News Detail

Supporting ACI Code Adoption Efforts

1/5/2021

The American Concrete Institute—as a recognized, leading worldwide authority and resource for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials—has long focused its efforts on knowledge development and dissemination. Through its mission, the Institute also dedicates resources and effort to advance the adoption of its consensus-based knowledge.

It is critical to understand the importance of having ACI codes adopted at the national, state, and local levels. The adoption of ACI 318, "Structural Concrete Building Code”; ACI 562, "Code Requirements for Assessment, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures and Commentary”; and other ACI standards into building codes around the world and in your neighborhood helps the industry achieve consistent quality and safety.

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 new standards and programs and realized the benefits of implementing them, 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 needs your help to reach all the state and local levels around you. There are three basic ways that you can help the ACI code adoption process. First would be to become a proponent or advocate and sponsor and submit a code change proposal in your area. Raise the issue of sponsoring code change proposals with your local ACI chapter and contact ACI Code Advocacy Engineers Kerry Sutton or Steve Szoke for more information.

A second option would be to offer testimony of support for public comment during the reviewing process. Once a code change proposal has been submitted in your area, individuals are given the opportunity to testify in support of the proposal. These words of support can be written or verbal, depending on whether a meeting is conducted in person or virtually.

Another option would be to submit a letter of support to the building code commission reviewing the code change proposal in your area. These letters should provide details on why the code change proposal is beneficial in terms of public safety, improved quality of construction, and even economic benefit. ACI Code Advocacy Engineers Steve Szoke and Kerry Sutton can provide guidance and help with this process.

In addition to the steps already outlined, ACI has other avenues that facilitate involvement in code advocacy. In 2020, ACI's Code Advocacy Engineers created Advocacy Collaboration Groups. These new platforms allow for members to collaborate on state and model code initiatives.

Establishing these collaboration groups further advances ACI's mission by providing a forum for members to not only work on the development and dissemination of technical criteria and related programs but also to promote the adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational/training programs, and certification programs.

Even though ACI has two Code Advocacy Engineers, relationships need to be cultivated with the key individuals who influence code development at the state and local levels. 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, thus the formation of the Advocacy Collaboration Groups.

At this point, ACI collaboration groups have been established for Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Links to these current collaboration groups are hosted under the ACI Committee Directory at www.concrete.org.

An additional way to stay up-to-date on all ACI advocacy efforts is by joining ACI's Code Advocacy Groups on LinkedIn. One of the LinkedIn Code Advocacy Groups is focused specifically on the advocacy efforts in the United States, and the other is dedicated to all the advocacy efforts taking place internationally. Becoming a member of one or both of these groups will help you receive the latest news and opportunities related to ACI code adoption and implementation.

If you have questions or would like ACI's support, contact the American Concrete Institute's Code Advocacy Engineers today. For more details on how you can get started with any of these steps, visit www.concrete.org/advocacy.

Jeffrey W. Coleman

American Concrete Institute