5(Lr or S or R)
3. 1.2D + 1.6(Lr or S or R) +(L or
0.5W)
4. 1.2D + 1.0W + L + 0.5(Lr or S or R)
5. 0.9D + 1.0W
Seismic load effects shall be combined
loads in accordance with Section 2.3.6
6. 1.2D + Ev + Eh + L + 0.2S
7. 0.9D − Ev + Eh
Strength reduction factors ϕ shall be in
accordance is shown in the table below
The purpose of the strength reduction

factor are:
 To account the probability of under
strength members due to variation in
material strength and dimension
 To account for inaccuracies in the
design equation
 To reflect the available ductility and
required reliability of the member
under the load effects being
considered
 To reflect the importance of member
in the structure
Reference:
ASCE/SEI 07–16 2019, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other structures, American
Society of Civil Engineers
ACI 318-19 2019, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary,
American Concrete Institute,
Pillai, S.U. and D. Menon 2003, Reinforced Concrete Design, 2nd edition, Tata McGraw-Hill
Publishing Company Ltd, New Delhi
Nilson, Darwin 2010, Design of Concrete Structure, 14th edition,
Bhatt, Choo, Machginley,2014, Reinforced Concrete Design to Eurocodes Design Theory and
Examples, 4rth edition, CRC press
Explanatory Handbook on Indian Standard Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced Concrete
(IS 456:1978), Special Publication SP:24, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, 1983
BS EN 1990:2002 Eurocode -Basis of Structural Design

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“Partial Safety factor on Material and Load based on IS456, Eurocode

Partial factor of safety for material as per IS 456:2000

Finally, after the application of partial factor of safety in concrete

Maximum compressive design strength of concrete = 0.67 fck /1.5

Similarly, Design strength of reinforcing steel = fy/1.15

Partial factor of safety for the load as per IS 456:

According to Euro code:

Actions (loads) can be classified as

The characteristic loads used in design are as follows:

where i = 0, 1, or 2 depending on whether it is a combination value, a frequent value or a quasi-

Table that gives the ψ values for different imposed loads

The load factors to be used are:

γG,j = 1.35 (unfavorable), 1.00 (favorable)

Partial factors for materials as per Eurocode 2

The purpose of the strength reduction

Nilson, Darwin 2010, Design of Concrete Structure, 14th edition,

BS EN 1990:2002 Eurocode -Basis of Structural Design

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