News Detail

Conventions - Networking, Learning, and New Initiatives

12/1/2004

I am writing this after returning from our second Centennial Convention. I never cease to be amazed at the efforts of the local chapters, our Convention Committee members, and our ACI Event Services staff, who all work tirelessly to host and put on these meetings. They do an outstanding job! And in this our Centennial Year, they have set new standards. Our Task Group for Centennial Activities and Task Group for Centennial Funding also really helped make this year special.

ACI conventions provide a terrific venue for networking and learning, renewing old friendships and making new ones, and just having a good time. After a recent convention, I recall reading in an industry newsletter about how a contact made during the meetings led to a valuable point of entry into senior management at a major design firm. In this case, the payoff for attendance was direct and measurable. While we cannot promise such direct payoffs at every convention, we can promise your investment of time and money will be worth it.

My last memo considered how ACI will maintain the quality and reach of our programs as we move forward to our next hundred years, and highlighted the value of ACI products and services being developed through the knowledge, creativity, dedication, and resourcefulness of our members and staff. Our conventions provide the primary vehicle for the face-to-face contacts necessary to develop and implement these programs, and I would like to review just a few of the significant initiatives implemented in San Francisco.

One of the hot topics in ACI is simplification of the structural design of concrete. In San Francisco, ACI Committee 314, Simplified Design of Concrete Buildings, met for the first time. The mission of ACI 314 is to develop and report information for the simplified design and economical construction of concrete buildings of limited height. As our knowledge of behavior and structural design, and the sophistication of major concrete buildings, has increased over the years, code provisions have become, by necessity, more voluminous and complex. Yet for conventional, simple structures, which make up a majority of the buildings market, designers are seeking guidance on simplified approaches to using the ACI Code that will make their jobs easier. As a starting point to meet this challenge, the new committee will be using ACI's IPS-1, Essential Requirements for Reinforced Concrete Buildings. Published jointly by ICONTEC, the Colombian Association of Earthquake Engineering, and ACI, this publication is based on ACI 318-02, but is more limited in scope.

In San Francisco, TAC took the next step in consolidating our specifications for structural concrete so that the specifier can more easily access ACI's guidance. The intent is to increase the content and scope of ACI 301 as a reference specification for building construction covered by ACI 318. At our next convention, TAC plans to meet with over two dozen technical committees chairs to discuss how to best coordinate the technical effort. We will also look at ways our educational programs and convention sessions, as well as traditional publications and electronic products, can complement this specifications initiative. In addition, there may be opportunities for certification. And it has been suggested that we ask the Marketing Committee to coordinate a uniform strategy for the initiative, as it truly impacts all ACI programs.

Significant action also took place relative to international programs. Over the past few years, ACI has entered into International Partner Agreements (IPAs) with a number of concrete-related societies interested in exchanging information on the best uses of concrete. These agreements set out areas for mutual cooperation and joint programs. Until now, however, no specific forum existed to build on the initial agreements. To address this, the International Relationships Committee changed its name and realigned its mission to focus on creating more value from these important IPAs. The new International Partnerships Committee will provide a mechanism for international partners to exchange information and ideas to build stronger relationships, and to learn from each other.

In San Francisco, our members clearly continued the tradition of adding value to Institute programs while sharing a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

As always, your feedback is welcome. Best wishes for the holidays and the New Year.

Anthony E. Fiorato, President
American Concrete Institute
fiorato@CTLGroup.com

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