This paper starts with a historical account of the revision work being done on the Brazilian Standard for the design of steel structures and steel/concrete structures. This revision led to the September 2006 draft, here referred to as PR NBR 8800:2006. The paper then presents the basis for the development of PR NBR 8800:2006, its main guidelines and the main changes in relation to the valid Standard, released in 1986. Finally, the importance of having an up to date norm for the consistent advance of the steel construction in Brazil is highlighted.
Steel structures; composite steel and concrete structures; structural design; Brazilian Standard