What is Roof Load?

Definition

The total structural forces a roof system must support, including dead load (permanent weight of roofing materials), live load (temporary loads from workers, equipment, and maintenance), snow load (critical in high-snowfall regions), and wind load (upward and lateral forces from wind). Roof framing members and connections must be engineered to handle the governing load combination. Heavy materials like clay tile, slate, or concrete tile require structural engineering verification before installation.