Confirm the AISC 360 edition the adopted building code references, then trace steel grades, member sizes, connection design responsibility, the seismic force-resisting system, and inspection requirements from the structural notes into the plans, schedules, details, and specifications. AI can flag conflicts; the engineer of record confirms the design.
What does AISC 360 cover?
AISC describes ANSI/AISC 360, the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, as providing the generally applicable requirements for the design and construction of structural steel buildings and other structures. Its companion, ANSI/AISC 341, Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, applies to the design, fabrication, and erection of structural steel and composite steel and concrete seismic force-resisting systems, and is used together with AISC 360.
AISC’s current standards page lists ANSI/AISC 360-22 and ANSI/AISC 341-22 and offers its current standards as free PDF downloads; 360-22 supersedes the 2016 edition. AISC has also posted public review drafts of the 2027 editions of both standards. Checked October 5, 2026. The edition on a project is the one the adopted building code references.
The steel specification section is compared with the drawings in the structural steel specifications guide, and fabrication drawings in the steel shop drawing checklist. Loads come from the ASCE 7 guide.
Gather the steel design basis and connection information
Collect the structural general notes, framing plans, column, beam, and brace schedules, frame elevations, connection details and typical connection notes, the delegated connection design requirements, the structural steel specification section, the special inspection statement, and the architectural sections and details for exposed or fire-protected steel. Add the shop drawings if the review is at that stage.
When connection design is delegated, the drawings must give the delegated engineer what the notes promise, such as design forces. Note where each is stated.
Trace each steel member and connection through the set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Edition and standards | Structural notes, specifications, shop drawing notes | Confirm one AISC 360 edition and, where seismic, the matching AISC 341 edition. |
| Materials | Structural notes, schedules, specifications | Match steel grades and bolt and weld materials across sources. |
| Members | Framing plans, schedules, sections, elevations | Reconcile member marks and sizes for the same piece across sheets. |
| Connection responsibility | Structural notes, specifications, connection details | Confirm whether connections are designed on the drawings or delegated, and what information the delegated designer receives. |
| Seismic force-resisting system | Structural notes, framing plans, frame elevations | Check that frames named in the notes are identified on plans and elevations. |
| Inspections and fire protection | Special inspection statement, specifications, architectural details | Identify members whose inspection or protection requirements appear in one document only. |
Pre-engineered buildings follow the metal building specifications guide, and the full set the structural drawing checklist.
Example: delegated connections with no forces
Hypothetical example. The structural notes delegate connection design to the fabricator’s engineer and say design forces are shown on the plans. The framing plans give member sizes but no connection forces at the braced frame on one gridline, and the brace elevation refers to a typical detail that the detail sheet does not contain.
The notes delegate connection design and point to forces on the plans, but no forces are shown for the braced frame on this gridline, and the referenced typical detail is not on the detail sheet. Please provide the connection design forces and the missing detail, or confirm where they are shown.
The engineer of record provides the forces and the detail. Whether a connection is adequate is the engineer’s decision; the finding is that the delegated designer was not given what the notes promised.
Review steel drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Download AISC 360, and AISC 341 where the project has a seismic force-resisting system, from AISC’s free PDFs and upload them as Code files, with the building code edition that references them. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the structural notes, framing plans, schedules, frame elevations, connection details, delegated design requirements, steel specifications, and special inspection statement. Flag mixed AISC editions, members or materials that differ between sources, delegated connections without the information the notes promise, and missing referenced details. Use the supplied AISC standards and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets involved. Verify the editions the adopted code references before sending a comment.
Document review does not design members or connections, check capacity, or replace the engineer of record, the special inspector, or the building official.