INFORMATION BULLETIN / PUBLIC - BUILDING CODE

REFERENCE NO.: AISC Sections 9, 10 & 11 Effective: 03-15-04

DOCUMENT NO. P/BC 2002-098 Revised: 02-27-05
Previously Issued As: Interdepartmental Memo

STRUCTURAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR

STEEL MOMENT FRAME CONNECTIONS
Part A. Purpose
The 2002 Los Angeles Building Code (LABC) and recently developed recommendations by the Structural
Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Steel Committee for buildings and structures
utilizing steel moment frame connections to resist the effects of earthquakes are summarized and clarified
in this Bulletin. The Committee’s recommendations combine the knowledge gained from research and
testing by various private organizations into the problems associated with steel moment frame
connections damaged during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. These investigations, particularly by the
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), lead the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) to adopt these more stringent design,
construction, and inspection requirements intended to improve the performance of Special Moment
Frames (SMF), Intermediate Moment Frames (IMF), and Ordinary Moment Frames (OMF).
Part B. General Requirements
This Bulletin summarizes and clarifies requirements from the following three documents:
1. 2002 Los Angeles City Building Code,
2. 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, dated May 21, 2002, and
3. FEMA 350 “Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for New Steel Moment Frame Buildings,”
dated July 2000.
Part C. Qualifying Cyclic Tests of Beam-to-Column Moment Connections
1. The LABC requires SMF and IMF beam-to-column moment connections to be qualified by cyclic
tests in accordance with the AISC Seismic Provisions, Appendix S.
2. The following SMF connections comply with the LABC without further cyclic tests:
a. FEMA 350 Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connections designed to meet the FEMA SMF
requirements or
b. Connections designed to meet the SMF requirements of an LA City Research Report.
3. The following IMF connections comply with the LABC without further cyclic tests:
a. FEMA 350 Reduced Beam Section (RBS), Welded Unreinforced Flanges – Welded Web
(WUF-W), Welded Flange Plate (WFP), and Bolted Flange Plate (BFP) connections
designed to meet the FEMA OMF requirements or
b. Connections designed to meet the IMF requirements of an LA City Research Report.
4. All tested connections shall be constructed without variations such as, but are not limited to,
additional haunches or cover plates, additional welds, deviations from the tested weld access hole
configuration at moment connections, moment connection to the column weak axis, or skewed or
dual axis moment connections.
Exception: Size and weight variations within the limits described in the AISC Seismic Provisions
Appendix S are permitted.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide
reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. For efficient handling of information internally and in the internet, conversion to this
new format of code related and administrative information bulletins including MGD and RGA that were previously issued will allow flexibility and timely distribution of information
to the public.
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 P/BC 2002-098

5. The LABC allows OMF beam-to-column connections without cyclic tests except for moment
connections to the column weak axis and skewed or dual axis moment connections.
Part D. Special Moment Frame (SMF) Connection Requirements
All SMF connections shall comply with the following requirements:
1. SMFs shall be designed in accordance with this Bulletin and the following:
a. FEMA SMF design criteria for FEMA 350 RBS connections or
b. AISC Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 9, design criteria for all other connections.
2. Beams and columns shall meet the width-to-thickness ratio limitations of the AISC Seismic
Provisions, Table I-8-1.
3. The Maximum Inelastic Response Displacement, ∆M, of the frame shall be designed for the
requirements of LABC Section 1630.10 and Table 1 of this Bulletin.
Exception: All one-story buildings or structures with steel moment frame columns embedded
in grade beams are permitted to use ∆M of 0.02h or that specified in Table 1 of this
Bulletin, whichever is less restrictive.
4. Members shall be sized to provide strong column/weak beam in accordance with the AISC
Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 9.6, Equation (9-3), and panel zone strength/thickness in
accordance with the AISC Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 9.3, or FEMA 350, Section 3.3.3.2,
for FEMA 350 connections.
Exceptions: i. One-story buildings with steel moment frame columns embedded in grade
beams.
ii. The interior steel moment frame columns at the uppermost level of the frame
(i.e. supporting roof) in buildings three stories or less in height.
5. The connection of the frame to the Column Base shall be designed to transmit forces to the
foundation. Column base elements include anchor bolts, base plate welds, and any elements that
transfer shear, moment, or tension to the foundation.
a. The seismic loads to be transferred to the foundation soil interface shall be based upon the
seismic load combinations of LABC Section 1612.4, Equations (12-17) and (12-18).
b. Design of concrete elements at the Column Base, including anchor rod embedment and
reinforcement steel, shall be in accordance with LABC Chapter 19.
c. The seismic force amplification factor, Ωo, need not be applied to the foundations elements
(e.g., continuous footings, pad footings, or grade beams) supporting the columns.
d. Grade beams shall be provided with ductile detailing per LABC Sections 1921.
Exception: Ductile detailing may be waived for grade beams designed using the seismic
force amplification factor, Ωo.
6. All beams in moment frames shall be laterally braced in compliance with the requirements of the
AISC Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 9.8.
Part E. Intermediate Moment Frame (IMF) Connection Requirements
All IMF connections shall comply with the following requirements:
1. IMFs shall be designed in accordance with this Bulletin and the following:
a. FEMA OMF design criteria for FEMA 350 RBS, WUF-W, WFP, and BFP connections or
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide
reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. For efficient handling of information internally and in the internet, conversion to this
new format of code related and administrative information bulletins including MGD and RGA that were previously issued will allow flexibility and timely distribution of information
to the public.
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 P/BC 2002-098

