What is the definition of dead load in the context of building construction?

Dead load refers specifically to the weight of a building or its structural components that are permanently attached and do not change over time. This includes the weight of materials such as walls, roofs, floors, columns, and any fixed equipment. Since dead loads are static, they remain constant and must be taken into account during the design and engineering of a structure to ensure it can adequately support its own weight without risk of structural failure. Understanding the concept of dead load is essential for fire investigators as well, since this information can influence the behavior of a building during a fire and inform assessments of structural integrity after an incident. The other options focus on aspects that do not represent the static, permanent loads of the structure, such as movable items or live loads, which can change and vary.