Metal Building Systems Manual

Table 3.1: Serviceability Considerations Metal Roofing

ROOFING STRUCTURAL
DEFORMATION RECOMMENDATION LOADING
TYPE ELEMENT

HORIZONTAL 100 TO 200

EXPANSION JOINTS THERMAL
MOVEMENT MAXIMUM

1 / 2 IN. PER FOOT

ROOF SLOPE DRAINAGE
METAL ROOFS MINIMUM
THROUGH
FASTENER TYPE VERTICAL L / 150
PURLIN SNOW LOAD
DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

VERTICAL DL + 0.5 S
PURLIN POSITIVE DRAINAGE
DEFLECTION DL + 5 PSF

HORIZONTAL 150 TO 200

EXPANSION JOINTS THERMAL
MOVEMENT MAXIMUM

1 / 4 IN. PER FOOT

ROOF SLOPE DRAINAGE
MINIMUM
METAL ROOFS
STANDING SEAM
VERTICAL L / 150
PURLIN SNOW LOAD
DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

VERTICAL DL + 0.5 S
PURLIN POSITIVE DRAINAGE
DEFLECTION DL + 5 PSF
Note: The data originally published by AISC in Design Guide No. 3 for Through Fastened Roofs in Table 3.1 contained an error, which
has been corrected here per AISC errata.

Table 3.2: Serviceability Considerations - Skylights Supports

DEFORMATION RECOMMENDATION LOADING

SKYLIGHT FRAME 1 / 4 IN.

DL + LL
RACKING GASKETED MULLIONS

SKYLIGHT FRAME 1 / 8 IN.

DL + LL
RACKING FLUSH GLAZING
DEFLECTION
NORMAL TO L / 300 1 IN. MAXIMUM DL + LL
GLAZING
1 / 8 IN.
1+ 2 DL + LL
25 DEGREES

5 / 16 IN.
1+ 2 DL + LL
25 < < 45 DEG.

1 / 2 IN.
1+ 2 DL + LL
45 DEGREES

L1 / 240 1 / 2 IN.
3- 4 DL + LL
MAXIMUM

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Table 3.3: Serviceability Considerations Cladding

CLADDING
STRUCTURAL
SUPPORT DEFORMATION RECOMMENDATION LOADING
ELEMENT
TYPE
DRIFT
METAL PANELS / H / 60 TO H / 100
PERPENDICULAR 10 YEAR WIND
BARE FRAME MAXIMUM
TO WALL
METAL PANELS / HORIZONTAL L / 120
10 YEAR WIND
GIRTS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

METAL PANELS / HORIZONTAL L / 120

10 YEAR WIND
WIND COLUMNS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
DRIFT
PRECAST WALLS / H / 100
PERPENDICULAR 10 YEAR WIND
BARE FRAME MAXIMUM
TO WALL
UNREINFORCED DRIFT
1 / 16 IN. CRACK
MASONRY WALLS / PERPENDICULAR 10 YEAR WIND
BASE OF WALL
BARE FRAME TO WALL
FOUNDATION
REINFORCED DRIFT
H / 200
MASONRY WALLS / PERPENDICULAR 10 YEAR WIND
MAXIMUM
BARE FRAME TO WALL
MASONRY WALLS / HORIZONTAL L / 240 1.5 IN.
10 YEAR WIND
GIRTS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

MASONRY WALLS / HORIZONTAL L / 240 1.5 IN.

10 YEAR WIND
WIND COLUMNS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

MASONRY WALLS / VERTICAL L / 600 0.3 IN.

DL + LL
LINTEL DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

MASONRY WALLS / 1 DEGREE

ROTATION DL + LL
LINTEL MAXIMUM

PRE-ASSEMBLED RELATIVE 1 / 4 IN.

0.5 LL
UNITS / COLUMNS SHORTENING MAXIMUM
COLUMN
PRE-ASSEMBLED
UNITS / BARE RACKING H / 500 10 YEAR WIND
FRAME
CURTAIN WALLS /
RACKING H / 500 10 YEAR WIND
BARE FRAME

CURTAIN WALLS / VERTICAL 3 / 8 IN. DL PRIOR TO

SPANDRELS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM CLADDING

CURTAIN WALLS / VERTICAL L / 480 5 / 8 IN.

SPANDREL TOTAL DL
SPANDRELS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
L / 360
CURTAIN WALLS / VERTICAL
1 / 4 - 1 / 2 IN. 0.5 LL
SPANDRELS DEFLECTION
MAXIMUM
DL INCL.
CURTAIN WALLS / VERTICAL L / 600 3 / 8 IN.
CLADDING
SPANDRELS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
WEIGHT
Note: A limit of height divided by 100 can be used for reinforced masonry walls / bare frame if a hinge type base can be employed.

