1 Scope
NOTE The work of this standard includes fixed steel ladders and their cages or ladder safety systems, ship's ladders, steel pipe and tube bollards, loose steel lintels and masonry shelf angles, edge angles and nosings, loose embedded steel furnished for casting into concrete by others, steel bar gratings and floor-plate covers with their frames, trench and pit frames and covers, equipment supports and rooftop dunnage, guard rails and wheel guards for equipment protection, and other loose and field-assembled steel framing not shown on the structural framing plans. (1.2)
NOTE Miscellaneous metals occupy a peculiar position in the trade: each item is individually minor, but the category as a whole is where coordination most frequently fails, because the items interface with nearly every other trade — concrete, masonry, structural steel, mechanical, and architectural — and are often the last thing detailed and the first thing forgotten. (1.3)
NOTE The requirements of this standard exist to make each item buildable, durable, and correctly coordinated with the trades on both sides of it. (1.5)
NOTE The single most consequential code interaction in this standard is the OSHA fixed-ladder rule. (1.6)
1.7 Under 29 CFR 1910.23, fixed ladders extending more than 24 ft above a lower level that are erected on or after November 19, 2018 shall be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system — a cage or well alone is no longer accepted as fall protection on new or replaced ladders, and existing cages must be retired by November 18, 2036.
NOTE A miscellaneous-metals specification that calls for a caged ladder on a new building without a ladder safety system specifies a fabrication that does not comply with current law. (1.8)
NOTE This standard treats the ladder fall-protection method as a required, deliberate selection. (1.9)
NOTE The boundary of work is the fabricated steel item itself, its shop finish, its anchors and fasteners, and its field installation. (1.10)
NOTE The concrete and masonry that receive these items — and the placement and tolerancing of embeds within the concrete — are the work of
Cast In Place Concrete and the masonry trade.
(1.11) 2 Referenced Standards
2.1 Materials, fabrication, finishing, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the following standards, codes, and regulations.
| Standard |
Title |
| 29 CFR 1910.23 |
OSHA — Ladders (general industry; fixed-ladder fall protection) |
| 29 CFR 1910.25 |
OSHA — Stairways (ship stairs / ship's ladders) |
| 29 CFR 1910.28 / 1910.29 |
OSHA — Fall Protection and Fall Protection Systems Criteria |
| ANSI/ALI A14.3 |
American National Standard for Ladders — Fixed — Safety Requirements |
| IBC |
International Building Code (locally adopted edition) |
| ASTM A36/A36M |
Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel |
| ASTM A500/A500M |
Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes |
| ASTM A53/A53M |
Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless |
| ASTM A1011/A1011M |
Steel, Sheet and Strip, Hot-Rolled, Carbon, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy |
| ASTM A1018/A1018M |
Steel, Sheet and Strip, Heavy-Thickness Coils, Hot-Rolled, Carbon, Structural |
| ASTM A786/A786M |
Hot-Rolled Carbon, Low-Alloy, High-Strength Low-Alloy, and Alloy Steel Floor Plates |
| ASTM A572/A572M |
High-Strength Low-Alloy Columbium-Vanadium Structural Steel |
| ASTM A240/A240M |
Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip |
| ASTM A276/A276M |
Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes |
| ASTM A123/A123M |
Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products |
| ASTM A153/A153M |
Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware |
| ASTM A385/A385M |
Practice for Providing High-Quality Zinc Coatings (Hot-Dip) |
| ASTM A780/A780M |
Practice for Repair of Damaged and Uncoated Areas of Hot-Dip Galvanized Coatings |
| ASTM A653/A653M |
Steel Sheet, Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) by the Hot-Dip Process |
| ASTM F3125/F3125M |
High Strength Structural Bolts and Assemblies |
| ASTM A307 |
Carbon Steel Bolts, Studs, and Threaded Rod (60 000 psi Tensile Strength) |
| ASTM F1554 |
Anchor Bolts, Steel, 36, 55, and 105-ksi Yield Strength |
| ASTM A269 / ASTM A312 |
Stainless Steel Tubing and Pipe (where stainless is used) |
| AWS D1.1/D1.1M |
Structural Welding Code — Steel |
| AWS D1.6/D1.6M |
Structural Welding Code — Stainless Steel (where stainless is welded) |
| ANSI/NAAMM MBG 531 |
Metal Bar Grating Manual |
| ANSI/NAAMM MBG 532 |
Heavy-Duty Metal Bar Grating Manual |
| SSPC-SP / AMPP |
Surface Preparation Standards (SP 1, SP 2, SP 3, SP 6) |
| SSPC-Paint 15 / SSPC-Paint 25 |
Steel Joist Shop Primer / Zinc-Oxide Alkyd Primer (shop primer references) |
2.2 Where the contract documents, the adopted building code, an OSHA regulation, or a referenced standard conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer directs otherwise in writing.
