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10/29/2014
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The new ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete contains specific technical changes that will impact and benefit the work of contractors and the construction industry. These changes were discussed in a special presentation moderated by Dean A. Browning at the ACI Fall Convention in Washington DC, on Tuesday October 28, 2014. The presentation discussed why changes were made to the ACI 318 code, the rationale for the new construction chapter 26, and what the benefits will be for contractors. The organization of previous ACI 318 Codes required a licensed design professional (and to a lesser extent the contractor and supplier) to know where to find the required information scattered throughout the code to complete the design for each structural member. The construction chapter of ACI 318-14 has established the responsibility, direction, format and intent of the construction documents by explicitly stating the necessary information and requirements to be completed by the contractor. The technical changes mean that contractors now don’t need to learn the entire ACI 318-14 Code; rather, the new Chapter 26 Construction Chapter specifically outlines what the Licensed Design Professional needs to provide to the contractor through the construction documents. Various issues relating to previous codes, and benefits of the new code were discussed. Examples include: Issue: Even though Chapter 1 of the previous 318 code implied the entire code was directed to the Licensed Design Professional, some construction documents required the contract and supplier to refer to 318 for information they needed. The previous 318 code was written in language requiring education and training to interpret the provisions that many contractors and suppliers do not possess. Additional, the construction parts of many provisions were vague leaving the contractor and supplier subject to misinterpreting. Benefit: ACI 318-14 Chapter 26.1 – Scope commentary specifically states, “It is not intended that the Contractor will need to read and interpret the Code” plus “a general reference in the construction documents requiring compliance with this Code is to be avoided.” Issue: Provisions directed to the contractor were scattered throughout the entire code making them difficult to locate. Benefit: ACI 318-14 combines contractor provisions into one chapter instead of scattered throughout the code and will minimize possible mistakes. Issue: Previous code definition of the Licensed Design Professional implied that there could only be one LDP on a project. Benefit: “Design Information” provision Chapter 26.2.1(c) directs the LDP to identify “design work delegated to the contractor including applicable design criteria.” Summary – the construction chapter of 318-14 has established the direction, format and intent of future 318 construction chapters with necessary information, and requirements to be completed by the contractor are explicitly stated. The new code not only encourages better structural concrete design but also supports better communication among designers, engineers, contractors, and construction professionals. The new ACI 318-14 code can be ordered at http://www.concrete.org. Learn more at www.concrete.org/aci318. View the ACI 318-14 video here.
The new ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete contains specific technical changes that will impact and benefit the work of contractors and the construction industry. These changes were discussed in a special presentation moderated by Dean A. Browning at the ACI Fall Convention in Washington DC, on Tuesday October 28, 2014.
The presentation discussed why changes were made to the ACI 318 code, the rationale for the new construction chapter 26, and what the benefits will be for contractors.
The organization of previous ACI 318 Codes required a licensed design professional (and to a lesser extent the contractor and supplier) to know where to find the required information scattered throughout the code to complete the design for each structural member. The construction chapter of ACI 318-14 has established the responsibility, direction, format and intent of the construction documents by explicitly stating the necessary information and requirements to be completed by the contractor.
The technical changes mean that contractors now don’t need to learn the entire ACI 318-14 Code; rather, the new Chapter 26 Construction Chapter specifically outlines what the Licensed Design Professional needs to provide to the contractor through the construction documents.
Various issues relating to previous codes, and benefits of the new code were discussed. Examples include:
Issue: Even though Chapter 1 of the previous 318 code implied the entire code was directed to the Licensed Design Professional, some construction documents required the contract and supplier to refer to 318 for information they needed. The previous 318 code was written in language requiring education and training to interpret the provisions that many contractors and suppliers do not possess. Additional, the construction parts of many provisions were vague leaving the contractor and supplier subject to misinterpreting.
Benefit: ACI 318-14 Chapter 26.1 – Scope commentary specifically states, “It is not intended that the Contractor will need to read and interpret the Code” plus “a general reference in the construction documents requiring compliance with this Code is to be avoided.”
Issue: Provisions directed to the contractor were scattered throughout the entire code making them difficult to locate.
Benefit: ACI 318-14 combines contractor provisions into one chapter instead of scattered throughout the code and will minimize possible mistakes.
Issue: Previous code definition of the Licensed Design Professional implied that there could only be one LDP on a project.
Benefit: “Design Information” provision Chapter 26.2.1(c) directs the LDP to identify “design work delegated to the contractor including applicable design criteria.”
Summary – the construction chapter of 318-14 has established the direction, format and intent of future 318 construction chapters with necessary information, and requirements to be completed by the contractor are explicitly stated.
The new code not only encourages better structural concrete design but also supports better communication among designers, engineers, contractors, and construction professionals.
The new ACI 318-14 code can be ordered at http://www.concrete.org. Learn more at www.concrete.org/aci318. View the ACI 318-14 video here.
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