AISC Design Guide 03 : Serviceability Design Considerations for Steel Buildings

Serviceability is defined in the AISC Specification as “a state in which the function of a building, its appearance, maintainability, durability, and comfort of its occupants are preserved under normal usage”. Although serviceability issues have always been a design consideration, changes in codes and materials have added importance to these matters.

The shift to a limit-states basis for design is one example. Since 1986, both the AISC LRFD and AISC ASD Specifications have been based upon the limit-states design approach in which two categories of limit states are recognized: strength limit states and serviceability limit states. Strength limit states control the safety of the structure and must be met. Serviceability limit states define the functional performance of the structure and should be met.

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