News Detail

Improving the Quality of Concrete Construction in Bolivia

7/29/2014

Bolivia was the June destination for the ACI Certification International Support Program. The program exemplifies ACI’s vision to help everyone obtain the knowledge needed to use concrete effectively to meet the demands of a changing world. The objective of this initiative to assist ACI International Sponsoring Groups is to increase the number of functioning groups to facilitate the availability of ACI Certification, thereby increasing the number of certified individuals and ACI influence worldwide.

In June 2014, John Conn, ACI Manager, Certification Operations & Chapter Activities, and Roberto Nunez, FACI and Lecturer and Senior Construction Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, traveled to Bolivia to help the ACI Certification Sponsoring Group, Instituto Boliviano del Cemento y el Hormigon (IBCH), launch Field Testing Technician—Grade I and Concrete Construction Special Inspector certifications and train their examiners, instructors, supplemental examiners, and proctors to conduct future certifications. One of ACI's objectives is to establish and expand strong and productive relationships with external organizations and individuals.

Left to right: John Conn, ACI Manager, Certification Operations & Chapter Activities; Rosendo Soruco Engineer, IBCH; Marcelo Alfaro Director, IBCH; Roberto Nunez; and other successful participants and future examiners.

Part of ACI’s International Support Program—launched in 2008—the "Train-the-Administrator" program assists approved international sponsoring groups with starting a certification program. This ACI Board- approved program helps the international groups that apply for assistance to organize and implement the ACI Certification program within their operational boundaries. The local sponsoring group’s role is to ensure oversight, and to make sure the program is being conducted fairly and consistently and in compliance with all ACI Certification governing policies. Consistency is the key goal.

Bolivia is one of an increasing number of Latin American countries currently using the ACI 318 Building Code for Structural Concrete. Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Mexico also use the code. Use of the code necessitates high quality control, and consequently, ACI Certification is in demand.

“Every country is looking for ways to improve the effectiveness of quality control/quality assurance processes,” says Marcelo Alfaro, Director of IBCH. “IBCH was in search of courses and programs for better engineering practices related to concrete and found the ACI Certification programs were being implemented by our colleagues of the Institutes in Mexico, Chile, El Salvador and Ecuador, among others.”

Bolivian media interviewing Marcelo Alfaro, Director of IBCH, about the ACI Certification programs.

Concrete Field Testing Technician—Grade I and Concrete Construction Special Inspector certification programs were chosen as these are the first steps in quality control. Field testing verifies the specified quality of the concrete at point of placement, and the Special Inspector program provides assurance that the structure is being constructed in compliance with international codes and standards. For over 30 years, ACI has been administering the Concrete Field Testing Technician—Grade I certification program through ACI chapters and other industry organizations. It has become so successful due to the recognition by the concrete construction industry of its positive impact in improving the quality of concrete construction around the world.

ACI Certification Field Testing Grade—I performance exam in progress—testing air content by the pressure method (ASTM Test C231).

The review and examination took place in La Paz, and ultimately 11 people completed the Concrete Field Testing Technician—Grade I, and five were certified as Concrete Construction Special Inspectors. Rounding out the visit, technical presentations were given by Nunez in La Paz and Cochabamba.

Local journalist interviews Roberto Nunez in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

“Instituto Boliviano del Cemento y el Hormigon will start the first courses in Cochabamba and La Paz,” continues Alfaro. “The first 45 people will be trained for the American Concrete Institute’s Concrete Field Technician—Grade I and after a couple of months, as soon as we have enough people interested, the first Concrete Construction Special Inspector course will also be launched in both cities. A very important road for quality in concrete has started!”

“The Bolivia Certification trip was a great success,” said John Conn. “ACI is currently planning similar trips to the Philippines and Singapore later this year, which aligns with ACI’s objective to seek opportunities to advance national and global outreach, and positively impact the global community through mutually beneficial alliances.”

To learn more about ACI Certification, visit www.ACICertification.org.