Service loads of a warehouse building's slab on grade rarely exceed?

• A. 100 psf
• B. 250 psf
• C. 500 psf
• D. 1000 psf

Answer: (C)

Service loads on a slab-on-grade reflect the live loads the floor is expected to carry during normal use, including stored goods and equipment movement. In a typical warehouse, the uniform live load designers assume is about 500 pounds per square foot. This value captures the varying palletized storage and forklift activity across the area, while still being economical and safe for ordinary operations. Heavier loads can occur locally (concentrated loads from a forklift, heavy racks, or special equipment), so designers detail those zones accordingly, but the overall floor is planned around that upper bound. So, in standard practice, service loads rarely exceed about 500 psf.