Wind loads on parapets

A wind-tunnel study has been carried out to assess wind loads on parapets of two buildings. Local pressure coefficients were measured on models with a length to height ratio (L/H) of 1:1 and 2:1. Most of the results were obtained for full-scale equivalent parapet heights of 1 and 2 m and for wind directions of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°. The local wind load on the parapet was found to be approximately 30% larger at the windward corner of the building than at the mid-span location. Maximum parapet loads for the low building model were approximately 30% larger than those for the cubical model; however, the parapet height does not influence the critical design parapet loads.