Load factors are set in the Environments. These load factors can be used to scale applied loads due to tension, wind, component weight, and more.

The FEA engine handles load factors by first finding an equilibrium without applying load factors. Then the load factors are separately applied to increase the loading on the poles which then further deflect. However the conductor position will not be affected by the load factors.

Consider the example below where the environment has load factors. When the Load Factors option is not selected the pole and the conductors are connected. This shows the true state of the network without any scaling of the loads:

When the Load Factors option is checked the pole will have additional deflection due to the load factors scaling up the force applied to the pole. Note the conductors remain in the same position (as can be seen below) and hence the conductor clearances are not impacted by the use of load factors.

Note that if FEA was run with the Load Factors option checked then you can uncheck it and the results will be automatically updated. However if you initially run the FEA with the Load Factors option unchecked and then want to see the results with load factors you will need to rerun the FEA simulation again: