flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

AISC, AIA release second part of design assist guidelines for the structural steel industry

Codes and Standards

AISC, AIA release second part of design assist guidelines for the structural steel industry

The guidelines are focused on design assist for fabricated structural steel projects. 


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor  | February 20, 2024
AISC, AIA release second part of design assist guidelines for the structural steel industry
The document describes the roles and responsibilities of various project participants and provides general guidelines about applying those strategies to fabricated structural steel projects. Image courtesy AISC

The American Institute of Steel Construction and AIA Contract Documents have released the second part of a document intended to provide guidance for three common collaboration strategies.

The document, Design Assist: Collaborative Design Approach Guidelines for the Fabricated Structural Steel Industry, is a follow-up to part one, Delegated Design, Design Assist, and Informal Involvement: What does it all mean?

The strategies covered are informal involvement, design assist, and delegated design. Part II focuses on the implementation of design assist in the fabricated structural steel industry. The document describes the roles and responsibilities of various project participants and provides general guidelines about applying those strategies to fabricated structural steel projects.

“Great teams drive great projects—and great teams rely on clear communication,” said Babette Freund, vice president of special projects, Dave Steel Company, Inc., and chair of AISC’s Code of Standard Practice Committee. “This paper aims to help project teams use design assist strategies to meet a defined project schedule and budget while minimizing the costs and disruptions that might arise from team misalignments.”

How AISC defines design assist for the structural steel industry

According to the guidelines, design assist is, "A form of collaboration where a structural steel fabricator and/or erector (or a fabricator/erector team under one contract, depending on project circumstances) provides information under a contract with the owner or other party as designated by the owner, to assist a structural engineer of record (SER) and other designated members of the design assist team with the design of the structural steel for buildings or building-like structures." 

Related Stories

Market Data | Nov 27, 2023

Number of employees returning to the office varies significantly by city

While the return-to-the-office trend is felt across the country, the percentage of employees moving back to their offices varies significantly according to geography, according to Eptura’s Q3 Workplace Index.

Codes and Standards | Nov 27, 2023

Hoboken, N.J.’s street design policies are saving lives

Transportation policies enacted in Hoboken, N.J. over the past several years are paying off in the form of fewer pedestrian deaths and injuries. The city has adopted daylighting, bike lanes, lower speed limits, and intersection redesigns to make its roads safer.

Resiliency | Nov 27, 2023

All levels of government need to act to cope with climate-driven flooding and sea level rise

The latest National Climate Assessment highlights the need for local, state, and federal governments to adopt policies to mitigate the effects of climate-driven flooding and sea level rise, according to a policy expert with the National Resources Defense Council.

MFPRO+ News | Nov 21, 2023

California building electrification laws could prompt more evictions and rent increases

California laws requiring apartment owners to ditch appliances that use fossil fuels could prompt more evictions and rent increases in the state, according to a report from the nonprofit Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. The law could spur more evictions if landlords undertake major renovations to comply with the electrification rule. 

Codes and Standards | Nov 21, 2023

Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements

Austin, Texas recently became the largest city in the United States to stop requiring new developments to set a minimum amount of parking. The Austin City Council voted 8-2 earlier this month to eliminate parking requirements in an effort to fight climate change and spur more housing construction as Texas’s capitol grapples with a housing affordability crisis.

Codes and Standards | Nov 10, 2023

Washington state building codes to protect structures from wildfire provoke controversy

New building codes in Washington state intended to protect structures from wildfires are provoking backlash from builders, cities, and environmentalists. Critics charge that the rules that are scheduled to take effect March 15 are confusing, will increase housing costs, and could cause too many trees to be cut down.

Sustainability | Nov 1, 2023

Researchers create building air leakage detection system using a camera in real time

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a system that uses a camera to detect air leakage from buildings in real time.

MFPRO+ News | Nov 1, 2023

Washington, D.C., Queens, N.Y., lead nation in number of new apartments by zip code

A study of new apartment construction by zip code showed Washington D.C., and the Queens borough of New York City are the hottest multifamily markets since 2018, according to RentCafe.

Adaptive Reuse | Nov 1, 2023

Biden Administration reveals plan to spur more office-to-residential conversions

The Biden Administration recently announced plans to encourage more office buildings to be converted to residential use. The plan includes using federal money to lend to developers for conversion projects and selling government property that is suitable for conversions. 

Sustainability | Nov 1, 2023

Tool identifies financial incentives for decarbonizing heavy industry, transportation projects

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has released a tool to identify financial incentives to help developers, industrial companies, and investors find financial incentives for heavy industry and transport projects.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021