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1 The Contractor shall submit the following for the Engineer's review before fabrication begins.
☑ Shop drawings for each fabricated item (dimensions, members, connections, finish)
☐ Embed and anchor layout drawings coordinated with concrete trade
☐ Product data — ladder safety systems, grating, bollard receivers, anchors
☐ Delegated-design calculations (impact bollards, equipment supports, ladder anchorage)
☐ Shop primer and galvanizing-repair material data and SDS
☐ Welder qualification records (AWS D1.1)
☐ Mill certifications for steel and stainless steel
3.1.2 Fabrication of an item shall not begin until its corresponding submittals have been reviewed and accepted.
3.1.3 Submittals shall be coordinated with the trades that receive or interface with each item — concrete, masonry, and structural steel — so that anchor patterns, embed locations, bearing conditions, and opening dimensions are consistent across the contract documents.
3.1.4 Shop drawings shall show each fabricated item in detail: overall and component dimensions, member sizes and material grades, connection and anchorage details, weld sizes and types, fastener types and grades, the shop finish for each item, and the field-installation and anchorage conditions.
3.1.5 Shop drawings for embedded items shall show the embed geometry, anchor configuration, and the layout coordinates and tolerances needed by the trade casting them into the concrete.
3.1.6 Shop drawings for fixed ladders shall identify the fall-protection method (cage, ladder safety system, or personal fall arrest anchorage) and shall reference the governing OSHA and ANSI A14.3 dimensional requirements.
3.1.7 Product data shall be submitted for manufactured components incorporated into the work — ladder safety system carriers and sleeves, bar grating and its anchoring clips, removable-bollard receivers and locking hardware, grating and floor-plate hardware, anchors, and the shop primer and galvanizing-repair materials.
3.1.8 Where the design of a miscellaneous-metal item or its anchorage is delegated to the Contractor or fabricator — commonly for impact-rated structural bollards, equipment supports and rooftop dunnage carrying mechanical loads, and ladder anchorage — signed and sealed calculations shall be submitted, prepared by a professional engineer licensed in the jurisdiction of the project, demonstrating that the item and its anchorage carry the imposed loads.
3.2.1 The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- Certified mill test reports for structural steel, tubing, pipe, plate, and stainless steel
- Welder and welding-operator qualification records under AWS D1.1 (and AWS D1.6 for stainless), current for the processes and positions used
- The galvanizer's certificate of compliance to ASTM A123 or A153, with coating-thickness data
☐ Certified mill test reports for steel, tubing, pipe, plate, and stainless
☑ Welder and welding-operator qualification records (AWS D1.1 / D1.6)
☑ Galvanizer's certificate of compliance (ASTM A123 / A153) with coating-thickness data
3.3 Closeout Submittals
3.3.1 The Contractor shall provide the following at project closeout:
- Operation and maintenance data for ladder safety systems, including the manufacturer's inspection schedule and the user instructions for the climber's attachment device
- As-built records noting any field-authorized modification to embed locations, anchorage, or item dimensions
- Galvanizing-repair records for any field repairs, identifying the method and material used
- Warranty documentation
☑ Operation and maintenance data for ladder safety systems
☐ As-built records of field-authorized modifications to embeds, anchorage, or dimensions
☑ Galvanizing-repair records (method and material)
☑ Warranty documentation
4 Quality Assurance
4.1 Welder Qualifications
4.1.1 Welding shall be performed by welders and welding operators qualified under AWS D1.1 (carbon steel) and AWS D1.6 (stainless steel) for the processes, positions, and material thicknesses used.
4.1.2 Qualification records shall be current and available at the shop and the site.
4.1.3 Welds shall be made under written welding procedures appropriate to the base metal and joint.
4.2 Fabricator Qualifications
4.2.1 The fabricator shall be experienced in producing miscellaneous metal fabrications of the type and scale required and shall maintain the equipment and quality controls to hold the specified tolerances and finishes.
