Structural Design Loads for Denver, CO (Illustrative)
Illustrative structural design loads for Denver, CO — typical ground snow load, ultimate design wind speed, and seismic parameters for early orientation, with the ASCE Hazard Tool giving address-specific values.
Structural Design Loads for Denver, CO (Illustrative)
Direct answer
Typical, illustrative snow, wind, and seismic design parameters for the Denver, Colorado area — framed as orientation only, with the ASCE Hazard Tool as the authoritative source.
Key facts
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground snow load (pg) | ~30 psf | illustrative, metro lowland |
| Ultimate wind speed (Vult) | ~105–115 mph | Risk Cat. II, illustrative |
| Seismic (Ss / S1) | low–moderate | commonly SDC B–C |
| Foothills caveat | Snow = CS | elevation-driven case study |
Illustrative Denver-area loads
Denver combines a moderate snow climate, plains-transition wind, and low-to-moderate seismicity — a useful contrast to coastal or mountain sites. The values below are illustrative of the lowland metro for early orientation and must not be used for design.
| Parameter | Symbol | Illustrative value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground snow load | pg | ~30 psf | rises sharply toward foothills (CS) |
| Ultimate wind speed | Vult | ~105–115 mph | Risk Cat. II; Cat. IV higher |
| Exposure | — | often C | confirm from terrain |
| Short-period accel. | Ss | low–moderate | from USGS maps |
| 1-second accel. | S1 | low | from USGS maps |
| Seismic Design Category | SDC | commonly B–C | site class & risk dependent |
How these flow into design
- Snow — a ~30 psf ground value converts to a lower flat-roof load, but drift at parapets and roof steps can govern locally; foothill sites need a case-study pg.
- Wind — plains-edge Vult with an exposure call that depends on the actual surroundings.
- Seismic — typically a lower SDC than the West Coast, but still set per project by Ss/S1, site class, and risk category.
Get the authoritative value
These are orientation figures, not design values. Enter the exact address in the ASCE Hazard Tool (snow, wind) and the USGS Seismic Design Maps (Ss, S1), then confirm the code edition and Denver amendments with the AHJ. To study terrain and exposure against the real surroundings before that step, open the site in Harth.
Current-code alert and load lookup record
Do not use the legacy illustrative values above. Denver’s 2025 Building and Fire Codes became effective December 31, 2025 and incorporate the 2024 I-Codes; the city’s adoption material says ASCE 7-22 now supplies location-varying snow loads. The prior fixed Denver snow value is therefore not a current design basis.
| Record | Required project evidence |
|---|---|
| Address / coordinates | Exact project location and jurisdiction confirmation |
| Adopted code | Denver code edition, effective date and applicable transition rule |
| ASCE edition | Edition referenced by that adopted code |
| Risk category | Owner and engineer-confirmed category |
| Snow | Hazard Tool output, units, date, input coordinates and report |
| Wind | Hazard Tool output, risk category, exposure decision and report |
| Seismic | Hazard output plus site class from geotechnical information |
| Local amendments | Chapter 16 amendments checked against the adopted edition |
| Review | Colorado-licensed structural engineer name and date |
Use the Denver code and permitting page and the official ASCE Hazard Tool. This page remains non-indexable until the legacy body is replaced and engineer-reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I design to the numbers on this page?
No. These figures are illustrative of the Denver metro for early orientation only. Denver's terrain changes fast toward the foothills, where snow becomes elevation-dependent (often a case-study value) and exposure shifts with the surroundings. Pull the authoritative pg, Vult, Ss, and S1 for the exact address from the ASCE Hazard Tool and USGS Seismic Design Maps, under the code edition and local amendments the AHJ has adopted.
Is Denver a high-seismic area?
Denver sits in a generally low-to-moderate seismic setting relative to the West Coast, so many buildings land in a lower Seismic Design Category (commonly B or C) than a comparable structure in California. That said, the SDC still depends on the mapped Ss/S1, the geotechnical site class, and the risk category — so it must be confirmed per project rather than assumed from the region.
Why does the snow value carry a foothills caveat?
Ground snow load rises steeply with elevation. A lowland metro value near 30 psf does not represent sites just a few miles west and several hundred feet higher, which ASCE 7 often treats as case-study (CS) zones requiring a site-specific determination. Always check whether your address falls in a CS area in the ASCE Hazard Tool.
Related
- Seismic Design Category (SDC) Explained for Architects
- Ground Snow Load (pg) Explained for Architects
- Ultimate Design Wind Speed & Exposure Categories Explained
Source & method: Illustrative values characteristic of the Denver, CO metro; snow/wind per ASCE 7 and the ASCE Hazard Tool, seismic per USGS Seismic Design Maps. State/metro values are illustrative and the official ASCE Hazard Tool + AHJ-adopted code (Denver amendments) govern the exact address.