News Detail

Protecting the Public

12/1/1999

All of us, I’m certain, were stunned by recent news reports depicting the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Taiwan, and Mexico. And all of us in the construction industry were saddened by the knowledge that the loss of life and property damage could have been minimized had there been adequate building codes and strict enforcement of their provisions in stricken regions. These were vivid reminders that our work is not done, that there are places in the world where the safety of the general public is not of paramount importance when it comes to building structures. The struggle for better concrete worldwide is a continuing one, as it has always been.

At an early convention of the American Concrete Institute (then known as the National Association of Concrete Users), a keynote speaker deplored existing conditions in the reinforced concrete industry, both design and construction aspects. At the 1912 convention in Kansas City, MO, John L. Harrington, described as a prominent consultant in that city, claimed that "cheap construction" had often resulted in "many failures and too much consequent damage to the industry." He called upon NACU members to "benefit the country at large by compelling a high standard of ability and integrity among cement users." Even before Harrington took the podium in Kansas City, NACU (the name change to ACI took place in 1913) had taken steps to bring about the drafting of standards and codes to ensure the adequacy of concrete construction in this nation. At that same convention, NACU President Richard L. Humphrey emphasized that a major goal of the association was to bring about "education in the development of the proper use of concrete... through the interchange of delegates, papers, and in other ways..."

The dissemination of information about concrete—ACI’s number one priority—needs to be carried out on a much broader international scale than it has in the past. Damage like that in Turkey must be prevented, but this can only be accomplished if the necessary codes and standards—and the enforcement thereof—are in place before construction is started.

All of this emphasizes the importance of the dissemination of knowledge about ACI’s new Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (318-99). As in the past, the publication of a new edition of the Code is being augmented by a series of seminars on the document, emphasizing significant changes. "The most effective way to learn about significant changes in how concrete structures are designed," states a brochure about the 318 seminars, now under way and continuing through much of the year 2000. A full schedule of seminars is anticipated; interested parties should reserve time and place soon, as scheduling will be accomplished on a "first come, first served" basis. (In-house seminars for consulting firms, construction firms, and similar groups are also possible.)

Of major importance these days is that the year 2000, a new century and a new millennium, will bring about something new with respect to building codes. Unlike other nations of the world— in Europe, for example—the building code process in the United States has not been a governmental function. Indeed, in the U.S., the various codes have been written by private agencies although some cities and states have created their own over the years. The net result was that three U.S. model code agencies came into being, each confined to certain geographical borders. These three were: the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA); the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO); and the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI). After years of frequent urging that they combine their efforts, the three groups did just that. In 1994, they formed the International Code Council (ICC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national codes, including a building code. ICC has been at work since then; several codes, including those for plumbing and sewage disposal, are now in effect. The International Building Code (IBC), as well as a new International Fire Code, are scheduled for publication in the year 2000. At the urging of ACI and its members, the IBC will incorporate the 318-99 Code by reference, making it a part of the international document. Ultimately, ICC will have a coordinated family of model construction codes covering all aspects of the building industry.

Detailed information about the 318 seminars (and the other ACI seminars also available for scheduling) is included elsewhere in this issue. (See pages 8-11 or visit the seminar web site at www.concreteseminars.com.) These seminars are jointly sponsored by the Portland Cement Association, and members of both organizations are entitled to special discounts for attendance.

All of us must do our part in what Gene Corley (a 318 instructor) so aptly described a few years ago as "protecting the public from fools and rascals." And he emphasized that there is no reason to believe that the next millennium will be free of fools and rascals—"consequently, we will continue to need .... (building) codes." Safety is a matter of grave concern to all of us, and the 318 Code is an important part of the Institute’s activities. We are justly proud of our part in protecting life and limb, and are anxious to continue these efforts abroad as well as at home.

Jo Coke
President
American Concrete Institute

P. S. Many thanks to Peter J. Steiner, Roger D. Wood, and others at ACI for their assistance in the preparation of the memo this month.

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