In this article, we will explain some basic concepts about super dead loads.
What are Super Dead Loads?
Super dead loads are fixed loads (or semi-fixed) which do not include the self-weight of the structure (dead load). They can also be referred to as superimposed dead loads.
Note: the term "superimposed loads" can refer to both super dead loads AND live loads.
Super dead loads are normally expressed in units of N/m2 and kN/m2 (uniformly distributed) OR N/m or kN/m (line loads)
Examples
Some examples and typical values for super dead loads are shown in the table below. The values are slightly conservative and provided for reference only.
| Example | Load |
| 100 mm topping concrete | 24 kN/m3 x 0.1 m = 0.24 kN/m2 |
| Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) | 0.75 kN/m2 |
| Dry wall partitions | 1.0 kN/m2 |
| Lightweight block wall partitions | 2.0 kN/m2 |
| Waterproofing and Insulation for Outdoor RC Slabs | 0.45 kN/m2 |