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Publication Policy

This policy sets forth the criteria for selection, evaluation, and publication of material in ACI publications. Exceptions to this policy shall be approved by the Board of Direction.

Introduction

In the dissemination of technical information, the Board of Direction assigned primary responsibilities to the following committees: Technical Activities Committee (TAC), Educational Activities Committee (EAC), Certification Programs Committee (CPC), International Activities Committee (IAC), and the Editorial Boards (MJEB & SJEB). TAC is responsible for the technical content of publications developed by the Institute's technical committees. TAC shall be the final authority on technical issues in all publications. EAC is responsible for development of educational documents and teaching aids. CPC is responsible for development of certification documents. IAC is responsible for publications within the International Publications Series. MJEB & SJEB are responsible for overseeing the two peer-reviewed ACI journals. The Executive Vice President (EVP) is responsible for the editorial treatment, format, mode of publication, and pricing of all publications. The EVP is also responsible for the assignment of material to particular periodicals, the technical content of non-peer-reviewed manuscripts in periodicals, and the assignment of material to compilations that are not reviewed by an ACI technical committee.

ACI Publications

1. Periodicals

ACI periodicals include the ACI Structural Journal, the ACI Materials Journal, and Concrete International. The ACI Structural Journal and the ACI Materials Journal are bi-monthly periodicals that are primarily research-oriented and may also include other comprehensive technical information. Concrete International is a practice-oriented monthly periodical. Authors need not be members of ACI to submit manuscripts for consideration for publication in the ACI periodicals.

If a manuscript satisfies the basis of acceptability, its publication will be determined giving consideration to probable interest of and likely service to readers and maintenance of a well-balanced publications program.

Basis of acceptability

An acceptable manuscript shall be concise and shall:

    • Be within the area of interest of ACI in accordance with its mission. Manuscripts dealing with general structural analysis or engineering treatments common to other materials will not be considered.
    • Be original and significant in data or treatment and based on an adequate factual record that is either presented in the manuscript or is available by reference to open literature. Conclusions of a manuscript must be fully supported by data or reference.
    • Not be previously published (other than the author's thesis or dissertation), nor submitted for consideration elsewhere while in the ACI review or publication process.
    • Be objective in treatment, avoid personalities and pleas of special interests, and be in good taste both technically and professionally.
    • Be submitted in conformance with ACI procedures.

 

Evaluation system

The evaluation system is structured to maintain the high quality and value of published material, and to minimize the time between submission and publication of acceptable manuscripts.

Manuscripts submitted for publication in the ACI Structural Journal and the ACI Materials Journal will be given preliminary review by an ACI staff committee. ACI staff could reject a manuscript on preliminary review based on nonconformance to ACI procedures or a preliminary evaluation of writing quality. ACI staff selects reviewers for a peer review. Authors are welcome to include names of suggested reviewers and/or names of individuals who should not be invited to review the manuscript in a cover letter submitted with the manuscript with a description of why the reviewers should or should not be considered. An ACI staff committee makes the decision regarding where a manuscript is published, taking into account recommendations from the reviewers and the authors' initial request for the publication venue. Manuscripts submitted for publication in Concrete International will be given preliminary review by an ACI staff committee that selects reviewers and/or the review method.

During its evaluation, the content of a manuscript is confidential. Evaluation of a manuscript to determine its acceptability is also confidential, and while the reviewers' comments may be shared with the author, the identity of the reviewers will not be disclosed. Efforts will be made to avoid conflicts of interest of reviewers.

Appeal of a decision not to publish a manuscript in the ACI Structural Journal or ACI Materials Journal should be made to the Managing Editor of the Journal, and the appeal will be reviewed by the Editorial Board for the Journal. After reviewing the case, the Editorial Board will issue a final recommendation. This recommendation is not subject to further review. Appeal of a decision not to publish a manuscript in Concrete International should be made to the Editor-in-Chief of Concrete International.

