ACI Announces New Structural Concrete Specifications

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has announced the availability of two new documents for concrete industry professionals: ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete and the ACI Field Reference Manual.

ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete is a reference specification that an architect or engineer can apply to any construction project involving structural concrete by citing it in the project specifications. A mandatory requirements checklist and an optional requirements checklist are provided to assist the architect or engineer in supplementing the provisions of this specification as required or needed by designating or specifying individual project requirements.

The first five sections of the specifications cover general construction requirements for cast-in-place structural concrete and slabs-on-ground. These sections cover materials and proportioning of concrete; reinforcement and prestressing steel; production, placing, finishing, and curing of concrete; formwork performance criteria and construction; treatment of joints; embedded items; repair of surface defects; and finishing of formed and unformed surfaces. Provisions governing testing, evaluation, and acceptance of concrete as well as acceptance of the structures are included. The remaining sections are devoted to architectural concrete, lightweight concrete mass concrete, post-tensioned concrete, shrinkage-compensating concrete, industrial floor slabs, tilt-up construction, precast structural concrete and precast architectural concrete.

“There are several major updates to the 2016 document from previous version published in 2010, including more contractor-friendly language, removal of default requirements for slump and provisions on alkali silica reactivity,” states Michelle Wilson, Chair, ACI Committee 301, Specifications for Structural Concrete. “The specifications have been made clearer for the user by removing wording that is confusing or subject to interpretation.”

ACI 301-16 complements the completely reorganized ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. This enables the designer to use the 301 specifications to complement the design. The specifications are totally inclusive of virtually all forms of structural concrete that are utilized in the building construction industry.

The ACI Field Reference Manual is a compilation of documents including ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete and additional ACI documents on measuring, mixing, transporting and placing concrete; concrete pumping methods; hot- and cold-weather concreting; consolidation and concrete formwork. ACI 301 16 requires that contractors keep a copy of the ACI Field Reference Manual in the field office of any project where ACI 301 is specified. The following documents are contained in the ACI Field Reference Manual:

301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete

117-10(15) Specifications for Tolerances for Concrete Construction and Materials

117.1R-14 Guide for Tolerance Compatibility in Concrete Construction

211.5R-14 Guide for Submittal of Concrete Proportions

224.1R-07 Causes, Evaluation and Repair of Cracks in Concrete Structures

302.1R-15 Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction

302.2R-06 Guide for Concrete Slabs that Receive Moisture-Sensitive Flooring

303R-12 Guide to Cast-in-Place Architectural Concrete Practice

304R-00(09) Guide for Measuring, Mixing, Transporting and Placing Concrete

304.2R-96(08) Placing Concrete by Pumping Methods

304.4R-95(08) Placing Concrete with Belt Conveyors

305R-10 Guide to Hot Weather Concreting