News Detail

A Legacy of Codes

12/1/2013

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone men­tions the American Concrete Institute?

For many, if not most, the answer would be the ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. Ref­­­erenced in or the foundation of national codes in over 20 countries, the 318 Building Code covers struc­tural concrete used in buildings and where applicable in nonbuilding structures. The ACI 318 Building Code captures over a century of knowledge and represents consensus of the minimum requirements for safety, serviceability, and durability.

However, the ACI 318 Building Code is NOT the only code produced by ACI. Developed by ACI members are numerous additional codes; some, but not all, dependent on ACI 318. Consider the following resources from the ACI technological database:

ACI 216.1-07, “Code Requirements for Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete and Masonry Construction Assemblies,” covers the design and analytical procedures for determining the fire resistance of concrete and masonry construction.

ACI 307-08, “Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete Chimneys and Commentary,” provides material, design, and construction requirements for cast-in-place and precast reinforced concrete chimneys.

ACI 332-10, “Residential Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary,” is the guide to the design and construction of cast-in-place concrete for one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings and their accessory structures. Included are footings, foundation walls, and slabs-on-ground.

ACI 349-06, “Code Requirements for Nuclear Safety-Related Concrete Structures and Commentary,” details the design and construction of concrete structures inside and outside the containment system that form a part of a nuclear power plant and that have nuclear safety-related functions.

ACI 350-06, “Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures and Commentary,” covers the design, materials selection, and construction of environmental engineering concrete structures that are used in conveying, storing, or treating liquid or other materials. They include structures for dams, spillways, and channels.

Joint ACI-ASME 359-07, “Code for Concrete Containments,” describes the design and construction and use of concrete reactor vessels and concrete containment structures for nuclear power plants.

ACI 376-11, “Code Requirements for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures for the Containment of Refrigerated Liquefied Gases and Commentary,” provides the requirements for design and construction of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures for the storage and containment of refrigerated and liquified gases with service temperatures between +40 and −325°F (+4 and –200°C).

Joint ACI-ASCE-TMS 530.1-11, “Building Code Requirements and Spec­i­­­­fications for Masonry Structures, and Related Commentaries,” covers the design and construction of masonry structures.

ACI 562-13, “Code Requirements for Evaluation, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Concrete Buildings and Commentary,” is ACI’s newest code. It provides requirements for evaluating existing concrete buildings and the subsequent repair, rehabilitation, and strengthening of those buildings.

Like the 318 Building Code, each of these codes reflect the knowledge and expertise of our diverse volunteer base and provide the minimum requirements determined through consensus.

With several more codes in the ACI committee pipeline, ACI volunteers continue to contribute their knowledge and experience developing an impressive and expansive legacy of concrete technology.

Anne M. Ellis (@AnneEllis12)
American Concrete Institute