4.2.2 Where impact-rated bollards or load-carrying equipment supports are within scope, the fabricator shall demonstrate experience with engineered, load-rated fabrications.
4.3 Field Verification of Dimensions
4.3.1 Before fabricating items that must fit field conditions — lintels and shelf angles to masonry openings, grating and covers to frames and pits, bollards to slab and footing layouts, embeds to concrete formwork — the Contractor shall verify the governing field dimensions and reconcile any discrepancy with the contract documents before releasing the item to fabrication.
4.3.2 Items fabricated to nominal dimensions without field verification, then found not to fit, shall be the Contractor's responsibility to correct.
4.4 Coordination of Embedded Items
4.4.1 Loose embedded steel furnished under this standard for casting into concrete by others shall be furnished, with setting drawings and templates, on the schedule the concrete and masonry trades require so that no embed is missed at the time of placement.
4.4.2 The Contractor shall coordinate the delivery of embeds and the placement schedule so that retrofitting a missed embed by coring and post-installed anchorage is avoided.
5 Materials
5.1 Carbon Steel
5.1.1 Plates, Shapes, and Bars
NOTE A36 is the default plate, shape, and bar material — the workhorse of miscellaneous metals, used for lintels, shelf angles, embed plates, edge angles, frames, supports, and brackets. (5.1.1.1)
● ASTM A36 carbon steel (standard for general miscellaneous metals)
○ ASTM A572 Grade 50 (where higher yield strength is designed)
5.1.1.2 Steel plates, structural shapes, angles, channels, and bars shall conform to ASTM A36/A36M, or to ASTM A572/A572M where a higher yield strength is required by the design.
NOTE A36 is used as the default unless a member is designed for a load that requires the higher-strength grade. (5.1.1.3)
5.1.2 Structural Tubing
○ ASTM A500 Grade B
● ASTM A500 Grade C (higher yield, common current production)
5.1.2.1 Square, rectangular, and round hollow structural sections (HSS) shall conform to ASTM A500/A500M, Grade B or Grade C.
NOTE HSS is used for ladder rails and rungs, ship's-ladder stringers, tube bollards, equipment-support framing, and guard rails; Grade C provides a higher specified minimum yield strength than Grade B and is increasingly the production standard for square and rectangular HSS. (5.1.2.2)
5.1.3 Steel Pipe
● ASTM A53 Grade B, standard weight (Schedule 40) — standard for bollards and pipe rails
○ ASTM A53 Grade B, extra strong (Schedule 80) — higher impact resistance
5.1.3.1 Steel pipe, used principally for pipe bollards, ladder rungs and rails, and pipe guard rails, shall conform to ASTM A53/A53M, Type E (electric-resistance-welded) or Type S (seamless), Grade B.
5.1.3.2 Pipe selected for bollards shall be standard-weight (Schedule 40) unless a heavier wall is required for the impact rating.
5.1.4 Sheet and Strip
5.1.4.1 Hot-rolled carbon steel sheet and strip shall conform to ASTM A1011/A1011M; heavy-thickness hot-rolled sheet shall conform to ASTM A1018/A1018M.
5.1.4.2 Floor plate (checkered / raised-pattern plate) shall conform to ASTM A786/A786M.
5.2 Stainless Steel
● Not applicable — carbon steel items only
○ Type 304 / 304L (general-purpose stainless)
○ Type 316 / 316L (chloride, coastal, or aggressive exposure)
5.2.1 Where stainless steel is specified — for exposed exterior items in corrosive or coastal exposure, food-service and laboratory environments, or where appearance and corrosion resistance govern — plate, sheet, and strip shall conform to ASTM A240/A240M and bars and shapes to ASTM A276/A276M, in the specified alloy.
NOTE Type 304/304L is the general-purpose stainless; Type 316/316L provides greater resistance to chlorides and is specified for coastal, deicing-salt, and aggressive chemical exposure. (5.2.2)
5.3 Fasteners and Anchors
5.3.1 Bolts and Threaded Rod
● Plain (uncoated) — interior, dry, primed items
○ Hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A153) — galvanized items and exterior exposure
○ Stainless steel — stainless items or severe corrosive exposure
5.3.1.1 Common-grade bolts, studs, and threaded rod shall conform to ASTM A307.
5.3.1.2 High-strength bolt assemblies, where required by the connection design, shall conform to ASTM F3125.
5.3.1.3 Cast-in anchor rods shall conform to ASTM F1554 of the specified grade.
5.3.1.4 Fasteners shall be corrosion-protected to match the exposure and the item finish — galvanized fasteners (ASTM A153) for galvanized items and exterior exposure, stainless fasteners where galvanic compatibility with a stainless item requires it.
