Which term refers to the structural weight supported by a building?

The term that refers to the structural weight supported by a building is "dead load." This encompasses all the permanent components of a structure, including the weight of the building materials themselves, such as walls, floors, roofs, and any other permanent fixtures. The dead load is a crucial aspect of structural engineering, as it must be accurately calculated to ensure that the building can support its own weight, along with any additional live loads it may encounter during its lifespan.

Live load, on the other hand, refers to temporary or moveable forces acting on a structure, such as occupants, furniture, and other variable weights that can change over time. While both dead loads and live loads are critical to understand in the context of building safety and design, only dead loads pertain to the structural weight consistently supported by a building.

Dynamic load refers to forces that change over time, such as wind or seismic activity, which are important in analyzing a structure's response to varying conditions. Static load typically refers to load forces that remain constant or do not change over time but does not specifically denote the weight supported by the structure itself; it encompasses both dead and live loads under certain contexts.

Understanding these distinctions is essential for firefighters and building inspectors when assessing structural integrity and safety during fire