SiC BLAST – Cold-Formed Steel and the CODE

AISI S240 code and cold-formed steel light-frame construction

The 2015 editions of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) standards for cold-formed steel including AISI S240, AISI S400 and AISI S202 have been referenced in the 2018 edition of the International Building Code (IBC).

AISI S240, North American Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing
AISI S400, North American Standard – Seismic Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Systems AISI S202, Code of Standard Practice for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing

The comprehensive standard of AISI 240 was formed by merging AISI standards S200, S210, S211, S212, S213 and S214. AISI 240-15 supersedes all previous editions of these individual standards. AISI S240 Chapter D establishes the minimum QC and QA requirements for material control and installation for cold-formed steel light-frame construction. Minimum observation and special inspection tasks deemed necessary to ensure quality construction are spelled out within the new AISI S240 code and especially in chapter D of AISC 240.

This new AISI S240 code should be reviewed in tandem with the new IBC 2018 Section 2211, “Cold-Formed Steel Light-Frame Construction” which has also been modified greatly as compared to previous IBC Section 2211 editions. Similar to the AISC 360 code and SDI QC/QA code (2011 edition) provisions, AISI S240 Chapter D provides easy to use tables that itemize the specific QC and QA inspection tasks to be performed related to such activities as: material verification prior to and after assembly and installation; welding; mechanical fastening; and special provisions for lateral force resisting systems.

More information coming about AISI S240 in “Speaking in Code” September 2020 Newsletter edition!

CODE: Section 2211.1 General Structural Framing. For cold-formed steel light frame construction the design and installation of the following structural framing systems, including their members and connections shall be in accordance with AISI S240, and Sections 2211.1.1 through 2211.1.3 of IBC as applicable.