6/24/23, 12:21 PM Calculation of wind pressure loads on flat roofs - Eurocode 1

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Eurocode 1
Wind load on flat roofs (external and internal
pressure coefficients)
Description:
Calculation of wind load action effects on flat roofs (including small parapets). The net effect of
external and internal wind pressure for zones F, G, H, I on the roof surface are calculated from the
corresponding external pressure coefficients
According to:
EN 1991-1-4:2005+A1:2010 Section 7.2.3
Applicable for:
Roofs with almost flat slope α of -5° < α < 5°, consisting of one skin, on buildings having permanent
side walls.
Supported
National
Annexes:
A) Calculation of pressure coefficients: Apart from countries that adopt CEN recommended values for
section 7.2.3 of EN1991-1-4, the following National Annexes are supported: Croatia. B) Peak velocity
pressure: The value can be specified manually. Otherwise automatic calculation of peak velocity
pressure is supported for countries that adopt the CEN recommended values for the related NDPs,
and also for the following National Annexes: Finland, Portugal. The National Annexes of Germamy,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland are NOT supported.

Input
Terrain category = I

Basic wind velocity vb = 19 m/s

Horizontal dimension of rectangular d= 91.2 m

plan parallel to the wind direction
Horizontal dimension of rectangular b= 219.4 m
plan perpendicular to the wind direction
(crosswind dimension)
Height of building from ground up to h= 14.2 m
roof level
Additional height of parapets hp = 1 m

Size of loaded area that produces the = >10m² (Cpe,10)

wind action for the examined
verification

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6/24/23, 12:21 PM Calculation of wind pressure loads on flat roofs - Eurocode 1

Orography factor at reference height ze c 0 ( z e) = 1

Building with a dominant face in terms = No

of openings
Minimum value of internal pressure cpi,min = -0.3
coefficient
Maximum value of internal pressure cpi,max = 0.2
coefficient

Nationally Defined Parameters

Air density ρ= 1.25 kg/m3

Results
Net wind pressure on zone F wnet,F = -1.036 kN/m2
Net wind pressure on zone G wnet,G = -0.723 kN/m2
Net wind pressure on zone H wnet,H = -0.614 kN/m2
Net wind pressure on zone I wnet,I = -0.273 kN/m2 or
+0.341 kN/m2
Characteristic length e e = min(b, 2h) = 28.400
m

Pressure zones for flat roofs, reproduced from EN1991-1-4 Figure 7.6

Notes
1. The calculated net wind pressure wnet corresponds to the overall wind effect on the surface
including both the external wind pressure and the internal wind pressure.
2. Pressure zones that are not applicable for the examined structure are denoted by N/A.
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3. The sign convention for the net pressure is the same as its external pressure part. Negative
pressure values correspond to suction directed away from the surface i.e. inducing uplift on
the roof.
4. For zone I both positive and negative wind pressure should be examined.
5. The calculated wind action effects are characteristic values (unfactored). Appropriate load
factors should be applied for the relevant design situation. For ULS verifications the partial
load factor γQ = 1.50 is applicable for variable actions.
6. According to EN1991-1-4 §7.2.1(1) for intermediate loaded areas A between 1m2 and 10m2 the
external pressure coefficient cpe may be calculated between the values cpe,1 and cpe,10 with
logarithmic interpolation: cpe = cpe,1 - (cpe,1 - cpe,10)⋅log10A.
7. According to EN1991-1-4 §7.2.9(2) when in at least two sides of the building (facades or roof)
the total area of openings is more than 30% of the area of that side, the wind action should be
calculated in accordance with EN1991-1-4 §7.3 and §7.4 instead (canopy roofs and free-
standing walls)

Details
Input Data
Terrain category: = I
Basic wind velocity: vb = 19 m/s
Horizontal dimension of rectangular plan parallel to the wind direction: d = 91.2 m
Horizontal dimension of rectangular plan perpendicular to the wind direction (crosswind
dimension): b = 219.4 m
Height of building from ground up to roof level: h = 14.2 m
Additional height of parapets: hp = 1 m
Size of loaded area that produces the wind action for the examined verification: = >10m²
(Cpe,10)
Orography factor at reference height ze: c0(ze) = 1
Building with a dominant face in terms of openings: = No
Minimum value of internal pressure coefficient: cpi,min = -0.3
Maximum value of internal pressure coefficient: cpi,max = 0.2
Ratio of area of the openings at the dominant face to the area of openings in the remaining
faces: Ao,dom/Ao,rest = 2
Area weighted value of the external pressure coefficient for the zones of the dominant face:
cpe,dominant = 0

Nationally Defined Parameters

Air density: ρ = 1.25 kg/m3
Calculation of peak velocity pressure
Reference height
The reference height for the wind action ze is equal to the maximum height above ground of the
building h including the additional height of parapets hp if present, as specified in EN1991-1-4
§7.2.3(3). Therefore:

ze = h + hp = 14.200 m + 1.000 m = 15.200 m

Basic wind velocity

The basic wind velocity vb is defined in EN1991-1-4 §4.2(2)P as a function of the wind direction and
time of year at 10 m above ground of terrain category II. The value of vb includes the effects of the
directional factor cdir and the seasonal factor cseason and it is provided in the National Annex. In the
following calculations the basic wind velocity is considered as vb = 19.00 m/s.

