Print this page AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges
Course Outline
This course presents
information on the standard practice for steel buildings and bridges. It has been updated from AISC 303-05 to AISC 303-10. The contents
cover materials, contract documents, shop and erection drawings, shop fabrication
and delivery, erection, quality assurance, contracts and architecturally exposed
structural steel. The course materials are based entirely on the AISC publication:
AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (AISC 303-10, current version). This course
includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the
understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objectives
At
the conclusion of this course, the student will:
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Have a better understanding of the standard practice for steel buildings and bridges;
- Be familiar with the various fabrication and erection tolerances.
Course Introduction
The first edition of AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (AISC 303) was published in October, 1924. The trade practices established and set forth in this Code define custom and usage for the fabricated structural steel industry in the United States for steel buildings, bridges, and other structures. The provisions of this Code govern the fabrication and erection of structural steel, in the absence of individual provisions in the contract documents superseding corresponding, individual provisions of this Code.
AISC 303 is maintained and updated by a committee consisting of approximately 30 members representing both the design community and the steel construction industry. According to the American Institute of Steel Construction, the current 2010 edition is not a complete revision of the 2005 edition but does include the following significant changes/improvements:
The scope in Section 1.1 has been revised to cover buildings and other structures in a manner that is consistent with how buildings and other structures are treated in AISC 360 (the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings). A similar and corresponding revision has been made in Section 1.4.
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Section 1.9 has been added to emphasize that not all tolerances are explicitly covered in the Code, and that tolerances not covered are not to be assumed as zero.
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Clarification has been added in Section 2 that base plates and bearing plates are considered structural steel if they are attached to the structural frame, but not if they are loose items that do not attach to the structural steel frame.
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Editorial improvements have been made in the Commentary to Section 3.1 to improve upon the list of items that should be provided in the contract documents, as well as to link column differential shortening and anticipated deflections to information that has been added in the Commentary to Section 7.13.
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Explicit requirements have been added in Section 3.1.2 as "option 3" for when connection design work is delegated by the Structural Engineer of Record (SER) to be performed by another engineer. Provisions covering connection design by the SER (option 1) and selection or completion of basic tabular connections by a steel detailer (option 2) also have been revised for consistency with and distinction from option 3. Additionally, the defined term substantiating connection information has been added to the Glossary, and revisions also have been made in Section 4 to correspond with the addition of option 3 in Section 3.1.2.
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Information has been added to the Commentary in Section 4.1 to summarize the importance and benefits of holding a pre-detailing conference to open lines of communication and develop a common understanding about the project.
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Section 4.7 has been added to address requirements for erection drawings.
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Section 6.4.3 has been modified to better address incidental camber in trusses. Information has been added in the Commentary to Section 7.10.1 to better describe the provisions that relate to special erection conditions or other considerations that are required by the design concept, as well as to highlight special considerations in the erection of cantilevered members.
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The intent in Section 7.13.1.2(d) has been clarified in the text as well as with the relocation of supporting Commentary.
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The intent in Section 10.2.5 has been editorially clarified for groove welds in butt joints and outside corner joints.
Course Content
In this course,
you will be directed
to the website of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) to download
the following AISC publication:
AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges - April 2010 (84
pages, PDF file format, 1.6 MB)
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, save or print the document for your study. A hard copy of AISC 303-10 can also be found in the 14th Edition AISC Steel Construction Manual.
Related Links
For
additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following
websites or web pages:
AISC
- American Institute of Steel Construction
FHWA Steel Fabrication
Steel Fabrication - Thomas Register Directory
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
