scope:

The Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 370), hereafter referred to as this Specification, shall apply to the design, fabrication, and erection of structural stainless steel systems, where the stainless steel elements are defined in AISC Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 313) Section 2.1.

This Specification sets forth criteria for the design, fabrication, and erection of structural stainless steel buildings and other structures, including industrial structures, where other structures are defined as structures designed, fabricated, and erected in a manner similar to buildings, with building-like vertical and lateral load-resisting elements. This Specification provides criteria for the design of the austenitic and duplex (austenitic-ferritic) stainless steel alloy families for structural shapes. Criteria are also given for the design of the precipitation hardening stainless steel alloy family for tension members, fittings, and fasteners.

User Note: Stainless steel alloys are typically specified based on the required corrosion resistance.

Wherever this Specification refers to the applicable building code and there is no code listed, the loads, load combinations, system limitations, and general design requirements shall be those in ASCE Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7).

Where conditions are not covered by this Specification, designs are permitted to be based on tests or analysis, subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction. Alternative methods of analysis and design are permitted, provided such alternative methods or criteria are acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.

User Note: This Specification applies to stainless steel structural members in a range of product forms, including hollow structural sections. However, provisions for cold-formed stainless steel structural members are also available in the ASCE Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members (ASCE/SEI 8-21).

This Specification includes the Symbols, the Glossary, Abbreviations, Chapters A through N, and Appendices 1 through 7. The Commentary to this Specification and the User Notes interspersed throughout are not part of this Specification. The phrases "is permitted" and "are permitted" in this document identify provisions that comply with this Specification, but are not mandatory.