News Detail

The Next New Building Code - ACI 318-99

11/1/1998

Approximately three and one half years ago, I had the opportunity to address the Institute from this page, "President’s Memo." We had just organized the ACI Building Code committee for the next code cycle, which we assumed would be published in 2001.

All of the members of the committee understood that we would publish an interim code in 1998 and a major new one in 2001. Little did we know what the future held. As the title of this message indicates, a new ACI Building Code will now be published in 1999. Why? How we got there is the basis of this memo.

Practicing structural engineers in the United States understand that ACI 318 does not become a legal code until it is incorporated into a model building code, which is normally then adopted by a local jurisdiction as its building code. In recent history, there have been three recognized model building code agencies in the United States. Each is used in different geographical areas of the U.S. The code of the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) is used primarily in the midwest and northeast; the Standard Building Code (SBC) can be found predominately in the southeast; and the Uniform Building Code (UBC) is employed mainly in the western states ù those west of the Mississippi River.

In the past, BOCA and SBC have referenced ACI 318 while UBC has "transcribed" the document with permission from the Institute. Over the years, UBC has also developed a substantial number of differences from the ACI 318 document.

Shortly after our 318 committee started work in 1995, the three model code groups came together and formed a new body, known as the International Code Council (ICC). This new group made a decision to publish a single model building code by the year 2000, to be known as the International Building Code or IBC 2000. Where previously the ACI 318 document was used by the three model code groups, it will now be used by only one in the IBC 2000.

In the preparation of IBC 2000, several things became apparent. First, ACI 318 would be used by reference as BOCA and SBC had done before. Second, the 60-plus differences that had existed in UBC would be carried forward to IBC 2000 as 60-plus modifications to 318. We on Committee 318 undertook the task of minimizing those differences between IBC 2000 and the new version of ACI 318 that would be referenced. For this, we still have another hearing to go through in March 1999 but, assuming the 1999 version of ACI 318 is accepted to be the referenced document for the design of concrete structures, the number of modifications will be close to ten instead of the 60 plus which existed in UBC.

The proposed revisions to 318-95 to be incorporated in 318-99 are included at the end of this issue of Concrete International. All of you have the right to comment on these proposed revisions until February 1, 1999. Many of these suggested changes are the result of our desire to address the modifications or differences that existed between 318 and UBC.

In the future we will endeavor to produce a 318 code that will always precede the IBC code by a year. Since it is the intention of ICC to publish a building code every three years starting in the year 2000, ACI will attempt to publish in 1999, 2002, 2005, and so on. Consequently, our next code edition will be 2002 and every three years after that. This will demand a change in our approach to revisions since we have been publishing a new code every six years since 1971.

These are exciting times that require a change in our organizational approach as well as our publishing schedule. The ACI Committee 318 looks forward to the challenge and with your help will do our best for the Institute. Remember, the version of ACI 318 that is incorporated by reference in IBC is the legally adopted code that will be used by most municipalities as their building code. It is to the industry’s benefit that we time our activities to produce the best document possible for the design and construction of concrete structures.

As I noted in my June 1995 "President"s Memo," ACI Committee 318 members are accessible and want your opinions. I can be reached through ACI headquarters or at my office:

James R. Cagley, President,
Cagley & Associates, Inc.,
6141 Executive Boulevard,
Rockville, Md. 20852-3973
Telephone: (301) 881-9050, FAX: (301) 881-1125,
E-mail: jim@cagley.com

We welcome your comments and thank all ACI committees for their assistance. As I said previously, the 318 Building Code is a reflection of the state-of-the-art in concrete construction, as determined by the work of all of you through the technical committees of the Institute.

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