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Steel Construction Manual 15th Edition...PDF? 1

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phamENG

phamENG

Structural
Feb 6, 2015
7,220
US
So my state has finally adopted the 2018 IBC model code (effective less than a month ago). As a result, I figured I'd look into getting a PDF version of the 15th edition of the SCM. It would appear that AISC is only offering an online digital manual? The website indicates that you can't download it or access it offline. I want this to use in the car or on an airplane or similar locations where I don't have internet access or waste hot spot data on accessing a book.

I have a PDF of the spec (360-16), so I suppose that's the important part. But having the front matter and tables is really handy. And I'm down to my Steel Manual being the last brick I have to haul around when I want to be productive while traveling. I have digital copies of all my other codes, manuals, and guides.

A couple of shady pirating sites most certainly have a PDF of the 15th edition. They show enough of a preview to know it's what I'm after. But I'm not interested in giving shady pirating sites my business for what I hope are obvious reasons. Anyone know of a place to legally obtain this PDF (I'm not afraid to pay for it)? Or has anyone used the online digital version that AISC is selling access to? Is it worth it?
 
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pharmENG,

I travel a fair amount for projects and use the digital version often when traveling. To me it is worth it because the manual is just too bulky to carry all the time (not as bad as ASME Section VIII and Section II Part D!). The pitfall, as you mentioned is being logged in. We do primarily industrial work and are setting up in a building full of piping, steel, concrete, tanks, etc and end up with limited or poor cell/hot spot service. Sometimes it seems the pages turn slowly, most likely as a result of poor internet connection.

Bottom line it is worth it, not as convenient as the hard copy but better than not being able to keep working. I wish they would have a pdf version, even if it wasn’t supposed to be able to be printed.
 
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Keep in mind that some of the shady sites have added software to those PDFs that you may not like.

I have some ideas for getting around this problem but it would be better if organizations just stopped using their monopoly positions to force an income stream. In reading literally thousands of comments on the general topic of DRM, there is a significant number who chose to go the pirate path not to save money, but for exactly as expressed here - the provider of the material makes access troublesome.

Typical example - non-skippable "THE FBI IS WATCHING YOU" leaders to movies. Do I want to be reminded that stealing is bad when I have paid for a legitimate copy from a legitimate supplier?

 
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Without a doubt, the DRM is the worst part of pdf codebooks. I've recently lost approximately $400 in paperless documents after upgrading to a new laptop.
 
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Have you tried techstreet.com? They typically have everything (either as a pdf or hardcopy).
 
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Can't stand DRM-pdf's. Don't like the performance of online e-documents. And definitely feel your pain phamENG. I'm a physical copy kinda engineer.
 
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I get so frustrated with ACI documents. I pay for all sorts of annual subscriptions; and I also pay to order PDF's of some documents..........and I can't print any of them. They can only be viewed on screen.

I cannot read more than a page or two on screen. I like hard copies.
 
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dig1 - is there anything to it beyond flipping through the pages? For instance: if I'm designing a shear tab can I enter a few parameters and it'll take me to where I want to be in a table? If it'll do that, I'll sign up right away. But if it's just a PDF in a locked box I have to log into, I may just put up with having this one book to carry around with my laptop.

Thanks for the TechStreet link. I had not found that one. The $400 is a bit steep, of course, when a hard copy will only cost me $180.

I prefer hard copies, but for times like right now, when I'm working on my laptop a few hundred miles from home, I don't want a separate suitcase for my books. So I've been switching over to electronic as I'm able.

DRM doesn't bother me too much. I've cracked quite a few of them. Not for the purpose of reselling it, sharing it, or pirating it but so I can use it on whichever computer I happen to be using at the time.

3DDave...yeah, that's one of the many "what I hope are obvious reasons."

 
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pharmENG,

It is actually easy to navigate. There is an expandable table of contents. For example expand chapter 10, scroll down a little expand single plate connections, and you can jump to Table 10-10. Once there you can flip through the pages. On a good internet connection it is easy, one bar hotspot less so but still manageable.
 
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I am confused... if you look to the web , one can purchase the hardcopy of Steel Construction Manual 15. ed. with a cost $180.

You may download a lot of pdf documents for free but not the pdf version of SCM !!.

Steel Construction Manual, 15th Ed. (1-Year Online Access) is for MEMBER: $67.50 and NON-MEMBER: $135.00..

But you can download the PDF version of the same from Techstreet.com or from others with $ 400.. or from some web sites for free but probably not legal...

One can download similar docs. conforming to Eurocode from SCI for free..

Got it..
 
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The other issue with bringing along the hard copy is the more you handle it, the more it deteriorates. With large books like that the bindings are the weak link. Pretty soon it's easier to carry, because it's in four pieces.
What I've done is call someone in the home office and have them scan in a few pages for me. I buy them a cup of coffee in exchange, maybe. And technically, this is slightly illegal (the copying, not the coffee). But if you don't have any help like that, you're stuck.
 
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It would also be nice if AISC had a hard-copy purchase option of just the SCM and Commentary without the bolt manual or professional practice section. That would make it a little smaller to tote around. They could sell it as a bundle similar to what AWC does with the wood manuals.
 
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There are a couple of tricks to get DRM protected PDFs saved as normal PDFs. Just google calibre and DRM.

Honestly I did it for a book just because I hate the adobe secure reader or whatever and wanted to open my book in bluebeam.

While I do understand they want to limit pirating, it sucks to get a digital edition and you can't even open it offline or copy it to your tablet or whatever.
 
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