My client, who is supplying interior doors for a Hong Kong convention center, has received a specification from their Chinese distributors of the required lateral forces. I reviewed their calculations and have deciphered a wind force of 11 psf and another load of the equivalent of 28 psf (possibly a seismic load). Reference is made to a "Hong Kong Steel Code clause 2.5.8"
Since these doors typically weigh between 8 to 10 psf, that would mean a seismic factor of 2.8 times the weight, assuming this is a seismic load. This seems very high, but 28 psf is also a very high interior wind load even in a pressurized building.
Any thoughts on an appropriate interior load, wind or otherwise? What would our Codes require for a seismic factor on a door hung from the ceiling framing, short of a dynamic analysis of the whole building and this "bell clapper" door?
Charles Laines, S.E.
Long Beach, CA