Wind loading codes and standards

Wind loading codes and standards, although a relatively recent concept (almost all have been produced since World War II), have achieved wide acceptance and are often the practising structural engineer’s only contact with information for wind loading calculations. Although often based on extensive research, they are, by necessity, simplified models of wind loading. Thus, great accuracy cannot be expected from them. Often this is consistent with the knowledge of the structure of the wind storms themselves in their country of use. The growth of world trade is expected to reduce the number of loading standards in use and gradually force more consistency in their format and content.