Behavior and Design of Concrete Structures

J. W. Wallace

1.3.4 BUILDING CODES, SPECIFICATIONS, AND STANDARDS

- Usually legal documents
- Purpose is to protect public safety
- Developed by engineers (professional organizations, such as ASCE, AISC, ACI)
- Codes typically specify good design practice for typical buildings and loadings; therefore, they may not be sufficient for all buildings.
- Types of loadings specified: live loads, wind loads, earthquake loads
- Detailed design rules for steel,concrete, etc.
- Other issues (fire protection)
- Examples: (International Building Code – IBC)
Uniform Building Code (e.g., UBC-97)
National Building Code
Standard Building Code

ACI 318 Building Code

Major City Codes: Chicago, NY, LA, SF, etc

- Design guidelines and recommendations
- Published by recognized engineering societies
- Examples
AISC: Steel Buildings
LRFD Specifications
ASD Specificatons
ACI: Concrete Buildings
Committee reports & Journals
AASHTO: Bridges and roads
- Specifications are not legal documents; however, they are usually referenced in building codes. They may also contain more up to date information, and be of assistance for unusual design problems.

- Cover many areas (material requirements)
- Example:
(a) ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials)
Mechanical and Chemical properties of steel
Dimensions of bolts
Testing procedures to establish material properties
(b) Recommended minimum design loads ASCE 7-98, Minimum Design loads for buildings and other structures.
- Not a legal document; however, they are often referenced in codes.

- Considerable overlap Often must be familiar with each
- They do not cover every situation; therefore, the engineer must have sound knowledge of behavior so that they are not improperly applied.
- The engineer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the structure is both safe and functional (from a structural point of view).

...