- Author
- Lew, H. S.
- Title
- Are Serviceability Requirements Covered Adequately in Current Codes and Standards?
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- CTBUH2005
- Book or Conf
- Renewing the Urban Landscape. 7th World Congress. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH2005). Proceedings. October 16-19, 2005, New York City, NY, 2005
- Keywords
- high rise buildings | urban habitat | building codes | standards | structural design | occupants | safety
- Abstract
- Traditionally, building codes and standards require that serviceability be considered in the structural design to both ensure the building's functional performance and maintain the comfort for building occupants. Vertical deflection of floors, lateral deflection or drift of structural frames, and vibration of floors are some of the serviceability requirements that the designer is advised to consider in the design. Because these requirements are not considered to be directly related to the safety of building, codes and standards have avoided establishing specific limits. Thus, actual practice to meet serviceability requirements varies considerably from region to region and from one designer to another. With advanced structural design tools and availability of high-performance construction materials, buildings have become lighter and more flexible than before, and as a result, are more susceptible to becoming non-functioning buildings. This presentation will summarize available technical data relevant to the serviceability requirements and will examine current design practices in relation to the requirements in codes and standards.