This paper aims at defining design options with requirements proportioned to the actual seismic context of constructions in areas characterized by a low or moderate seismic hazard, contrary to most researches aiming at maximizing the seismic performances. More precisely the objective is to propose design rules that are optimized for the actual seismic action, providing the necessary safety level without imposing excessive requirements, and thus limiting the incremental complexity and costs associated with anti-seismic design. Specific investigations have been carried out regarding typical beam profiles commonly used for steel and composite frames. In a first stage, experimental tests on class-3 and class-4 built up steel profiles and composite beam-to-column nodes were performed. The measurement results were evaluated with regard to the development of the hysteretic behaviour with particular emphasis on the cyclic degradation. These test results have been used as reference for the calibration and validation of numerical model aiming at extending the scope of the experimental outcomes through appropriate parametric variations regarding the behaviour of nodal connections as well as towards the global analysis and behaviour of structures made of class 3 and 4 profiles. Based on the outcomes of these investigations, practical design recommendations are finally derived for moment resisting frames located in low and moderate seismicity regions.