C-NCommentary — Chapter N Quality control and quality assurance

Chapter N includes the following major changes and additions in this edition of the Specification:

• (1) Section N1 now more accurately defines when quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) are required to be performed and by whom.
• (2) Section N4 now addresses coating inspection personnel requirements.
• (3) Tables N5.4-1 and N5.4-3 contain revised restrictions on die stamping.
• (4) Section N8, Minimum Requirements for Shop- or Field-Applied Coatings, has been added.

This chapter on quality control and quality assurance does not address a number of applications associated with structural steel. The following is a list of references that may help with quality control and quality assurance for some of these items:

• (1) Steel (open web) joists and joist girders—Each model specification of the Steel Joist Institute contains a section on quality

• (2) Concrete reinforcing bars, concrete materials, or placement of concrete for composite members—ACI 318 and ACI 318M (ACI, 2019)

• (3) Surface preparations for painting or coatings—SSPC Painting Manual, Volumes 1 and 2 (SSPC, 2002, 2012)

• N1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

• N2 FABRICATOR AND ERECTOR QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM

• N3 FABRICATOR AND ERECTOR DOCUMENTS

• N4 INSPECTION AND NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING PERSONNEL

• N5 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL BUILDINGS

• N6 APPROVED FABRICATORS AND ERECTORS

• N8 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOP- OR FIELD-APPLIED COATINGS