Back in June, we posted a blog which included the cross-reference table showing how ACI 318 has been reorganized with ACI 318-11 sections and corresponding ACI 318-14 sections shown in a table (click here).  With this blog, we would like to explain the nontechnical changes in ACI 318-14 and next week our blog will provide information about the technical changes.

Member-Based Chapters. While the ACI 318 cycle that produced ACI 318-05 and -08 was still in full swing, it was decided after long deliberation within ACI, in the course of which external input was actively sought and considered, that ACI 318 should be reorganized to be a member-based document.  The idea was that within each chapter devoted to a particular member type such as beam or column, the user will find all the requirements necessary to design that particular member type.  According to Cary Kopczyncki, an ACI 318 committee member, “This will eliminate the need to flip through several chapters to comply with all of the necessary design requirements for a particular structural member, as was necessary with the old organization format.  The codes’ new design can be compared to a cookbook: all the ingredients for baking a cake such as eggs, flour, sugar, oil – along with the baking instructions – are in one chapter, instead of individual chapters on eggs, flour, and sugar.”

Toolbox Chapters. One challenge in converting to a member-based organization was: where to place the design information that applies to multiple member types – such as development length requirements.  To repeat essentially the same information in multiple chapters did not make a lot of sense.  So the decision was made to house such information in so-called “toolbox” chapters and to reference the information from the member-based chapters.

Overall Changes. There are some overall changes in the makeup of ACI 318-14 that should be noted.  There are two new chapters: 4, Structural System Requirements and 12, Diaphragms.  Appendix B of ACI 318-11, Alternative Provisions for Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Flexural and Compression Members, and Appendix C, Alternative Load and Strength Reduction Factors, have been discontinued.  Appendix A, Strut-and-Tie Models is now Chapter 23 and Appendix D, Anchoring to Concrete, is Chapter 17 in the reorganized document.  No changes of any significance have been made in the provisions of these two appendices/chapters.  Three other chapters have remained intact: Chapter 20, now 27, Strength Evaluation of Existing Structures, Chapter 21, now 18, Earthquake-Resistant Structures; and Chapter 22, now 14, Structural Plain Concrete.  On the other hand, Chapter 16, Precast Concrete, and Chapter 18, Prestressed Concrete no longer exist as separate entities.  The provisions of those chapters are now spread over several of the new chapters.  Chapter 19, Shells and Folded Plates, is no longer part of the reorganized document.  ACI Committee 318, in collaboration with ACI-ASCE Committee 334, Concrete Shell Design and Construction, has developed ACI 318.2-14, the contents of which match those of ACI 318-11 Chapter 19. The reader may wonder why this document was designated ACI 318.2, rather than ACI 318.1. This is because it was initially planned that ACI 318-11 Chapter 22 on plain concrete would become a separate standard: ACI 318.1. The number was reserved for that purpose. It was later decided to place the contents of ACI 318-11 Chapter 22 in ACI 318-14 Chapter 14.

Construction Documents and Inspection. A unique chapter that the user will probably require some time to get used to is Chapter 26, Construction Documents and Inspection. The chapter starts with the following:

26.1.1 This chapter addresses (a) through (c):

(a) Design information that the licensed design professional shall specify in the construction documents,

(b) Compliance requirements that the licensed design professional shall specify in the construction documents,

(c) Inspection requirements that the licensed design professional shall specify in the construction documents,

Thus, construction and inspection requirements have been consolidated, and they are now related to construction documents. The construction requirements are designated either as “design information” or “compliance requirements.” These are largely existing material that has been rearranged. The inspection requirements in Section 26.13 are taken from Chapter 17 of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and were previously not part of ACI 318.