Terrain roughness

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The roughness length z0 and the minimum height zmin are specified in EN1991-1-4 Table 4.1 as a
function of the terrain category. For terrain category I the corresponding values are z0 = 0.010 m and
zmin = 1.0 m.

The terrain factor kr depending on the roughness length z0 = 0.010 m is calculated in accordance
with EN1991-1-4 equation (4.5):
kr = 0.19 ⋅ (z0 / z0,II)0.07 = 0.19 ⋅ (0.010 m / 0.050 m)0.07 = 0.1698

The roughness factor cr(ze) at the reference height ze accounts for the variability of the mean wind
velocity at the site. It is calculated in accordance with EN1991-1-4 equation 4.4. For the examined case
ze ≥ zmin:

cr(ze) = kr ⋅ ln(max{ze, zmin} / z0) = 0.1698 ⋅ ln(max{15.200 m, 1.0 m} / 0.010 m) = 1.2437

Orography factor
Where orography (e.g. hills, cliffs etc.) is significant its effect in the wind velocities should be taken
into account using an orography factor c0(ze) different than 1.0, as specified in EN1994-1-1 §4.3.3. The
recommended procedure in EN1994-1-1 §4.3.3 for calculation of the orography factor c0(ze) is
described in EN1994-1-1 §A.3.
In the following calculations the orography factor is considered as c0(ze) = 1.000.

Mean wind velocity

The mean wind velocity vm(ze) at reference height ze depends on the terrain roughness, terrain
orography and the basic wind velocity vb. It is determined using EN1991-1-4 equation (4.3):
vm(ze) = cr(ze) ⋅ c0(ze) ⋅ vb = 1.2437 ⋅ 1.000 ⋅ 19.00 m/s = 23.63 m/s

Wind turbulence

The turbulence intensity Iv(ze) at reference height ze is defined as the standard deviation of the
turbulence divided by the mean wind velocity. It is calculated in accordance with EN1991-1-4 equation
4.7. For the examined case ze ≥ zmin.

Iv(ze) = kI / [ c0(ze) ⋅ ln(max{ze, zmin} / z0) ] = 1.000 / [ 1.000 ⋅ ln(max{15.200 m, 1.0 m} / 0.010 m) ] =
0.1365

Basic velocity pressure

The basic velocity pressure qb is the pressure corresponding to the wind momentum determined at
the basic wind velocity vb. The basic velocity pressure is calculated according to the fundamental
relation specified in EN1991-14 §4.5(1):
qb = (1/2) ⋅ ρ ⋅ vb2 = (1/2) ⋅ 1.25 kg/m3 ⋅ (19.00 m/s)2 = 226 N/m2 = 0.226 kN/m2

where ρ is the density of the air in accordance with EN1991-1-4 §4.5(1). In this calculation the
following value is considered: ρ = 1.25 kg/m3. Note that by definition 1 N = 1 kg⋅m/s2.

Peak velocity pressure

The peak velocity pressure qp(ze) at reference height ze includes mean and short-term velocity
fluctuations. It is determined according to EN1991-1-4 equation 4.8:
qp(ze) = (1 + 7⋅Iv(ze)) ⋅ (1/2) ⋅ ρ ⋅ vm(ze)2 = (1 + 7⋅0.1365) ⋅ (1/2) ⋅ 1.25 kg/m3 ⋅ (23.63 m/s)2 = 682 N/m2
⇒ qp(ze) = 0.682 kN/m2

Note that by definition 1 N = 1 kg⋅m/s2.

Calculation of the distribution of external wind pressure on the flat roof

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Pressure coefficient type

The external pressure coefficients are divided into overall coefficients cpe,10 and local coefficients
cpe,1 as described in EN1991-1-4 §7.1.1(1) and §7.2.1(1). Local coefficients cpe,1 correspond to wind
pressure for loaded areas ≤ 1m2 and they may be used for the design of small elements and fixings
with an area per element of 1m2 or less such as cladding elements and roofing elements. Overall
coefficients cpe,10 correspond to wind pressure for loaded areas ≥ 10m2 and they may be used for
the design of the overall load bearing structure.
According to EN1991-1-4 §7.2.1(1) for intermediate loaded areas A between 1m2 and 10m2 the
external pressure coefficient cpe may be calculated between the values cpe,1 and cpe,10 with
logarithmic interpolation as follows:
cpe = cpe,1 - (cpe,1 - cpe,10)⋅log10A

In the examined calculation the provided external pressure corresponds to coefficient cpe,10 i.e. the
results are applicable for global verifications.