b. AISC Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 10, design criteria for all other connections.
2. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 2 of this Bulletin.
3. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 3 of this Bulletin.
4. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 4 of this Bulletin and the following exceptions:
Exceptions: i. Non-building structures.
ii. Lateral Force Resisting System 2c in Table 1 of this Bulletin.
5. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 5 of this Bulletin.
6. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 6 of this Bulletin and the following exception:
Exceptions: Lateral Force Resisting System 2c in Table 1 of this Bulletin.
Part F. Ordinary Moment Frame (OMF) Connection Requirements
All OMF connections shall comply with the following requirements:
1. OMFs shall be designed in accordance with this Bulletin and the following:
a. FEMA OMF design criteria for FEMA 350 RBS, WUF-W, WFP, and BFP connections or
b. AISC Seismic Provisions, Part I Section 11, design criteria for all other connections.
2. Beams and columns shall meet the width-to-thickness ratio limitations in Table B5.1 of AISC-LRFD
Specifications and shall be wide flange only.
Exception: Beams and columns may be other than wide flange when a Lateral Force Resisting
System 3d in Table 1 of this Bulletin is used, provided all beams and columns shall
be doubly symmetrical.
3. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 3 of this Bulletin.
4. Design of beam to column connection shall comply with the lesser of the following:
a. AISC Seismic Provisions Section 11.2, Equation Mu $ 1.1 Ry Mp and any associated shear
and axial force, or
b. LABC Section 1612.4, Equation (12-17) or (12-18).
Exception: Lateral Force Resisting Systems 3c and 3d in Table 1 of this Bulletin.
5. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 5 of this Bulletin.
6. Comply with the requirements in Part D Item 6 of this Bulletin.
Exception: Lateral Force Resisting Systems 3c and 3d in Table 1 of this Bulletin.
Part G. Quality Assurance Plan for Steel Moment Frames
A quality assurance plan is required to be provided with every structural plans. The minimum
requirements of a quality assurance plan are outlined in the Department’s Quality Assurance (QA)
Standard Plan. This QA Standard Plan shall be attach to and made part of the approved structural plans.
Alternatively, the Engineer of Record may submit a separate quality assurance plan provided all the
minimum requirements from the Standard Plan have been incorporated.
The Department’s Quality Assurance Standard Plan combines the LADBS policies, FEMA 350 and 353
Standards, 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions Code, AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2002 Structural Welding Code, and
recommendations from engineers, inspectors, and members of the Structural Engineers' Association of
Southern California Steel Committee. The QA Standard Plan can be obtained at www.ladbs.org.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide
reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. For efficient handling of information internally and in the internet, conversion to this
new format of code related and administrative information bulletins including MGD and RGA that were previously issued will allow flexibility and timely distribution of information
to the public.
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 P/BC 2002-098

TABLE 1
Design Parameters for Steel SMF, IMF, and OMF
Height Weight
Category Building or Structure Types Connection Types R Ωo Limit(1) (ft)
Story Limit
Limit(2) (psf) Max. ∆M
SMF connections qualified by cyclic tests, FEMA 350 RBS
SMF

1a Any Building connections, or SMF connections with an LA City Research 8.5 2.8 No Limit No Limit No Limit 0.025h(3)
Report.
IMF connections qualified by cyclic tests or IMF connections
4.5 2.8 35 No Limit 35 0.025h(3)
2a Any Building with an LA City Research Report.
FEMA 350 RBS, WUF-W, WFP, and BFP connections. 4.5 2.8 35 No Limit 35 0.013h
LATERAL FORCE RESISTING SYSTEM

IMF

Any connections allowed in 2a above or moment joint field

2b Metal Buildings 4.5 2.8 60 1 15 0.025h(3)
connection constructed of bolted end plates.
One or two family dwellings using
2c light-frame construction Any connections allowed in 2a above. 3.0 2.2 No Limit No Limit No Limit 0.013h

FEMA 350 RBS, WUF-W, WFP, and BFP connections or any

calculated OMF connections except beam-to-column weak axis
3a Any Building 3.5 2.8 35 No Limit 15 0.025h(3)
or skewed or dual axis connections. All beam and column
members shall be limited to wide flange sections.
Any connections allowed in 3a above or moment joint field
3b Metal Buildings 3.5 2.8 60 1 15 0.025h(3)
connection constructed of bolted end plates.
OMF

Unoccupied structures which are

3c not accessible to the general Any connections allowed in 3a or 3b above. 3.0 2.2 50 No Limit No Limit 0.013h
public
Miscellaneous structures(4) or Any connections allowed in 3a or 3b above. All beam and
3d dwellings using light-frame column members may be other than wide flange sections, 1.5 1.5 No Limit No Limit No Limit 0.013h
construction provided members are doubly symmetrical(5) sections.
NOTES:
1. Regular structures may exceed these limits by not more than 50% for unoccupied structures, which are not accessible to the general public per LABC Section 1629.7.
2. The dead load of each roof, wall or floor shall not exceed the weight limit specified in this Table.
3. For structures having a fundamental period of 0.5 second or greater, refer to LABC Section 1630.10.2.
4. Walkways, canopies, penthouse, and other structures not part of the lateral resisting system of a building (e.g., stairs and non-building structures).
5. Members are symmetrical about the centerline of their x-axis and y-axis (e.g., tube steel).

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide
reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. For efficient handling of information internally and in the internet, conversion to this
new format of code related and administrative information bulletins including MGD and RGA that were previously issued will allow flexibility and timely distribution of information
to the public.
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