The SlottedWeb^TM structural steel seismic connection developed by Seismic Structural Design Associates Inc. (SSDA) has been recognized for general use as a prequalified connection in Special Moment Frames (SMF) by the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES). The design, fabrication, and field inspection requirements for this connection is given in ER-5861, which may be down loaded from the ICC-ES website (www.icc-es.org). This connection also satisfies the April 15, 1997 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings and its Supplements No.1 dated February 15, 1999 and No.2 dated November 10, 2000.  A description of this proprietary connection is also shown in FEMA-350 "Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for New Steel Moment-Frame Buildings" and in FEMA-351 "Recommended Seismic Evaluation and Upgrade Criteria for Existing Steel Moment-Frame Buildings".

The ICC-ES recognition includes seismic moment frame designs using either deep or standard columns without lateral column bracing. Moreover, no bracing of the beam at the connection is required. These exclusive assets derive from the SlottedWeb^TM technology, which eliminates both the lateral torsional buckling mode and virtually all of shear in the beam flanges.

The SlottedWeb^TM connection technology and designs were developed by SSDA through an extensive privately funded research and development effort. These cost effective connections have gained widespread acceptance by structural engineers as demonstrated by their use in over 500 buildings including commercial office buildings, hospitals, schools, hotels, and residential structures.

The SSDA SlottedWeb™ moment connection detail is proprietary to Seismic Structural Design Associates, Inc (SSDA), Clayton Jay Allen, James Edward Partridge and Ralph Michael Richard.  The inventions disclosed herein are covered by United States Patent Office. (U.S. Patent #5,680,738 and #6,237,303)  Patents pending worldwide.