External pressure coefficients

The wind load on the structure is expressed in terms of external pressure coefficients for four zones
F, G, H, I as defined in EN1991-1-4 Figure 7.6 that is reproduced above. The extent of the zones
depends on the length e that is defined as:
e = min(b, 2h) = min(219.400 m, 2 ⋅ 14.200 m) = 28.400 m

Zone F extends starting from both of the upwind corners for length e/10 and width e/4. Zone G
extends between Zones F. Zone H extends for length from e/10 to e/2. Zone I extends for length
beyond e/2. For the examined roof where e = 28.400 m the applicable zones are zones F, G, H, I.
The external pressure coefficient cpe for each of zones F, G, H, I is defined in EN1991-1-4 Table 7.2 as
a function of the normalized height of parapets hp/h. For the examined case: hp/h = 1.000 m / 14.200
m = 0.070. Moreover, for the examined case the pressure coefficient cpe,10 is examined that
corresponds to the wind effects on loaded areas in the order of 10m2 that are appropriate for global
effects of the structure. Therefore according to EN1991-1-4 Table 7.2 the following external pressure
coefficient are obtained, using linear interpolation where appropriate:
For zone F: cpe,F = -1.318
For zone G: cpe,G = -0.859
For zone H: cpe,H = -0.700
For zone I: cpe,I = ±0.200
Negative values for the external pressure coefficient correspond to suction directed away from the
external surface inducing uplift forces on the roof. In Zone I, where positive and negative values are
given (±), both values should be considered.

Internal pressure coefficients

Internal pressure coefficients cpi are specified in EN1991-1-4 §7.2.9 depending on the size and
distribution of the openings of the building and background permeability due to leakage paths. A
face of the building is considered dominant when the area of openings at that face is at least two
times the area of openings and leakages in the remaining faces of the building.
For building without a dominant face and where it is not possible or not justified to estimate the
effect of opening distribution in a more accurate manner then the most onerous internal pressure
coefficient cpi = +0.2 or cpi = -0.3 should be considered, as specified in EN1991-1-4 §7.2.9(6), Note 2. In
this calculation the following value of the internal pressure coefficient are considered:
cpi,min = -0.300 and cpi,max = 0.200

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Negative values for the internal pressure coefficient correspond to suction directed away from the
internal surface inducing forces towards the interior of the building.

External wind pressure

The external wind pressure on the structure we corresponds to the pressure effect on the exterior
surface of the roof. The external pressure on the surface is derived from the calculated value of the
peak velocity pressure qp(ze) = 0.682 kN/m2 by application of the appropriate external pressure
coefficient cpe as specified in EN1991-1-4 §5.2(1).
we = qp(ze) ⋅ cpe

Internal wind pressure

The internal wind pressure on the structure wi corresponds to the pressure effect on the interior
surface of the roof. The internal pressure on the surface is derived from the value of the peak
velocity pressure qp(zi) by application of the appropriate internal pressure coefficient cpi as specified
in EN1991-1-4 §5.2(2).
wi = qp(zi) ⋅ cpi

The peak velocity pressure qp(zi) corresponds to the reference height for internal pressure zi. The
reference height for the internal pressure is specified in EN1991-1-4 §7.2.9(7) equal to the reference
height ze corresponding to the faces which contribute with their openings to the creation of the
internal pressure. In this calculation it is assumed that zi = ze = 15.200 m and qp(zi) = qp(ze) = 0.682
kN/m2.

Net wind pressure

The net wind pressure on the surfaces of the structure wnet corresponds to the combined effects of
external wind pressure and internal wind pressure.
For structural surfaces consisting of only one skin the net pressure effect is determined as:
wnet = we - wi = qp(ze) ⋅ cpe - qp(zi) ⋅ cpi

For structural surfaces consisting of more than one skin EN1991-1-4 §7.2.10 is applicable.

Net wind pressure on pressure zones

The most unfavorable net wind pressure for each pressure zone is obtained by combining the
corresponding external pressure coefficient cpe with the most unfavorable value of the internal
pressure coefficient cpi,min = -0.300 or cpi,max = 0.200. When cpe is positive then cpi,min = -0.300 is most
onerous. When cpe is negative then cpi,max = 0.200 is most onerous.
For the different pressure zones on the flat roof the following net pressures are obtained:
- For zone F: wnet,F = -1.036 kN/m2
- For zone G: wnet,G = -0.723 kN/m2
- For zone H: wnet,H = -0.614 kN/m2
- For zone I: wnet,I = -0.273 kN/m2 or +0.341 kN/m2
Negative net pressure values correspond to suction directed away from the external surface
inducing uplift forces on the roof. For every zone where positive and negative values are given, both
values should be considered. Pressure zones that are not mentioned are not applicable.

Additional notes
If significant openings exist on the structure then internal wind pressure may need to be
determined accurately as described in EN1991-1-4 §5.2.
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For canopy roofs (i.e. roofs without permanent walls) see EN1991-1-4 §7.3 and the relevant
calculation Wind load on monopitch canopies.
The calculated wind action effects are characteristic values (unfactored). Appropriate load
factors should be applied for the relevant design situation. For ULS verifications the partial
load factor γQ = 1.50 is applicable for variable actions according to EN1990.

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