Code of Massachusetts Regulations
780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Chapter 17 - Structural Tests and Special Inspections
Section 1704 - SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
Subsection 1704.3 - Steel construction
Universal Citation: 780 CMR MA Code of Regs 1704.3
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
The special inspections for steel elements of buildings and structures shall be as required by Section 1704.3 and Table 1704.3.
Exceptions:
1. Special inspection of the steel fabrication process shall not be required where the fabricator does not perform any welding, thermal cutting or heating operation of any kind as part of the fabrication process. In such cases, the fabricator shall be required to submit a detailed procedure for material control that demonstrates the fabricator's ability to maintain suitable records and procedures such that, at any time during the fabrication process, the material specification, grade and mill test reports for the main stress-carrying elements are capable of being determined.
2. The special inspector need not be continuously present during welding of the following items, provided the materials, welding procedures and qualifications of welders are verified prior to the start of the work; periodic inspections are made of the work in progress and a visual inspection of all welds is made prior to completion or prior to shipment of shop welding.
2.1. Single-pass fillet welds not exceeding
5/16 inch (7.9 mm) in
size.
2.2. Floor and roof deck
welding.
2.3. Welded studs when
used for structural diaphragm.
2.4.
Welded sheet steel for cold-formed steel members.
2.5. Welding of stairs and railing systems.
TABLE 1704.3 REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION | CONTINUOUS | PERIODIC | REFERENCED STANDARDa | IBC REFERENCE |
| 1. Material verification of high-strength bolts, nuts and washers: | ||||
| a. Identification markings to conform to ASTM standards specified in the approved construction documents. | - | X | AISC 360, Section A3.3 and applicable ASTM material standards | |
| b. Manufacturer's certificate of compliance required. | - | X | - | - |
| 2. Inspection of high-strength bolting: | ||||
| a. Snug-tight joints. | - | X | AISC 360, Section M2.5 | 1704.3.3 |
| b. Pretensioned and slip-critical joints using turn-of-nut with matchmarking, twist-off bolt or direct tension indicator methods of installation. | - | X | ||
| c. Pretensioned and slip-critical joints using turn-of-nut without matchmarking or calibrated wrench methods of installation. | X | - | ||
| 3. Material verification of structural steel and cold-formed steel deck: | ||||
| a. For structural steel, identification markings to conform to AISC 360. | - | X | AISC 360, Section M5.5 | |
| b. For other steel, identification markings to conform to ASTM standards specified in the approved construction documents. | - | X | Applicable ASTM material standards | |
| c. Manufacturer's certified test reports. | - | X | ||
| 4. Material verification of weld filler materials: | ||||
| a. Identification markings to conform to AWS specification in the approved construction documents. | - | X | AISC 360, Section A3.5 and applicable AWS A5 documents | - |
| b. Manufacturer's certificate of compliance required. | - | X | - | - |
| 5. Inspection of welding: | ||||
| a. Structural steel and cold-formed steel deck: | ||||
| 1) Complete and partial joint penetration groove welds. | X | - | AWS D1.1 | 1704.3.1 |
| 2) Multipass fillet welds. | X | - | ||
| 3) Single-pass fillet welds > 5/16" | X | - | ||
| 4) Plug and slot welds. | X | - | ||
| 5) Single-pass fillet welds <= 5/16" | - | X | ||
| 6) Floor and roof deck welds. | - | X | AWS D1.3 | |
| b. Reinforcing steel: | - | |||
| 1) Verification of weldability of reinforcing steel other than ASTM A 706. | - | X | AWS D1.4 ACI 318:Section 3.5.2 | |
| 2) Reinforcing steel resisting flexural and axial forces in intermediate and special moment frames, and boundary elements of special structural walls of concrete and shear reinforcement. | X | - | ||
| 3) Shear reinforcement. | X | - | ||
| 4) Other reinforcing steel. | - | X | ||
| 6. Inspection of steel frame joint details for compliance: | ||||
| a. Details such as bracing and stiffening. | - | X | - | 1704.3.2 |
| b. Member locations. | - | X | ||
| c. Application of joint details at each connection. | - | X | ||
|
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. a. Where applicable, see also Section 1707.1, Special inspection for seismic resistance. |
1704.3.1
Welding. Welding
inspection and welding inspector qualification shall be in accordance with this
section.
1704.3.1.1
Structural
steel. Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification for
structural steel shall be in accordance with AWS D1.1.
1704.3.1.2
Cold-formed steel.
Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification for cold-formed steel
floor and roof decks shall be in accordance with AWS D1.3.
1704.3.1.3
Reinforcing steel.
Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification for reinforcing steel
shall be in accordance with AWS D1.4 and ACI 318.
1704.3.2
Details. The special
inspector shall perform an inspection of the steel frame to verify compliance
with the details shown on the approved
construction
documents, such as bracing, stiffening, member locations and proper
application of joint details at each connection.
1704.3.3
High-strength bolts.
Installation of high-strength bolts shall be inspected in accordance with AISC
360.
1704.3.3.1
General. While
the work is in progress, the special inspector shall determine that the
requirements for bolts, nuts, washers and paint; bolted parts and installation
and tightening in such standards are met. For bolts requiring pretensioning,
the special inspector shall observe the preinstallation testing and calibration
procedures when such procedures are required by the installation method or by
project plans or specifications; determine that all plies of connected
materials have been drawn together and properly snugged and monitor the
installation of bolts to verify that the selected procedure for installation is
properly used to tighten bolts. For joints required to be tightened only to the
snug-tight condition, the special inspector need only verify that the connected
materials have been drawn together and properly snugged.
1704.3.3.2
Periodic monitoring.
Monitoring of bolt installation for pretensioning is permitted to be performed
on a periodic basis when using the turn-of-nut method with matchmarking
techniques, the direct tension indicator method or the alternate design
fastener (twist-off bolt) method. Joints designated as snug tight need be
inspected only on a periodic basis.
1704.3.3.3
Continuous
monitoring. Monitoring of bolt installation for pretensioning using the
calibrated wrench method or the turn-of-nut method without matchmarking shall
be performed on a continuous basis.
1704.3.4
Cold-formed steel trusses
spanning 60 feet or greater. Where a cold-formed steel truss clear span
is 60 feet (18 288 mm) or greater, the special inspector shall verify that the
temporary installation restraint/bracing and the permanent individual truss
member restraint/bracing are installed in accordance with the
approved truss submittal package.
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