Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success!

The AISC Code governs the design of steel structures in the United States. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) publishes guidelines and specifications that provide essential criteria for the design, fabrication, and erection of steel structures. This code includes provisions for structural safety, serviceability, and durability, ensuring that steel frameworks can withstand various loads and environmental conditions throughout their service life.

Standards laid out by the AISC Code are widely adopted in the industry and are essential for compliance with building codes and regulations. They cover design methodologies, material properties, and connection details, helping engineers to ensure that their designs are not only safe and reliable but also economical.

The other codes referenced, such as the ASTM Code, focus on specifications for materials (primarily steel, concrete, and other materials), the ACI Code pertains specifically to concrete structures, and the NEC Code addresses electrical installations. Each of these has a crucial role in construction, but none are concerned directly with the design of steel structures in the same comprehensive way that the AISC Code is.