News Detail

ACI Advocacy Collaboration Groups

7/21/2020

The American Concrete Institute is now offering a platform for its members to collaborate on state and model code initiatives.  The creation of these collaboration groups further advances ACI’s mission statement providing a forum for  members to not only to work on the development and dissemination of technical criteria and related programs, but also the  adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational/training programs, and certification programs. 

“While ACI has two code advocacy engineers, the relationships with the key individuals that influence code development need to be at the state and local level,” said Steve Szoke, Code Advocacy Engineer, American Concrete Institute.  “It had become apparent that interested ACI members lacked a forum where other interested members could be identified; and where interests, priorities, and support materials could be posted to aid in developing and implementing initiatives to achieve adoption.”

Code advocacy is most effective when ACI requirements are included in model codes, which are then adopted at the state level.  The best strategy for advocacy includes targeting key states where the initiatives might be well received.  Once several states have adopted and realize the benefits implementing new standards and programs there, testimony by officials from those states can influence decisions in the model code development process. It is important to have effective programs for both model code and state code development.

ACI collaboration groups have been established for North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.  The current collaboration groups are hosted under the ACI Committee Directory.  To participate in these collaboration groups or to start a new collaboration group in your state, contact Kerry.Sutton@concrete.org.