2. Technical Committee Documents

The term "technical committee document" refers to all ACI technical committee works, whether published or under development, such as codes, specifications, reports, and guides. All technical committee documents are developed by ACI technical committees in accordance with the ACI Technical Committee Manual (TCM). TAC reviews technical committee documents in accordance with the TCM and recommends to the EVP the publication modes judged most appropriate for specific documents. A technical committee has the right to appeal the TAC decision on a technical committee document in accordance with the procedures in the TCM.

3. Symposium Publications (SPs)

SPs are technical publications including manuals, handbooks, monographs, and symposium volumes. SPs may also include material developed outside the Institute. SPs may be authored by a technical committee or by individuals, who need not be members of ACI to submit material for consideration for publication.

Review procedures for SPs are overseen by TAC in accordance with the TCM. For a symposium volume, the sponsoring technical committee is usually assigned the responsibility for review and selection of manuscripts, and ACI staff and TAC monitor the activity to assure that policies and procedures are followed. Manuscripts submitted for publication as a monograph will be given preliminary review by an ACI staff committee, which in turn selects reviewers and/or the review method. Manuscripts submitted for symposium volumes and monographs must satisfy the basis of acceptability described in the ACI Periodicals section of this Policy. Appeal of a decision not to publish an SP should be made to TAC in accordance with the TCM.

4. Educational Committee Documents

The term "educational committee document" refers to all educational committee works, whether published or under development. Educational publications are practice-oriented and are intended to raise the competence level of concrete producers, contractors, technicians, engineers, and others within the concrete industry. All educational committee documents are developed by ACI educational committees in accordance with the ACI Educational Committee Manual (ECM). EAC reviews educational committee documents in accordance with the ECM and recommends to the EVP the publication modes judged most appropriate for specific documents. Appeal of a decision not to publish an educational committee document should be made to EAC.

5. Certification Committee Documents

The term "certification committee document" refers to all certification committee works, whether published or under development. Certification publications provide resources for preparation for ACI Certification exams. Certification publications are developed by ACI certification committees. The Certification Programs Committee is responsible for the review of all certification publications.

6. COMPILATIONS

Periodically, the Institute may collect manuscripts and documents from previously published ACI publications related to a specific topic, and issue these as a compilation volume. Such volumes may also contain publications from other sources with permission from the source publisher. Before publication, a proposed compilation will be reviewed by the chair of the technical committee on that subject, if one exists. If there is no substantive objection, the chair may write a preface or introduction for the compilation, and publication will proceed. A compilation will carry a disclaimer calling attention to the fact that it is a collection of previously published material, does not reflect ACI policy, and does not serve as a substitute for any ACI committee documents on the subject covered.

7. International Publications Series (IPS) Documents

For information not developed by ACI, the IPS provides a channel through which information, deemed to be useful and valuable by International Activities Committee  (IAC), can be published by ACI. Information contained within IPS documents usually originates internationally. An IPS document may also include information that originates in the U.S., for international dissemination, when other publication routes are unavailable. ACI committees shall not author IPS documents.

The IAC recommends documents for the IPS and administers the approval process in coordination with TAC. ACI does not technically edit IPS documents; however, the document may be edited for clarity and conformity with well-understood terminology. If the material is translated into English, additional editorial work may be required.

8. Technical and Educational Documents Developed by ACI Chapters

ACI chapters may publish technical and educational information on topics related to ACI's mission in order to meet local needs due to local conditions or lack of published Institute information. Chapter documents must not conflict with published ACI documents. A chapter does not need Institute approval to publish a document. Such documents are considered the responsibility of the chapter and must be identified as a chapter publication. Chapter documents should contain the chapter logo and must not contain the ACI logo so as not to be confused with published ACI documents. ACI assumes no responsibility for ACI Chapter Publications.

