The scope of the International Building Code® (IBC®) includes all buildings except detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories. For the most current adoptions details go to International Code Adoptions 

Encourages the use and reuse of existing buildings. This code covers repair, alteration, addition and change of occupancy for existing buildings and historic buildings, while achieving appropriate levels of safety without requiring full compliance with the new construction requirements contained in the other I-Codes. For the most current adoptions details go to International Code Adoptions 

The purpose of this website is to provide users with site-specific hazard information that can be used to determine design loads for buildings and other structures. It is assumed that the users of this site have competency to understand how to calculate and apply the information provided here to determine design loads to structural models of buildings or other structures. 

Prepared by the Design Loads on Structures during Construction Standards Committee of the Codes and Standards Activities Division of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

Design loads during construction must account for the often short duration of loading and for the variability of temporary loads. Many elements of the completed structure that provide strength, stiffness, stability, or continuity may not be present during construction. Design Loads on Structures during Construction, ASCE/SEI 37-14, describes the minimum design requirements for construction loads, load combinations, and load factors affecting buildings and other structures that are under construction. It addresses partially completed structures as well as temporary support and access structures used during construction. The loads specified are suitable for use either with strength design criteria, such as ultimate strength design (USD) and load and resistance factor design (LRFD), or with allowable stress design (ASD) criteria. The loads are applicable to all conventional construction methods.

Topics include load factors and load combinations, dead and live loads, construction loads, lateral earth pressure, and environmental loads. Of particular note, the environmental load provisions have been aligned with those of Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-10. Because ASCE/SEI 7-10 does not address loads during construction, the environmental loads in this standard were adjusted for the duration of the construction period.

This new edition of Standard 37 prescribes loads based on probabilistic analysis, observation of construction practices, and expert opinions. Embracing comments, recommendations, and experiences that have evolved since the original 2002 edition, this standard serves structural engineers, construction engineers, design professionals, code officials, and building owners.

An ASCE standard is reaffirmed when it has been reviewed by its technical committee and determined to be current with no need for immediate revision. This standard was reaffirmed in 2019.

The 15th Edition Steel Construction Manual, first released in 2017, is the most current edition. 

The following standards, available as free downloads elsewhere on this site, are printed in Part 16 of this Manual:

• ANSI/AISC 360-16: Specification for Structural Steel Buildings

• 2014 RCSC Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts

• ANSI/AISC 303-16: Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges

This Specification is based upon past successful usage, advances in the state of knowledge, and changes in design practice. The 2016 American Institute of Steel Construction’s Specification for Structural Steel Buildings provides an integrated treatment of allowable strength design (ASD) and load and resistance factor design (LRFD), and replaces earlier Specifications. As indicated in Chapter B of the Specification, designs can be made according to either ASD or LRFD provisions. 

This second edition design guide was created to assist engineers and fabricators in the design, detailing and specification of column-base-plate and anchor-rod connections, in a manner that avoids common fabrication and erection problems. This Guide is based on the 2005 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 2005) and includes design guidance in accordance with both Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and Allowable Stress Design (ASD). The topics covered include material selection, fabrication, erection, and repairs, guidance on base plate and anchorage design for compression, tension, and bending, guidance on the design of anchors for fatigue applications, and design examples on all common design cases, presented side-by-side for both ASD and LRFD. (2nd Printing) 

The 2018 National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction was developed by the American Wood Council’s (AWC) Wood Design Standards Committee and has been approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. The 2018 NDS is referenced in the 2018 International Building Code. Significant additions to the 2018 NDS include new Roof Sheathing Ring Shank nails and fastener head pull-through design provisions to address increased wind loads in ASCE 7-16 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. Purchased copy includes integral commentary.

See updates and errata for the 2018 NDS.

The ANSI/AWC 2021 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS) provides criteria for proportioning, designing, and detailing engineered wood systems, members, and connections in lateral force resisting systems. Engineered design of wood structures to resist wind or seismic forces is either by allowable stress design (ASD) or load and resistance factor design (LRFD). Nominal shear capacities of diaphragms and shear walls are provided for reference assemblies.

See updates and errata for the 2021 SDPWS.

The 2018 Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One and Two-Family Dwellings was developed by the American Wood Council’s (AWC) Wood Design Standards Committee and has been approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. The 2018 WFCM is referenced in the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code.

Tabulated engineered and prescriptive design provisions in WFCM Chapters 2 and 3 respectively, are based on the following loads from ASCE/SEI 7-16 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures:

• 0-70 psf ground snow loads

• 90-195 mph 3-second gust basic wind speeds

• Seismic Design Categories A-D

The WFCM includes design and construction provisions for connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems. A range of structural elements are covered, including sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

See updates and errata for the 2018 WFCM.

Download a free copy of the 2018 WFCM Workbook here.

