Identify the building & engineer of record. The address (with ZIP) drives the Velocity Finder on the next step.
π‘ Need help?
Enter the project address including the ZIP code β that's what the Velocity Finder uses to look up your ASCE 7-22 design wind speed (with local jurisdiction overrides). Your state is detected automatically from the address β it sets the edge-strip minimum (FL = 4 ft per FBC, 3 ft elsewhere) and the report code-edition note.
Wind Parameters
Pick the design basis, then find the wind speed for your location β our database, with jurisdiction overrides.
The selections below are our defaults β but you can set your own. Change any to fit your project (tap β Help if unsure). Do similar projects often? Click β Set as my defaults and every calculator will open pre-set to your preferences.
Risk Category β Help
Sets the building's importance (ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1). I β low hazard to human life (barns, minor storage, no occupancy). II β standard occupancy: most homes, offices & retail (the usual choice). III β substantial hazard: schools, day-cares, assembly for >300 people, buildings with large occupant loads. IV β essential facilities that must stay operational: hospitals, fire/police/EOC, power & water utilities. When unsure, II covers ordinary buildings; step up to III for schools/assembly and IV for critical facilities.
I
Low hazard
β
II
Standard
β
III
Substantial hazard
β
IV
Essential facility
β
Velocity Finder β ZIP / Address → Design Wind Speed for your Risk Category
Which basic wind speed V you're working in.Ultimate β strength-level (LRFD); the ASCE 7-22 wind maps give ultimate speeds, so this is the map value used directly with strength load combinations. Nominal β service / allowable-stress (ASD) level (β ultimate Γ 0.78), used with ASD load combinations. Pick the one that matches your design method. Residential ASD work commonly uses Nominal; LRFD/strength design uses Ultimate.π΄ Florida (FBC) β Components & Cladding: The Florida Building Code (8th Ed., 2023) adopts ASCE 7-22. For C&C β including roof C&C β design pressures may be taken at Nominal (ASD) level, matching the allowable-stress design pressures listed on Florida product approvals & Miami-Dade NOAs. The wind maps give ultimate speeds, so Nominal β ultimate Γ 0.78.
Ultimate
LRFD (strength)
Nominal
ASD (allowable)
Exposure Category β Help
Ground roughness around the site (ASCE 7-22 Β§26.7). B β urban, suburban or wooded areas with numerous closely-spaced obstructions (houses, trees). C β open terrain with scattered obstructions under 30 ft: flat open country, grassland (a common, conservative choice). D β flat, unobstructed areas & water surfaces: shorelines in hurricane-prone regions, mud/salt flats. Use the roughness that actually surrounds the building; when a site straddles two, the rougher upwind fetch governs.
B
Urban / Suburban
C
Open Terrain
D
Coastal / Flat
Enclosure Classification β Help
Determines the internal pressure GCpi (set automatically; ASCE 7-22 Β§26.2 & Β§26.12). Enclosed β no dominant openings (a typical finished building). Partially Open β some openings, but not enough to be partially enclosed. Partially Enclosed β a dominant opening on one wall (large door, or failed glazing) lets wind pressurize the interior β a big uplift increase. Open β each wall is β₯ 80% open (canopies, pavilions). In a wind-borne-debris region, glazing that isn't impact-rated may have to be treated as an opening.
Enclosed
Partially Open
Partially Enclosed
Open
Building Geometry
Building dimensions and roof slope.
π‘ Need help?
Building width/length set the edge-strip dimension a. Mean roof height h is the average of eave and ridge. Roof slope is X/12 rise-over-run (shown in degrees) β each roof shape has its own valid range. Enter the component (tributary) area and roof zone on the Calculator step.
β 18.4Β°
Topographic Effects
Wind speed-up over hills, ridges & escarpments β ASCE 7-22 Β§26.8 (factor Kzt).
π‘ Need help?
Flat terrain β no speed-up (Kzt = 1.0). For a 2D ridge, 3D axisymmetric hill, or escarpment, enter the feature height H, the half-length Lh (crest to where the ground is half of H), and x (crest to the building β upwind negative, downwind positive). Leave as Flat for level sites. This factor feeds qh = 0.00256Β·KzΒ·KztΒ·KdΒ·KeΒ·VΒ².
Site Topography
Flat
No speed-up
2D Ridge
Long ridge
3D Hill
Axisymmetric
Escarpment
Cliff / step-up
Hill / ridge / escarpment height
Crest → half-height point
Crest → building (±)
Calculator
Add each roof component β enter its size and pick its zone; design pressures auto-calculate and update live (ASCE 7-22 Ch 30).
π‘ Need help?
Add a row per roof component. Each row's effective wind area (Width Γ Length) and Β± design pressures recompute instantly. Zone 1 = interior, Zone 2 = edge, Zone 3 = corner (highest uplift) β set each row's zone with the β²βΌ arrows. Factors below (qh, K's, edge strip a) come from the Building Geometry & Topographic steps.
live recalc
#
Description
W (ft)
L (ft)
Zone
Effective Wind Area
P(+) psf
P(β) psf
Velocity Pressure qh
β
Kz Β· Kzt Β· Kd Β· Ke
β
Edge Strip a
β
Governing |P|
β
Wind Report
Permit-ready Engineering Report β building code & ASCE 7-22 reference added automatically from the project State.
π‘ Need help?
Generate the Engineering Report from your inputs and results, then Print / Download it (HTML, Excel or CSV), or use β Save in the header. Run Calculate on the previous step first.