Chapters outside the U.S. are permitted to publish conference proceedings in a language other than English provided that in each case the chapter adheres to the following steps: (1) establish a local chapter review process for papers patterned after the ACI process; (2) include a page (or preface) in the volume describing the manuscript review and screening process for that conference; (3) publish a statement that the conference material was not reviewed by the Institute; and (4) print a logo and name that emphasizes and gives credit to the chapter as publisher of the proceedings. A copy of any such proceedings should be filed with the Institute.

9. Translations

Translations of ACI publications can be provided by ACI chapters or other organizations. Official translations of ACI publications shall be approved by the Institute and contain the ACI logo. Unofficial translations must not contain the ACI logo. ACI assumes no responsibility for unofficial translations. A copy of any translation should be filed with the Institute.

10. Discussions and Closures

Manuscripts in periodicals and symposium volumes are open for discussion by the readership. Discussion must be brief, confined to the scope of the contribution discussed, professional, and objective. Discussion submitted for publication should offer some benefit to the general reader. The closing date for discussion of manuscripts published in the ACI Structural Journal and the ACI Materials Journal is indicated in each periodical. Discussion of symposium volumes shall be in accordance with the TCM. ACI Standards developed by technical committees are open for public review and comment in accordance with the TCM.

ACI Standards developed by technical committees are open for public review and comment in accordance with the TCM.

A closure to the discussion is the exclusive privilege of the author of the manuscript discussed or of the responsible technical committee. Discussions and closures are published concurrently. After publication of the closure, further discussion between the author or technical committee and the discusser will not be published in ACI publications.

11. Errata

Errata are issued when mistakes are identified within a publication. Errata for the ACI Structural Journal, the ACI Materials Journal, and Concrete International are published within the respective publication at the earliest possible publication date. Errata for other ACI publications are included when purchased. Errata for ACI technical committee documents and SPs are also published electronically on the ACI website for public dissemination.

Units of Measurement

ACI supports conversion to the International System of Measurement (SI) in accordance with Board of Direction Policy on Units of Measurement. The general policy of ACI is that all new and revised ACI codes shall be published in two separate versions, one using inch-pound units and one using hard-converted SI units. All new and revised guides, reports, and other publications shall use dual units. TAC grants an exception from the policy for Concrete International articles when an article-specific conversion table is included. TAC grants an exception from the policy for ACI journal papers and allows that SI units are mandatory while the use of dual units is optional; when using dual units, either inch-pound or SI units can be primary and the secondary should be in parenthesis. Nonarchival information, such as visual materials used at convention sessions, shall use units of measurement selected by the author.

All conversions shall conform to the latest version of IEEE/ASTM SI 10, supplemented where applicable by ASTM E 621. In making hard conversions, due consideration shall be given to uniformity among Institute documents and to availability of metric products for concrete construction.

Copyright

Copyright release for all individually authored manuscripts published in the ACI Structural Journal, the ACI Materials Journal, Concrete International, symposium volumes, and monographs shall be signed by all authors and transferred to and held by ACI before publication. The copyright agreement includes, but is not limited to, the right to publish the manuscript, to reproduce it, and to disseminate it, either alone or collectively with other works in whatever fashion ACI deems appropriate. The authors reserve all proprietary rights other than copyright such as patent rights and the right to use all or part of the article in future works of their own such as theses, dissertations, lectures, reviews, personal websites, and textbooks. If ACI does not publish a manuscript within 24 months of the receipt of the final manuscript, the copyright is reassigned back to the authors.

All ACI technical, educational, and certification committee documents belong to ACI. By participating in ACI committees, committee members acknowledge that the rights to such work products, including any copyright, reside with ACI. The copyright for SPs also belong to ACI. IPS publications may hold joint copyright with ACI and the originating international organization, or be held solely by ACI based on the contractual agreement.

*To obtain a copy of Instructions to Authors and submission procedures for manuscripts, or if you desire additional information, phone +1.248.848.3748.