This　paper　presents　an　experimental　study　of　the　seismic　performance　of　austenitic　stainless　steel　full-scale　frames　using　the　pseudo-static　test　method.　The　bottom　single-span,　two-storey　substructure　of　the　designed　prototype　frame　was　chosen　as　the　test　frame.　Two　full-scale　frames　were　tested,　one　with　a　bolt-welded　joint　and　the　other　with　an　extended　end-plate　joint.　This　paper　is　the　first　of　two　accompanying　papers　to　this　experimental　study　and　focuses　on　the　specimen　design,　testing　details　and　global　response　of　the　stainless　steel　frame　under　cyclic　loading.　The　test　results　were　utilized　to　analyse　the　global　response　of　the　frames,　encompassing　failure　mode,　bearing　capacity,　deformation　capacity,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　the　overstrength　factor,　ductility　factor　and　seismic　response　modification　factor.　The　experimental　findings　suggest　that　the　stainless　steel　frames　with　two　joint　types　demonstrate　consistent　ability　to　dissipate　energy　during　cyclic　loading.　The　structure　also　performs　well　in　terms　of　deformation,　with　uniform　inter-storey　deformation　and　no　soft-storey　detected.　The　maximum　storey　drift　ratio　of　the　frame　is　7%.　Prior　to　reaching　a　storey　drift　ratio　of　2%,　the　frames　with　both　joint　types　exhibit　similar　cumulative　plastic　deformation,　stiffness　degradation,　and　cumulative　energy　dissipation.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd