Self-weight of columns, beams, walls and slabs/decks can be automatically included in the loads by selecting the Criteria > Self-Weight command in RAM Manager. If the options are not selected, the self-weights are not included, even if values are specified in RAM Modeler.

Self-weight of Steel Joists is not automatically included. In order for the design to consider the self-weight for these members, it must be applied by the user as part of the surface load or as a series of separate line loads. This is necessary because only the self-weight of Standard steel joists is known (although even that can vary with the actual span). The actual self-weight of Girders and Special joists is not known. So for consistency, no self-weight is automatically considered for any Steel Joists.

Self-weight of Braces is not automatically included.

Column self-weight is not included in the column load applied to transfer girders. If significant, the user should specify a Point load at that location to approximate and account for the self-weight of the supported column. This is necessitated by the fact that if self-weight was to be automatically included in this case, the columns would need to be designed before the beams in order to get the column self-weight applied to the transfer girder, but the beams need to be designed first in order to get the beam self-weights applied to the columns. Thus it would require an iterative design process, alternating between the beam design and the column design until no sizes changed. For simplicity it was decided to not automatically apply the column self-weight to transfer girders.

For walls with openings, the wall self-weight is not reduced to account for the opening. The openings are not considered when calculating wall self-weight. Openings are considered, however, in the calculation of self-mass.

When the top of a wall slopes, the wall self-weight is applied as a trapezoidal load rather than a uniform load, based on the wall thickness, unit weight and height of the wall at each end.

For columns, the calculated self-weight is applied as a point load at the top of the column.

The self-weight of Concrete columns and beams is calculated using the value of Unit Weight for Self-Weight, specified by the user in the Modeler. This value of Unit Weight is separate from the value specified for Unit Weight used in the calculation of material properties (e.g., modulus of elasticity).

Note that self-weights are based on the center-to-center of supports and floor-to-floor heights of beams and columns respectively. This means that there is a duplication of self-weight at the joints. The program does not make any attempt to reduce this.