AISC STEEL SOLUTIONS CENTER ENGINEERING FAQS 2.1.
MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY
2.1. Material Identi cation and Traceability
2. 1. 1. WH A T IS REQU IRED FOR TH E ID ENTIFICA TION OF MA TERIA L?
Identi cation means the ability to determine that the speci ed material grade and size are being used. Section 6.1 of the Code of Standard Practice states: "The fabricator shall be able to
demonstrate by written procedure and actual practice a method of material identi cation, visible up to the point of assembling members." The Code goes on to describe in further detail
the requirements.
2. 1. 2. WH A T IS TH E D IFFERENCE B ETWEEN TRA CEA B ILITY A ND ID ENTIFICA TION OF MA TERIA L?
Traceability means the ability to identify a speci c piece of steel in a structure, throughout the life of the structure, and its speci c mill test report (MTR). As such, traceability
requirements are signi cantly more expensive than the identi cation requirements discussed in 2.1.1. The owner should clearly understand the di erences, limitations and relative costs
involved.
Traceability is not a requirement in the AISC Speci cation but, when required, must be clearly speci ed in the contract documents prior to the ordering of material. The following
elements of traceability should be selected only as needed:
1. Lot traceability vs. piece-mark traceability vs. piece traceability: Lot traceability means that the materials used in a given project can be traced to the set of MTRs for that project. Piece-
mark traceability means that the heat number can be correlated for each piece mark, of which there can be many individual pieces. Piece traceability means that the heat number can be
correlated for each piece, which e ectively demands separate piece marks for each piece. Each of these three successive levels of traceability adds signi cant costs. Piece traceability, the
most expensive option, is necessary only in critical applications, such as the construction of a nuclear power facility. Piece-mark traceability is often speci ed for main members in
bridges. Lot identi cation is most common in other applications where traceability is required.
2. Main-material traceability vs. all-material traceability: Main-material traceability means that beams, columns, braces and other main structural members are traced as speci ed above.
All-material traceability means that connection and detail materials are also traced as speci ed above. All-material traceability, the more expensive option, is necessary only in critical
applications, such as the construction of a nuclear power facility. In other cases, main-material traceability is su cient when traceability is a requirement.
3. Consumables traceability means that lot numbers for consumables such as bolts, welding electrodes and paint can be traced. This is necessary only in critical applications, such as the
construction of a nuclear power facility.
4. Required record retention de nes the level of detail required in documenting traceability (who, what, when, where, how, etc.).
5. Fool-proof record retention vs. fraud-proof record retention: Fool-proof record retention means internal veri cation of records. Fraud-proof record retention means external
certi cation of records. Fraud-proof record retention is necessary only in critical applications, such as the construction of a nuclear power facility. In other cases, fool-proof record
retention is su cient when traceability is a requirement.
2. 1. 3. H OW D OES A FA B RICA TOR MA INTA IN TRA CEA B ILITY WH EN IT IS REQU IRED ? /
Each heat of steel produced by the mill is tested for chemical content and mechanical properties, and the results are recorded on a MTR, which is provided to and maintained in the
records of the fabricator. Each piece that is rolled from this heat is then labeled with an identi cation mark that relates to the corresponding MTR. The fabricator applies an identi cation
mark to each piece. Because this piece mark remains with the piece throughout the fabrication and erection process, the material is traceable back to the MTR for that individual piece.
Many connecting elements and similar ttings are too small to accommodate the marks to identify the piece from which they were cut. Additionally, such items are commonly made
from stock materials with marks that may have inadvertently been abraded or lost during years of storage. In such cases, the fabricator provides written certi cation that the stock
material meets the contract requirements.
Manufacturers of consumables such as bolts, welding electrodes and paint provide documentation as to the content and speci cation compliance of their products. This documentation
is provided to and maintained in the records of the fabricator.
The packaging in which the products are shipped is referenced to this documentation. In some cases, the fabricator may purchase materials through a steel service center. When this is
the case, the steel service center must transmit the necessary documentation from the manufacturer to the fabricator.
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