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Table 3.4: Serviceability Considerations Ceilings & Partitions

FINISH STRUCTURAL
DEFORMATION RECOMMENDATION LOADING
TYPE ELEMENT

PLASTERED VERTICAL L / 360 0.5 LL OR

ROOF MEMBER
CEILING DEFLECTION MAXIMUM 50 YEAR SNOW

VERTICAL L / 240 0.5 LL OR

ROOF MEMBER
DEFLECTION MAXIMUM 50 YEAR SNOW
NON-PLASTERED
CEILING
FLOOR BEAM / VERTICAL L / 360 1 IN.
DL
GIRDER DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

HORIZONTAL H / 500
FRAME 10 YEAR WIND
MOVEMENT MAXIMUM

VERTICAL 3 / 8 IN. TO 1 IN. 0.5 LL OR

PARTITION ROOF MEMBER
DEFLECTION MAXIMUM 50 YEAR SNOW

FLOOR BEAM / VERTICAL L / 360 3 / 8 IN. TO

0.5 LL
GIRDER DEFLECTION 1 IN., MAXIMUM
Note: Table 3.4 originally published by AISC in Design Guide No. 3. For the IBC Code, Table 1604.3 has applicable vertical deflection
limits (see Table 1.3.1(b) of this manual).

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Table 3.5: Serviceability Considerations - Equipment

EQUIPMENT STRUCTURAL
DEFORMATION RECOMMENDATION LOADING
TYPE ELEMENT

RUNWAY TOTAL INWARD 1/2 IN. LL OR

SUPPORTS MOVEMENT MAXIMUM 50 YEAR SNOW

RUNWAY TOTAL OUTWARD 1 IN.

SNOW
SUPPORTS MOVEMENT MAXIMUM

HORIZONTAL L / 400
RUNWAY BEAM CRANE LATERAL
TOP RUNNING DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
CRANES
CRANE
RUNWAY BEAM VERTICAL L/600
VERTICAL
CMAA A, B & C DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
STATIC LOAD
CRANE
RUNWAY BEAM VERTICAL L/800
VERTICAL
CMAA D DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
STATIC LOAD
CRANE
RUNWAY BEAM VERTICAL L /1000
VERTICAL
CMAA E & F DEFLECTION MAXIMUM
STATIC LOAD

TOP RUNNING DRIFT AT RUNWAY H / 240 2-IN. CRANE LATERAL

BARE FRAME
CAB OPERATED ELEVATION MAXIMUM OR 10 YR. WIND

TOP RUNNING
DRIFT AT RUNWAY H / 100 CRANE LATERAL
PENDANT BARE FRAME
ELEVATION MAXIMUM OR 10 YR. WIND
OPERATED

UNDERHUNG RUNWAY BEAM VERTICAL L / 450 CRANE

CRANE CMAA A, B & C DEFLECTION MAXIMUM VERTICAL

VERTICAL H / 225 CRANE

JIB CRANE BOOM
DEFLECTION MAXIMUM VERTICAL

H / 500
BARE FRAME DRIFT 10 YEAR WIND
MAXIMUM

ELEVATORS MACHINE / SHEAVE VERTICAL L / 1666

DL + LL
BEAMS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

MACHINE / SHEAVE VERTICAL H / 1666

DL + LL
BEAMS SUPPORTS DEFLECTION MAXIMUM

Note: The data originally published by AISC in Design Guide No. 3 for Table 3.5 contained an errors, which has been corrected her per
AISC errata.

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x AISC 360, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, (AISC, 2010)

x AISI S100, North American Specification for Design of Cold-Formed Steel
Structural Members (AISI, 2007) with 2010 Supplement, dated 2010
x AISI S200, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing -General
Provisions (AISI, 2007)
x AISI S214, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing - Truss
Design (AISI, 2007) with Supplement 2, dated 2008
x ASCE 3, Standard for the Structural Design of Composite Slabs (ASCE, 1991)
x ASCE 8-SSD-LRFD/ASD, Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless
Steel Structural Members (ASCE, 2002)
x SJI Standard Specifications, Load Tables and Weight Tables for Steel Joists and
Joist Girders. See references.

Model building codes require that the deflection of structural members divided by the span, l,
not exceed certain values. For example, see Table 1604.3 of the International Building Code.
Some applicable provisions from these references are excerpted below:

Excerpts From 2012 IBC Table 1604.3

CONSTRUCTION LIVE SNOW OR WINDa DEAD + LIVE

Roof members:
Supporting plaster ceiling l / 360 l / 360 l / 240
Supporting nonplaster ceiling l / 240 l / 240 l / 180
Not supporting ceiling l / 180 l / 180 l / 120
Roof members supporting metal l / 150 - -
roofing:
Structural Metal Roof and Siding
- - l / 60
Panelsb

Floor Members l / 360 - l / 240

Exterior walls and interior

partitions:
With brittle finishes
- l / 240 -
With flexible finishes
- l / 120 -
Secondary wall members
- l / 90 -
supporting metal siding
(a) The wind load is permitted to be taken as 0.42 times the component and cladding loads for the purpose
of determining deflection limits herein.
(b) For roofs, this exception only applies when the metal sheets have no roof covering.

Roof slopes can be directed to drains by sloping the structure, using tapered insulation,
sloping fill, or by using a combination of these methods. Roof drains, gutters or scuppers are
located at the low points. As the NRCA notes, from time to time, roof drainage points do not
wind up at roof low points and can cause problems for the structure.

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