Where would you find information pertaining to the seismic load?

Seismic loads are the forces exerted on a building's structure during an earthquake. The calculation of these loads and the design of the lateral force-resisting system to withstand them are fundamental responsibilities of the structural engineer. Consequently, the structural plans are the primary and authoritative source for all information pertaining to the building's seismic design criteria. This includes the seismic design category, site class, spectral response accelerations, and other key parameters defined by standards like ASCE 7. While other systems require seismic bracing, their plans reference the criteria established in the structural documents.

B. Mechanical plans detail HVAC and plumbing systems; they show seismic bracing for equipment, not the building's primary seismic load calculations.

C. Electrical plans show electrical systems; they address seismic bracing for components like conduits and panels, not the overall structural seismic load.

D. Fire protection system plans show seismic bracing for sprinkler piping as required by NFPA 13, but rely on the structural plans for the building's seismic criteria.

1. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 5th Edition. Section 2, Chapter 10, "Structural Fire Engineering," page 2-278. This chapter discusses the various design loads that a structural engineer must consider, explicitly including "earthquake loads" alongside gravity and wind loads as a core component of structural design.

2. NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2022 Edition). Section 18.1.1 and Annex A.18.1.1. The standard requires sprinkler systems to be protected against earthquake damage. The annex material clarifies that the design of this protection requires coordination with the structural engineer and is based on the building's specific seismic requirements, which are found in the structural documents.

3. Ching, F. D. K. (2014). Building Construction Illustrated (5th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. Chapter 1, "The Building," Section on "Structural Loads," pp. 1.28-1.29. This foundational architectural and engineering text explains that lateral loads, including seismic forces, are a primary consideration in the design of the building's structure, which is detailed in the structural plans.

4. Oklahoma State University, School of Architecture. (n.d.). ARCH 4343: Structures III [Courseware]. The curriculum and standard industry examples used in such courses demonstrate that the General Structural Notes sheet (e.g., S0.1) on a set of construction drawings is where design loads, including all seismic design criteria per ASCE 7, are specified.