TMS 402/602-16 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures contains two standards and their commentaries: Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (TMS 402-16) and Specification for Masonry Structures (TMS 602-16). The Standards are written as legal documents so that they may be adopted by reference in building codes.

The Code (TMS 402) covers the design and construction of masonry structures while the Specification (TMS 602) is concerned with minimum construction requirements for masonry in structures. The commentaries present background details, Committee considerations, and research data used to develop the standards. The commentaries are not mandatory and are for information of the user only. The 2018 IBC (International Building Code) references the 2016 TMS 402 and TMS 602 for the design and construction of structural masonry, veneer, and glass unit masonry, and it uses the quality assurance provisions from TMS 602 for masonry inspection.

This is a Reference Specification that the Architect/Engineer can apply to any construction project involving structural concrete by citing it in the Project Specifications. A mandatory requirements checklist and an optional requirements checklist are provided to assist the Architect/Engineer in supplementing the provisions of this Specification as required or needed by designating or specifying individual project requirements.

The first five sections of this Specification cover general construction requirements for cast-in-place structural concrete and slabs-on-ground. These sections cover materials and proportioning of concrete; reinforcement and prestressing steel; production, placing, finishing, and curing of concrete; formwork performance criteria and construction; treatment of joints; embedded items; repair of surface defects; and finishing of formed and unformed surfaces. Provisions governing testing, evaluation, and acceptance of concrete as well as acceptance of the structures are included. The remaining sections are devoted to architectural concrete, lightweight concrete, mass concrete, post-tensioned concrete, shrinkage-compensating concrete, industrial floor slabs, tilt-up construction, precast structural concrete, and precast architectural concrete.

Keywords: architectural; cold weather; compressive strength; consolidation; curing; durability; finish; formwork; grouting; hot weather; industrial floors; inspection; joints; lightweight concrete; mass concrete; mixture proportions; placing; post-tensioned; precast; prestressing steel; repair; reshoring; shoring; shrinkage-compensating; slab; slabs-on-ground; steel reinforcement; testing; tilt-up; tolerance; welded wire.

The “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (“Code”) provides minimum requirements for the materials, design, and detailing of structural concrete buildings and, where applicable, nonbuilding structures. This Code was developed by an ANSI-approved consensus process and addresses structural systems, members, and connections, including cast-in-place, precast, shotcrete, plain, nonprestressed, prestressed, and composite construction. Among the subjects covered are: design and construction for strength, serviceability, and durability; load combinations, load factors, and strength reduction factors; structural analysis methods; deflection limits; mechanical and adhesive anchoring to concrete; development and splicing of reinforcement; construction document information; field inspection and testing; and methods to evaluate the strength of existing structures.

The Code was substantially reorganized and reformatted in 2014, and this Code continues and expands that same organizational philosophy. The principal objectives of the reorganization were to present all design and detailing requirements for structural systems or for individual members in chapters devoted to those individual subjects, and to arrange the chapters in a manner that generally follows the process and chronology of design and construction. Information and procedures that are common to the design of multiple members are located in utility chapters. Additional enhancements implemented in this Code to provide greater clarity and ease of use include the first use of color illustrations and the use of color to help the user navigate the Code and quickly find the information they need. Special thanks to Bentley Systems, Incorporated, for use of their ProConcrete software to produce many of the figures found in the Commentary.

Uses of the Code include adoption by reference in a general building code, and earlier editions have been widely used in this manner. The Code is written in a format that allows such reference without change to its language. Therefore, background details or suggestions for carrying out the requirements or intent of the Code provisions cannot be included within the Code itself. The Commentary is provided for this purpose.

Some considerations of the committee in developing the Code are discussed in the Commentary, with emphasis given to the explanation of new or revised provisions. Much of the research data referenced in preparing the Code is cited for the user desiring to study individual questions in greater detail. Other documents that provide suggestions for carrying out the requirements of the Code are also cited.

Keywords: admixtures; aggregates; anchorage (structural); beam-column frame; beams (supports); caissons; cements; cold weather; columns (supports); combined stress; composite construction (concrete to concrete); compressive strength; concrete; construction documents; construction joints; continuity (structural); contraction joints; cover; curing; deep beams; deep foundations; deflections; drilled piers; earthquake-resistant structures; flexural strength; floors; footings; formwork (construction); hot weather; inspection; isolation joints; joints (junctions); joists; lightweight concretes; load tests (structural); loads (forces); mixture proportioning; modulus of elasticity; moments; piles; placing; plain concrete; precast concrete; prestressed concrete; prestressing steels; quality control; reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels; roofs; serviceability; shear strength; shotcrete; spans; splicing; strength analysis; stresses; structural analysis; structural design; structural integrity; structural walls; T-beams; torsion; walls; water; welded wire reinforcement.