5.3.2 Post-Installed Anchors
5.3.2.1 Where items are anchored to hardened concrete or masonry rather than to cast-in embeds, post-installed anchors (expansion, screw, or adhesive) shall be of a type with current evaluation-report recognition for the base material and the load type (including cracked-concrete and seismic qualification where required), installed per the manufacturer's published instructions and the embedment the design requires.
5.3.2.2 Post-installed anchorage shall not be substituted for a designed cast-in embed without the Engineer's approval.
6 Shop Finishes
6.1 Hot-Dip Galvanizing
Shop primer only — interior, dry, finish-painted by others
Hot-dip galvanized after fabrication (ASTM A123 / A153) — exterior, moist, masonry-embedded
Galvanized then shop primer (duplex) — galvanized base for field topcoat
Stainless steel — no coating required
Per drawings
6.1.1 Items exposed to weather, to moisture, or to corrosive service, and items embedded in or in contact with masonry or exterior concrete, shall be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication in accordance with ASTM A123/A123M for fabricated assemblies, plate, and shapes, and ASTM A153/A153M for hardware and fasteners.
6.1.2 Fabrications to be galvanized shall be detailed for galvanizing in accordance with ASTM A385/A385M: vent and drain holes shall be provided in closed sections so that the molten zinc reaches all surfaces and trapped air or cleaning solution does not cause an explosion or an uncoated void, and overlapping or contacting surfaces that cannot be sealed shall be avoided or vented.
NOTE Galvanizing after fabrication gives complete coverage including cut edges, welds, and interior surfaces of tube and pipe, which is why it is the durable corrosion protection for exterior miscellaneous metals. (6.1.3)
6.1.4 Vent and Drain Holes for Galvanizing
6.1.4.1 Closed shapes — tube bollards, HSS ladder rails, tubular frames — shall be detailed with vent and drain holes sized and located per ASTM A385 so the section galvanizes fully inside and out and drains free of zinc.
6.1.4.2 Where vent holes would be visible or admit water in service, their location shall be coordinated so they are concealed or positioned to drain, and shall be shown on the shop drawings.
6.1.5 Galvanizing Repair
● Zinc-rich paint per ASTM A780 (standard for field touch-up)
○ Sprayed zinc / metallizing per ASTM A780 (larger areas, higher durability)
○ Zinc-based solder per ASTM A780 (small, smooth repairs)
6.1.5.1 Galvanized coating damaged by field welding, cutting, drilling, or handling, and any uncoated area within the limits permitted by ASTM A123, shall be repaired in accordance with ASTM A780/A780M using zinc-rich paint, zinc-based solder, or sprayed zinc (metallizing).
6.1.5.2 Zinc-rich paint repair shall be applied to the dry-film thickness required by ASTM A780 — generally 50% greater than the surrounding coating, and not less than the ASTM A780 minimum — over a surface cleaned to bare metal.
6.1.5.3 Field welds on galvanized items shall have the zinc removed from the weld zone before welding and the completed weld and heat-affected zone re-protected, because welding through zinc produces porous welds and toxic fume.
6.2 Surface Preparation and Shop Priming
SSPC-SP 2 (hand-tool cleaning) — interior, dry, mild exposure
SSPC-SP 3 (power-tool cleaning) — interior, dry (standard)
SSPC-SP 6 (commercial blast cleaning) — required by exposure or finish system
● Rust-inhibitive shop primer compatible with specified field finish (standard)
○ No shop primer — galvanized or stainless items
○ No shop primer — surfaces to be embedded, field-welded, or fireproofed
6.2.1 Items that are not galvanized and will receive a shop primer and a field-applied finish shall be cleaned of mill scale, rust, oil, and contaminants before priming, to the SSPC surface-preparation level appropriate to the exposure and the finish system.
6.2.2 Hand-tool cleaning (SSPC-SP 2) and power-tool cleaning (SSPC-SP 3) remove loose mill scale and rust and are adequate for interior, dry, lightly loaded items.
6.2.3 Commercial blast cleaning (SSPC-SP 6) removes essentially all mill scale and rust and is required where the field finish system or the exposure demands a sound substrate.
