> I have been asked what is the national standard for steel design
> and construction in the United States. My reply was that the AISC
> spec is the de facto standard. But is this true or is there a
> national standard of which I am unaware. I have seen large
> engineering companies in the US put out their own specifications
> but they also invariably quote some part of the AISC spec.
Better to say that the AISC Code represents the standard of care for
steel design--by itself it doesn't have the force of law. The
standards which do carry legal standing are the local building codes.
The codes incorporate the AISC Code by reference and possibly include
modifications or additional requirements based on local requirements,
since the AISC Code doesn't cover everything. You might face criminal
penalties for violating the building code but not for violating the
steel code which would be a matter of professional negligence--a
civil matter.
The AISC Code may also be incorporated in other requirements, like
the ASME Nuclear Code and other federal standards or it may be a
contractual requirement as well.
Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant at
chrisw@skypoint.com | this distance" (last words of Gen.
.......................................| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania
1864)
http://www.skypoint.com/members/chrisw/
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