scope:

The Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360), hereafter referred to as this Specification, shall apply to the design, fabrication, erection, and quality of the structural steel system or systems with structural steel acting compositely with reinforced concrete, where the steel elements are defined in Section 2.1 of the AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (ANSI/AISC 303), hereafter referred to as the Code of Standard Practice.

This Specification includes the Symbols, Glossary, Abbreviations, Chapters A through N, and Appendices 1 through 8. 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.

User Note: User notes are intended to provide concise and practical guidance in the application of the Specification provisions.

This Specification sets forth criteria for the design, fabrication, and erection of structural steel buildings and other 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.

Wherever this Specification refers to the applicable building code and there is none, 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 (AHJ). Alternative methods of analysis and design are permitted, provided such alternative methods or criteria are acceptable to the AHJ.

User Note: For the design of cold-formed steel structural members, the provisions in the AISI North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, with Supplement 2 (AISI S100-16w/S2-20) are recommended, except for cold-formed hollow structural sections (HSS), which are designed in accordance with this Specification.

Seismic Applications

The AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 341) shall apply to the design, fabrication, erection, and quality of seismic force-resisting systems of structural steel or of structural steel acting compositely with reinforced concrete, unless specifically exempted by the applicable building code.

User Note: ASCE/SEI 7 (Table 12.2-1, Item H) specifically exempts structural steel systems in seismic design categories B and C from the requirements in the AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings if they are designed according to this Specification and the seismic loads are computed using a seismic response modification coefficient, R, of 3; composite systems are not covered by this exemption. The Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings do not apply in seismic design category A.

Nuclear Applications

The design, fabrication, erection, and quality of safety-related nuclear structures shall comply with the provisions of this Specification as modified by the requirements of the AISC Specification for Safety-Related Steel Structures for Nuclear Facilities (ANSI/AISC N690).