In limit state design the design capacity is obtained by multiplying the nominal capacity by the capacity factor. The capacity factor will vary depending upon the specific design check being considered. The design codes generally specify maximum values for the capacity factors.  In some circumstances the user may wish to specify other values for the capacity. Steel Designer allows you to do this by using the Capacity Factors option from the Design menu. A dialog is displayed which allows the user to change the capacity factors for each of the design checks for a strength limit state.

The initial values of the capacity factors are the values specified by the design codes. In most likely that the capacity factors will never be modified by a user.