About Wind Load Calculator
The wind load calculator determines design wind pressures on buildings and structures per ASCE 7-22, Eurocode 1, and AS/NZS 1170.2. It is used by structural engineers, facade designers, and contractors to size cladding, framing, and connections against code-mandated wind effects.
Enter site wind speed, exposure, building geometry, and risk category; the tool returns velocity pressure, MWFRS and components-and-cladding pressures, and zone-by-zone results with a visual breakdown.
How It Works
- Determine the basic wind speed V for the site and risk category.
- Compute velocity pressure qz from exposure (Kz), topography (Kzt), and directionality (Kd).
- Apply pressure coefficients (GCp / Cp) for MWFRS and C&C by zone.
- Combine into design pressures and compare across codes.
Worked Example
For V = 50 m/s, Exposure C, and a 10 m mean roof height, qz is approximately 1.53 kPa; an interior wall zone (GCp = 0.8/-0.5) yields design pressures of roughly +1.2 / -0.8 kPa.
Formulas
- Velocity pressure
qz = 0.613 * Kz * Kzt * Kd * V^2- Design pressure (C&C)
p = qz * (GCp - GCpi)
Standards & References
- ASCE 7-22
- Eurocode 1 (EN 1991-1-4)
- AS/NZS 1170.2
Frequently Asked Questions
Which wind load standards does this calculator support?
It supports ASCE 7-22, Eurocode 1 (EN 1991-1-4), and AS/NZS 1170.2, with side-by-side multi-code comparison.
What is the difference between MWFRS and C&C pressures?
MWFRS pressures size the main wind-force-resisting structure; components-and-cladding pressures are higher, localized values used to design individual cladding elements and their fixings.
Does it handle tornado loads?
Yes. ASCE 7-22 Chapter 32 tornado loads are supported for applicable risk categories and regions.
Is the wind load calculator free to use?
Yes, it runs entirely in your browser at no cost and stores none of your input data.