ICC-ES AC398

Full Name

ICC-ES AC398 – Acceptance Criteria for Steel Connectors for Connecting Light-frame Construction Members to Concrete

Scope

ICC-ES AC398 establishes the acceptance criteria for evaluating steel connectors used to connect light-frame construction members, such as wood or cold-formed steel framing, to concrete. These connectors are crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of buildings.

The scope of AC398 includes:

  • Materials: specifications for the materials used in the steel connectors, ensuring their strength, durability, and compatibility with concrete.
  • Design and performance: criteria for evaluating the design and performance of connectors under various loading conditions, including tension, shear, and combined loads.
  • Testing procedures: standardized test methods for assessing the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and other relevant properties of steel connectors.
  • Installation: guidelines for the proper installation of connectors in concrete, including embedment depth, spacing, and edge distance requirements.
  • Applications: examples of typical applications for steel connectors in light-frame construction, such as attaching wall studs, floor joists, and roof rafters to concrete foundations or slabs.

By adhering to AC398, manufacturers can ensure that their steel connectors meet the necessary standards for safety and performance in light-frame construction.

Resources

Keywords

acceptance criteria; concrete; connector; embedment; light-frame construction; load; materials; performance; shear; steel; tension