6.2.4 Solvent cleaning (SSPC-SP 1) to remove oil and grease shall precede any mechanical preparation.
6.2.5 Shop primer shall be a rust-inhibitive primer compatible with the specified field finish system.
6.2.6 Surfaces to be field-welded, faying surfaces of slip-critical connections, surfaces to be embedded in concrete, and surfaces to receive a sprayed fire-resistive material shall not be shop primed.
6.2.7 The field finish, where one is specified, is applied under Interior Painting or Exterior Painting; the shop primer specified here shall be verified compatible with that finish system. 7 Fixed Steel Ladders
7.1 General Requirements
1014
10111214
Default: 12 in
30 in. (ANSI A14.3 minimum on climbing side)
36 in. (where greater clearance is available)
7 in. (ANSI A14.3 minimum behind the ladder)
Greater than 7 in. where structure permits
7.1.1 Fixed steel ladders shall be designed, fabricated, and installed in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.23 and ANSI/ALI A14.3.
7.1.2 Side rails and rungs shall be steel pipe, bar, or HSS as detailed; rungs shall be a non-slip type and shall be spaced uniformly.
7.1.3 The ladder shall provide the rung spacing, rung diameter, climbing-side clearance, and back clearance required by 1910.23 and A14.3.
7.2 Fall Protection Method
NOTE This is the controlling decision for any fixed ladder over 24 ft of climbing height. (7.2.1)
● Ladder safety system — rigid rail or cable carrier per OSHA 1910.23 (standard for new ladders)
○ Personal fall arrest system anchorage per OSHA 1910.23
○ Not applicable — climbing height 24 ft or less
● Rigid rail carrier (track) with traveling sleeve
○ Flexible cable (wire-rope) carrier with traveling sleeve
○ Not applicable — climbing height 24 ft or less
7.2.2 A fixed ladder erected on or after November 19, 2018 that extends more than 24 ft above a lower level shall be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system, per 29 CFR 1910.23.
7.2.3 A cage or well by itself shall not be specified as the fall-protection method for new or replaced ladders.
NOTE A ladder safety system keeps the climber continuously attached and does not depend on a separately rigged anchor, which is why it is the predominant choice for new fixed ladders; cages remain permissible only on ladders erected before November 19, 2018 until the November 18, 2036 retirement deadline. (7.2.4)
7.3.2 Fixed ladders with a total climb requiring intermediate rest points shall be provided with rest platforms at the intervals required by 1910.23 and A14.3, with the ladder offset at each platform so a fall is limited to a single ladder section.
7.4 Ladder Extension and Access
● Side rails extended 42 in. above landing for handhold (standard)
○ Grab bars provided where rail extension is impractical
○ Self-closing gate at ladderway opening per OSHA 1910.28
7.4.1 Where a ladder serves a roof, hatch, or upper landing, the side rails shall extend above the landing surface the distance required by 1910.23 (generally 42 in.) to provide a handhold, or a grab bar shall be provided where the rail extension is impractical.
7.4.2 The access opening, hatch graspability, and any self-closing gate shall comply with 1910.23.
8 Ship's Ladders
Serrated steel bar grating tread
Raised-pattern (checkered) floor plate tread
Plain plate with abrasive nosing
8.1 Ship's ladders (ship stairs) shall be provided only where standard stairs are not feasible and shall conform to 29 CFR 1910.25(e).
8.2 The slope shall be between 50° and 70° from horizontal.
8.3 Treads shall have open risers with a vertical rise between treads of 6.5 in. to 12 in., a minimum tread depth of 4 in., and a minimum tread width of 18 in.
8.4 The ship's ladder shall be provided with handrails on both sides.
8.5 Treads shall be a non-slip type — serrated bar grating, raised-pattern floor plate, or an abrasive nosing — selected for the service environment.
9 Bollards
9.1 Function and Type
NOTE Bollards are vertical posts that protect building corners, equipment, dock doors, utility services, and pedestrians from vehicle impact, or that control vehicle access. (9.1.1)
NOTE The required type depends on function. (9.1.2)
Fixed — set permanently in concrete footing
Removable — locking, set into cast-in receiver
Structural / impact-rated — engineered for defined impact load (delegated design)
Per drawings
9.1.4 A removable bollard shall set into a cast-in receiver (sleeve) and be locked in place, so it can be taken out to allow occasional vehicle passage.
9.1.5 A structural (impact-rated) bollard shall be engineered to arrest a defined vehicle impact and is a delegated-design item carrying a stated impact load.
9.2 Material and Size
NOTE The post diameter and embedment are
as indicated on the bollard details.
(9.2.1) 4 in. NPS — light-duty pedestrian and equipment guard
6 in. NPS — standard vehicle and dock protection
8 in. NPS — heavy vehicle protection
Per delegated impact design
Per drawings
● Concrete-filled (added mass and impact resistance) — standard
○ Hollow (capped, no fill)
● Domed (rounded) cap — sheds water, standard exterior
○ Flat steel plate cap, seal-welded
9.2.2 Bollards shall be steel pipe (ASTM A53 Grade B) or HSS (ASTM A500), of the diameter and wall thickness required for the function and impact resistance.
9.2.3 Pipe bollards shall be capped with a steel plate or a domed cap and, where shown, filled with concrete to add mass and impact resistance.
2448
2430364248
Default: 36 in
Per drawings
9.3.2 Removable-bollard receivers shall extend below the finished surface, set in concrete, with the receiver extending not less than 24 in. below the finished surface unless the design requires more, so the bollard resists impact without rotating in its sleeve.
9.3.3 The receiver shall be detailed to drain or to exclude water so the sleeve does not fill and freeze.
9.4 Bollard Finish
Hot-dip galvanized, field-painted safety color (standard exterior)
Hot-dip galvanized only
Galvanized with slip-over reflective cover sleeve
Stainless steel (architectural / corrosive exposure)
9.4.1 Exterior bollards shall be hot-dip galvanized; where a safety-visible color is required they shall additionally receive a field-applied high-visibility finish or a slip-over reflective sleeve.
9.4.2 The finish shall be coordinated with Exterior Painting where a topcoat is specified. 10 Loose Lintels and Shelf Angles
10.1 Loose Steel Lintels
4 in. each end (typical residential and light commercial)
6 in. each end (wider openings, heavier loads)
Per structural design
Per drawings
● Hot-dip galvanized — exterior masonry or moisture exposure (standard)
○ Shop primer only — interior, dry, concealed
10.1.2 Loose steel lintels — angles or built-up sections set into masonry to span openings — shall be of the size and configuration the design requires and shall be hot-dip galvanized where they support exterior masonry or are otherwise exposed to moisture.
10.1.3 Each lintel shall bear on the masonry a minimum of 4 in. at each end unless the design requires more.
NOTE Insufficient bearing concentrates load on the masonry edge and can crack the supporting course, which is why minimum end bearing is enforced. (10.1.4)
10.2 Masonry Shelf Angles
NOTE Shelf angles support masonry veneer at floor lines and over openings and are continuously loaded by the veneer above. (10.2.1)
● Hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A123) — standard, concealed in wall
○ Stainless steel — severe/coastal exposure or owner requirement
L/600 and not more than 1/16 in. at toe (standard)
Per structural design and contract documents
● Segmented with expansion gaps, aligned to movement joints (standard)
○ Continuous (only where design and movement joints permit)
10.2.2 Shelf angles shall be hot-dip galvanized for corrosion resistance, because they are buried in the wall where corrosion cannot be inspected and a corroding angle expands and cracks the veneer.
10.2.3 The horizontal leg shall be sized to support the design portion of the veneer wythe.
10.2.4 Shelf angle runs shall be provided in segments with gaps between segments to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction and to align with the building's movement joints.
NOTE Continuous, gap-free angle runs bind and distort as the steel expands, which is why segmentation is required. (10.2.5)
10.2.6 Deflection of the horizontal leg under masonry load shall be limited to the value the design requires (commonly L/600 and not more than 1/16 in. at the toe) so the veneer joint does not close.
11 Loose Embedded Steel
11.1 Embed Plates and Weld Plates
Welded headed studs (standard)
Welded deformed bar anchors
Through-bolts / hooked anchors per detail
11.1.2 Loose embedded steel — embed plates, weld plates, anchor channels, and similar items furnished for casting into concrete by others — shall be fabricated from ASTM A36 plate with welded headed studs or deformed bar anchors developed for the design force.
11.1.3 Embeds shall be furnished with setting templates and layout information so the concrete trade can position and hold them during placement within the tolerance the connection requires.
NOTE An embed cast out of position or rotated out of plane can make the intended field connection impossible without remedial coring and post-installed anchorage, so position tolerance is enforced. (11.1.4)
11.2 Anchor Channels
11.2.1 Continuous anchor (slotted) channels cast into concrete, where used to receive bolted attachments without drilling, shall be of the manufactured type with current evaluation-report recognition for the design load, furnished with foam fillers to keep the slot clear during casting, and located per the layout drawings.
