Asce 7 22 Portable – Certified & Tested

Report: Application of ASCE 7-22 to Portable Structures

Prepared For: Engineers, Designers, & Code Officials
Date: April 12, 2026
Subject: Key provisions of ASCE 7-22 (Minimum Design Loads for Buildings) relevant to non-permanent, portable, or relocatable structures.

Scope & purpose

ASCE 7-22 establishes minimum design loads (dead, live, seismic, wind, snow, rain, tsunami, etc.) for buildings and other structures in the U.S. Used with building codes (IBC/IRC).

3. Portable Load Combination Reference

(Note: Always check local amendments. Strength Design (LRFD) shown.)

Basic Combinations:

$D$
$D + L$
$D + (L_r \text or S \text or R)$
$D + 0.75L + 0.75(L_r \text or S \text or R)$
$D + (0.6W \text or 0.7E)$
$D + 0.75L + 0.75(0.6W) + 0.75(L_r \text or

"ASCE 7-22 Portable" generally refers to the application of the ASCE 7-22 standard portable or temporary structures

, such as modular offices, mobile equipment, and relocatable buildings. While ASCE 7-22 is the primary authority for structural loads in the U.S., it does not have a single "portable" chapter; instead, it addresses these structures through several interconnected provisions. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Key Structural Considerations for Portable Units asce 7 22 portable

Designers must account for the same environmental hazards as permanent buildings, often with specific nuances for mobility: ASCE 7-22 wind load standard adds tornado chapter

Pitfall #3: Overlooking Ice Loads (Chapter 10)

Portable structures stored outdoors in winter must meet ASCE 7-22 ice loads. A portable control room in North Dakota with 1 inch of radial ice adds 25% to the dead load, which directly reduces the available resisting weight against wind uplift. Many portable units have overturned not due to wind alone, but due to wind + ice. Report: Application of ASCE 7-22 to Portable Structures

Part 1: What Does "Portable" Mean Under ASCE 7-22?

Before we dive into load combinations, we must define the subject. ASCE 7-22 does not have a dedicated chapter titled "Portable Buildings." Instead, portability falls under the umbrella of Chapter 15: Nonbuilding Structures and specific provisions for Chapter 13: Nonstructural Components.

A "portable" structure, in the context of this code, is defined as a structure that: ASCE 7-22 establishes minimum design loads (dead, live,

Is not permanently attached to a foundation (no cast-in-place anchor bolts).
Is designed for relocation (e.g., modular trailers, containerized units).
Relies on temporary or ballasted anchoring (screw piles, concrete blocks, or tie-down straps).

Key distinction from ASCE 7-16: ASCE 7-22 introduces stricter criteria for the stability of partially anchored systems. If your portable structure can rock, slide, or uplift during a design wind event, you must now analyze it as an "unrestrained" component with a higher safety factor.