The American Institute of Steel Construction Welding Codes was founded in 1921. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel a fabricator’s material of choice over other building materials such as concrete or wood. The AISC accomplishes this mission by providing the construction industry with information on structural steel that helps the industry construct quality structures that are economical and competitive. (AISC)

Development of AISC Codes and Specifications

AISC codes are developed and then approved by the AISC Committee on Specifications. The documents are written by task committees and are overseen by the AISC Board Oversights. Similar to the other organizations that develop codes for welding, AISC follows a consensus approach.

The AISC Codes and Specifications focus on steel construction as a whole. Welding is one part of the larger topic of construction. AISC does not develop separate welding codes but instead references the American Welding Society and other organizations with applicable welding codes and standards.

Basics of AISC Structural Codes

AISC codes and specifications for welding generally outline requirements for the design and inspection of welds that are different or more stringent than the requirements of AWS D1.1/D1.1M Structural Welding Code – Steel. For example, ANSI/AISC 360-22 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, Chapter J Design of Connections, Paragraph J2 Welds and Welded Joints, states that “Welding shall conform to the provisions of the Structural Welding Code – Steel (AWS, 2020)”.

AISC has separate codes for stainless steel such as AISC 313-21 Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings. This document contains requirements for fabricating and erecting stainless steel structures. Welding is discussed for the design of joints, but other standards such as AWS D1.6/D1.6M Structural Welding Code – Stainless Steel are referenced for welding.

Other codes for structural seismic requirements exist, these requirements implement best practices so buildings can better withstand the forces that earthquakes exert on structures. These requirements are beyond the scope of this introductory book.

Uses of AISC Structural Codes in Industry Today

The American Institute of Steel Construction codes and specifications are used for steel structures. Figure 17.23 shows a structural steel fabrication for a building. Figure 17.23 also shows a building fabricated with steel but it also has bracing for seismic requirements.

Getting Certified to the AISC Structural Codes

The AISC structural codes reference other codes for welding. As mentioned in a previous section above, ANSI/AISC 360-22 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, Chapter J Design of Connections, Paragraph J2 Welds and Welded Joints, states that “Welding shall conform to the provisions of the Structural Welding Code – Steel (AWS, 2020)”.

If you are interested in welding structural steel buildings that follow AISC, don’t hesitate to reach out to welders who are working for fabricators that you are interested in. Most, if not all experienced welders, will take the time to answer your questions because they benefited from other welders taking the time to answer their questions.

Attributions

1. Figure 17.24: Process Support Facilities Process Gas Yard piping installation by Y-12 National Security Complex in the Public Domain; United States government work
2. Figure 17.25: Seismic Design of Steel Buckling Restrained Braced Frames by National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce in the Public Domain; United States government work