11.3 Embed Corrosion Protection
● Bare steel — interior, dry, fully embedded (standard)
○ Hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A123) — exterior, moist, or chloride exposure
○ Stainless steel — severe corrosive exposure
11.3.1 Embeds in interior, dry, non-corrosive concrete may be furnished bare, with the concrete cover providing protection.
11.3.2 Embeds at exterior, moist, or chloride exposure, and any embed whose exposed face remains in a corrosive environment after stripping, shall be hot-dip galvanized.
11.3.3 Galvanized embeds with welded studs shall be galvanized after the studs are attached.
12 Gratings, Floor Plate, and Covers
12.1 Steel Bar Grating
Welded steel bar grating (ANSI/NAAMM MBG 531) — standard
Pressure-locked (swage-locked) bar grating
Heavy-duty bar grating (ANSI/NAAMM MBG 532)
● Plain (smooth) bearing bars — standard interior/dry
○ Serrated bearing bars — slip resistance for wet, oily, or exterior service
Span/240 (standard pedestrian / maintenance)
Span/360 (where stiffer deflection is required)
Per design
● Manufactured saddle clips (removable) — standard
○ Welded to supports (permanent)
12.1.1 Steel bar grating for floors, platforms, trenches, and pits shall be welded or pressure-locked bar grating fabricated and dimensioned in accordance with ANSI/NAAMM MBG 531 (and MBG 532 for heavy-duty grating), of the bearing-bar depth, spacing, and cross-bar spacing required to carry the design load over the clear span with the deflection limit specified.
12.1.2 Grating in pedestrian areas shall have a bearing-bar spacing that prevents a high-heel or small-wheel from passing through where required by the occupancy.
12.1.3 Grating shall be banded at all cut edges and openings, and shall be anchored to its supports with manufactured saddle clips or welded as detailed so it cannot shift or tip underfoot.
12.2 Floor Plate
1/4 in. (light pedestrian / cover)
3/8 in. (standard floor and trench cover)
1/2 in. (heavy load)
Per design
Per drawings
12.2.1 Raised-pattern (checkered) floor plate shall conform to ASTM A786/A786M, of the thickness required for the span and load, used for covers, walking surfaces, and trench lids where a solid (non-open) surface is required.
12.2.2 Floor plate covers and access panels shall be provided with lifting provisions and shall fit their frames so they do not rock underfoot.
12.3 Trench and Pit Frames and Covers
Steel bar grating cover (drainage / ventilation)
Raised-pattern floor plate cover (solid surface)
Per drawings
12.3.1 Trench, pit, and equipment-pit frames and covers shall be fabricated of angle or channel frames embedded flush with the finished floor and grating or floor-plate covers that seat in the frame without rocking.
12.3.3 Covers shall be sized and weighted for manual handling or provided with lifting devices, and shall carry the design floor load.
12.3.4 Covers and frames in vehicular or forklift areas shall be rated for the wheel load.
12.4 Grating and Plate Finish
● Hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A123) — exterior, wet, or corrosive (standard for trench/pit)
○ Shop primer only — interior, dry
○ Stainless steel — food-service, laboratory, or aggressive exposure
12.4.1 Gratings, floor plate, and frames in exterior, wet, or corrosive service shall be hot-dip galvanized; interior, dry items may be shop primed.
NOTE Galvanizing is the standard for trench and pit work because these items sit at the floor where water collects. (12.4.2)
13 Equipment Supports and Steel Framing
13.1 Equipment Supports and Rooftop Dunnage
● Designed by Engineer, shown on drawings
○ Delegated design with sealed calculations (significant or seismic loads)
● Hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A123) — standard rooftop exposure
○ Shop primer plus field finish per exterior painting
13.1.2 Steel supports, stands, dunnage, and framing that carry mechanical, electrical, or plumbing equipment but are not part of the building's structural frame shall be fabricated to carry the equipment's operating and seismic loads, and where the load is significant the support design shall be delegated and submitted with sealed calculations.
13.1.3 Rooftop dunnage shall be detailed and located so it transfers load to the building structure (not to the roof deck alone) and so roofing and flashing can be completed around it.
