Wall wind pressure to EN 1991-1-4 Section 7.2.2: zones A to E, windward wall strips, Table 7.1 and net pressure with internal pressure. Run it free.
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About this Building Wall Wind Pressure Calculator
This calculator gives the external and net wind pressures on the vertical walls of a rectangular building to EN 1991-1-4 Sections 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.9 and 5.2, using the recommended values with no National Annex. The side walls are divided into zones A, B and C from the windward corner, the windward wall D is split into strips by height, the leeward wall is zone E, and each zone's coefficient from Table 7.1 is combined with the internal pressure to give a net pressure.
- Wall cladding and girt designer takes zone pressures for girts, studs and wall sheeting on sheds, warehouses and low-rise buildings.
- Precast and tilt-up panel engineer finds the governing pressure and suction on each wall panel, by zone and by height strip.
- Lateral system designer gets the windward and leeward pressures that drive the bracing, with the reference height of each strip shown.
The net pressure for every zone and strip is summarised in one table, with a check on the h/d ratio. It is an engineering-grade calculation you can duplicate and adapt in a CalcTree workspace.
More info on Building Wall Wind Pressure
Windward wall strips
The windward wall is split into horizontal strips by its height against its width (Section 7.2.2, Figure 7.4). A wall no taller than it is wide is one strip at the building height. Up to twice its width, a lower strip takes its reference height at the wall width and the rest at the building height. Taller than that, the wall has a strip at the bottom, a strip at the top and a middle part, which this page takes at its top, giving the same or a higher pressure on every middle strip.
Side wall zones
The side walls are divided from the windward corner using the length e, the smaller of the crosswind dimension and twice the height (Figure 7.5). Where e is less than d there are three zones, A, B and C. Where e is d or more there is no zone C and B runs to the leeward corner, and where e is large enough zone A covers the whole side wall.
Table 7.1 coefficients
Table 7.1 gives the external pressure coefficients for loaded areas of 10 m² or more against the ratio h/d. Zones A, B and C do not change with h/d, while D and E are interpolated linearly between the tabulated rows. Below the lowest row that row applies, and above the highest the table does not apply and the check fails.
Net pressure with internal pressure
The net pressure on each zone is the peak velocity pressure at its reference height times the difference between the external and internal coefficients (Section 5.2). In the suction zones the positive internal coefficient adds to the suction, and on the windward wall the negative one adds to the pressure.
Common Calculation Errors to Avoid
- One reference height for the whole windward wall On a wall taller than it is wide, Figure 7.4 splits the windward face into strips with their own reference heights. Using the building height everywhere overloads the lower part, and using a single low height underloads the top.
- Measuring zones from the wrong corner Zones A, B and C run along the side walls from the windward corner. Setting them out from the leeward end puts the highest suction in the wrong place.
- Summing D and E for the overall force without thought These are local zone pressures. For the overall horizontal force on the building, Section 7.2.2(3) allows for the lack of correlation between windward and leeward faces, which this page does not apply.
- Using Table 7.1 on a tall slender building Above the table's h/d limit the overall load should come from the force coefficients of Sections 7.6 to 7.8.
- Forgetting internal pressure Suction on a side wall and positive internal pressure act in the same direction on the cladding. Leaving out c_pi understates the net load on the wall.
Engineering templates
Common calculators
Design guides
FAQs
What do zones A to E mean?
Zones A, B and C are bands along the side walls, from the windward corner back towards the leeward corner, with the highest suction in A. Zone D is the windward wall and zone E the leeward wall.
Why is the windward wall split into strips?
The wind speed grows with height, so Section 7.2.2 and Figure 7.4 give a stepped pressure profile on walls taller than their width. Each strip takes its own reference height and peak velocity pressure.
How does the page handle very tall walls?
On a windward wall taller than twice its width, Figure 7.4 divides the middle part into further strips. This page takes the whole middle part at its top, which gives the same or a higher pressure on every strip.
What h/d range is covered?
Table 7.1 applies up to the h/d limit checked on the page. Below the lowest tabulated ratio the lowest row is used. Above the limit use the force coefficients of Sections 7.6 to 7.8 for the overall load.
Can I use these pressures for small cladding elements?
The coefficients are c_pe,10 for loaded areas of 10 m² or more. Cladding and fixings with smaller loaded areas need c_pe,1.
Are the results characteristic?
Yes. Apply the partial factor for wind from EN 1990 for the ultimate limit state.
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