13.1.4 Dunnage supports shall be hot-dip galvanized for the rooftop exposure.
13.2 Guard Rails and Wheel Guards for Equipment Protection
Hot-dip galvanized, field-painted safety color (standard)
Hot-dip galvanized only
Shop primer plus field finish
13.2.2 Anchorage shall develop the impact load into the slab or structure, coordinated with Cast In Place Concrete where cast-in anchorage is used. 13.3 Miscellaneous Steel Framing
13.3.1 Loose and field-assembled steel framing not part of the structural frame — lintels at mechanical openings, support angles and brackets, infill framing at openings, and similar items — shall be fabricated of A36 shapes and plate, connected by welding or bolting per the details, and finished to match the exposure.
13.3.2 Items shown only schematically shall be coordinated with the surrounding work before fabrication.
14 Welding and Fabrication
14.1 Welding
○ Continuous and ground smooth where exposed (architectural / handled surfaces)
● Standard structural welds, not ground (concealed / utility items)
14.1.1 Welding shall conform to AWS D1.1 for carbon steel and AWS D1.6 for stainless steel, using qualified procedures and qualified welders.
14.1.2 Welds shall be of the size and type shown, continuous where exposed to weather or where appearance governs, and ground smooth where the detail or the architectural exposure requires.
14.1.3 Welds on items to be galvanized shall be made before galvanizing so the weld is coated; field welds shall have the coating restored per the galvanizing-repair or shop-primer requirements above.
14.2 Fabrication Quality
14.2.1 Fabricated items shall be true to line and plane, with sharp, clean lines and accurate angles and surfaces.
14.2.2 Exposed connections shall be made with hairline joints, flush and smooth, using concealed fasteners where practical on architecturally exposed items.
14.2.3 Sheared and cut edges shall be dressed to remove burrs and sharp edges on items that will be handled or walked on.
15 Tolerances
● Commercially accepted tolerances for the item, plumb and aligned (standard)
○ Project-specific tolerances per contract documents
15.1 Fabrication and installation tolerances shall be appropriate to the item and its interface.
15.2 Items that fit other work — covers to frames, bollards to receivers, lintels to openings, embeds to connections — shall be fabricated and set within the tolerance that interface requires.
15.3 Erected items shall be plumb, level, and aligned within commercially accepted limits for the item, and items in a continuous run (guard rails, shelf angles, edge angles) shall align without visible offset at joints.
16 Installation
16.1 Setting and Anchorage
16.1.1 Items shall be set in their correct location, plumb and level, and anchored as detailed — cast-in anchors and embeds where provided, or post-installed anchors of the recognized type and embedment where anchoring to hardened concrete or masonry.
16.1.2 The installer shall verify that the field condition matches the assumptions of the anchorage detail (slab thickness, edge distance, base material) before drilling post-installed anchors, and shall reconcile any conflict with the Engineer.
16.1.3 Items shall not be forced into a misaligned condition; an item that does not fit shall be corrected, not field-modified in a way that defeats its finish or function.
16.2 Field Cutting and Modification
16.2.1 Field cutting, drilling, and welding shall be held to the minimum and shall be performed so the item's strength and finish are preserved.
16.2.2 Cut or drilled galvanized surfaces and damaged shop primer shall be restored per the galvanizing-repair and shop-primer requirements above.
16.2.3 Unauthorized field modification that compromises a load-rated item (impact bollard, equipment support, ladder) shall not be performed without the Engineer's approval.
16.3 Protection and Cleaning
16.3.1 Installed items shall be protected from damage by other trades until substantial completion.
16.3.2 Surfaces stained, scratched, or corroded during construction shall be cleaned and the finish restored.
16.3.3 Items walked on (grating, floor plate, covers) shall be protected from welding spatter, concrete, and finish materials that would clog the surface or create a slipping hazard.
17 Warranty
1 year from substantial completion
2 years from substantial completion
17.1 The Contractor shall warrant the miscellaneous metal work against defects in materials and workmanship — including coating failure and premature corrosion, weld failure, anchorage failure, distortion under design load, and failure of a load-rated item (ladder safety system, impact bollard, equipment support) to perform as specified — for a period of not less than one year from substantial completion, or for the period stated in the contract documents if longer.
17.2 The warranty shall not limit the Engineer's right to require corrective work for nonconforming conditions discovered during the warranty period.
17.3 Manufacturer warranties for ladder safety systems, removable-bollard hardware, and coatings shall be passed through to the Owner and included in the closeout submittals.