News

The voting is open for this years Arizona ACI Chapter officers and directors. Positions being balloted include President, Vice President and Treasurer who all serve one year terms and three Directors who serve two year terms. We have four additional directors who continue to serve on the Board this year including Luke Snell (Western Technology), Tony Polusny (MBJ Engineering), Jason Savage (Euclid Chemical) and Robert Barkley (Hanson Materials).

All current Chapter members should have received an email with voting instructions and a registration code. Voting is done on-line using the unique link in the email. This ensures that votes are only cast once per member. Voting closes on February 6th.  

Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa will have an ample supply of toys for their young patients this holiday season, thanks in part to a project initiated by a student in the Del E. Webb School of Construction Programs.

Joshua Marriott, a senior in the concrete industry management program, led an effort that obtained donations from more than a dozen local construction, engineering and concrete companies, and partnered with the Arizona Builders Alliance annual toy drive to collect truckloads of toys.

Marriott began the drive with some fellow members of ASU’s student chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

“We wanted students and the local construction industry to work together to help the community,” he says. “This being Christmastime, we decided we wanted to help needy children have a good holiday.”

The ACI student chapter provided funds to buy posters to promote support for the toy drive.

As word spread, the director of the state ACI professional chapter, Jim Rogers, solicited donations from his group.

James Ernzen, an associate professor in the Del E. Webb School of Construction Programs, asked students in his classes to contribute.

Other seniors in the construction industry management program worked with Marriott.

Amanda Nichols helped make initial contacts with construction industry companies to ask for their support. Ashley Bagley and Kim Rahberger helped gather the donated toys and prepare them for delivery.

More than 900 toys were contributed by ASU students and faculty and local companies, including Suntec, Cemex, Drake, Ninyo and Moore, the ACI Arizona Chapter, CSW, Amec, Cal Portland, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering student advising office, Perlman and Perlman, Climatech, TDI, Kortman Electric, Sundt, T-Pac, DP Electric, Rural Electric and others.

With additional donations from Arizona Builders Association members, about 2,000 toys are being delivered to the medical center a few days before Christmas.

The Arizona ACI Chapter has started to post its dates and opened on-line registration for Field Testing Technician Grade 1 and Strength Testing Technician for the first half of 2012. Click here to go to the certification page to view the dates and register on-line. Note that additional dates and locations will be added in the coming weeks, so check back after the first of the year to see what's new. You can also subscribe to the Certification Page RSS Feed and see new events as they are added.

We have instituted a few changes for 2012 that you need to be aware of.

• Prices for some programs have been increased due to increases in certification fees and books from ACI. Increases for most programs are about $5.00. The Special Inspector programs will see a decrease in fees due to a change in books.
• You must register on-line. Beginning in 2012 we are doing away with the use of printed forms. Multiple submissions, unreadable handwriting and credit card numbers written on forms have slowed the process a bit in the last few months, so we are now eliminating this option and requiring all registrations to be entered on-line. This new system has proven to be a huge improvement! You can still print an invoice and send in a check if you prefer. Once you complete the on-line registration the system sends a confirmation and invoice by email, and you have the option of immediately paying on-line by credit card, or paying by check from the invoice.
• All credit card transactions must be completed using our on-line system. If you want to pay by credit card, this is the most secure method and it keeps us from having to worry about credit card numbers written on forms. You can now log in to your on-line profile at any time to pay any outstanding invoices with a credit card. Its easy, its fast, and its secure.
• The cancelation policy has been changed - you must cancel or reschedule within 10 days of your scheduled date to avoid paying a fee of $100. The last several months we have seen more than 25% of the attendees calling to reschedule, and some people are rescheduling 2, 3, 4 and even 5 times. We know changes happen, but we encourage you to make sure of your availability before signing up. It is difficult for us to plan and schedule resources when numbers change so drastically the week before the program.

In addition, we are exploring a change in the Field Testing Technician Grade 1 program to run the program on a two day schedule instead of the current three day schedule. Our plan is to make this change in May 2012, so we will post those dates as soon as we finalize these plans.

This document provides requirements for alternative methods for curing concrete. It covers requirements for curing cast-in-place concrete elements described in Contract Documents. This specification includes requirements for initiating curing, protection from mechanical injury, curing for unformed and formed surfaces, and curing time. Order your copy today.

(Schaumburg, IL – November 11, 2011) At their recent meeting on November 9, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) Board of Directors urged all CRSI producer members to revert to an inch-pound bar marking system for all sizes and grades of deformed reinforcing steel products. CRSI members produce more than 90% of domestic reinforcing steel.

The intention of this resolution is for all new rollings of reinforcing steel products to be marked with inch-pound bar markings no later than January 1st, 2014. Providing a 25-month phase in period should permit producer members sufficient time to re-tool finish roll inventory to the inch-pound marking system as rolls need to be replaced, significantly reducing or eliminating the need to unnecessarily cut new rolls to meet the resolution.

As the ASTM specifications for reinforcing steel products permit reinforcing bars to be marked in either soft metric, or inch-pound markings, existing inventory of soft metric bars can continue to be sold alongside inch-pound marked bars during and after the January 1st, 2014, phase-in target.

The intention of this resolution is to reduce confusion and the chance of errors or delays from the construction supply chain. CRSI members are strongly encouraged to revert to the inch-pound marking system for steel reinforcing bars as soon as practical to minimize any additional confusion to the supply chain of steel reinforcing bars.

This change is the result of several actions. The Federal Highway Administration no longer mandates metrification of federally funded road and bridge construction projects and all state Departments of Transportation no longer require materials to be specified and sourced in metric sizes/quantities. Additionally, a large majority of the non-governmental construction community never adopted metric measurements in their plans and specifications. The American Concrete Institute (ACI), through their Technical Activities Committee (TAC), has strongly encouraged CRSI members to mark reinforcing bars with traditional inch-pound size designations. ACI is the standards body within the United States responsible for developing the concrete building code. The concrete building code and other ACI documents reference the inch-pound size as the primary designation.

“It made logical sense for the industry to begin the process to move away from soft metric markings,” said Robert Risser, CRSI President. “None of our private or government customers are using metric plans or specifications any longer.  The phase-in period will allow industry members to make the change over at minimal additional expense. CRSI is now in the process of making the appropriate changes to our manuals and literature.”

 

About Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

Founded in 1924, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) is a trade association that stands as the authoritative resource for information related to steel reinforced concrete construction.  Serving the needs of architects, engineers and construction professionals, CRSI offers many technical publications, design aids, software programs, educational seminars, promotional activities, membership functions and design award programs.  CRSI members are manufacturers, fabricators and placers of steel reinforcing bar and related products, and professionals who are involved in the research, design and construction of reinforced concrete.  Serving the construction market in the United States, Canada and Mexico, CRSI is headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill. with regional offices located across the United States.

In the summer of 2006, a portion of the concrete roof of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project in Boston, Mass., also known unofficially as the “Big Dig,” collapsed, killing a motorist and injuring another. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its accident report soon after and made recommendations to several parties, including the American Concrete Institute. The recommendation to ACI was to use its “building codes, forums, educational materials, and publications to inform design and construction agencies of the potential for gradual deformation in anchor adhesives under sustained tensile-load applications.”

As part of the overall response to the recommendations of the NTSB, ACI has partnered with CRSI to develop a certification program for Adhesive Anchor Installers. Adhesive anchors are recognized by the structural design profession as an important structural connection in many applications. Adhesive anchor effectiveness is measured by the bond strength achieved between the adhesive and concrete, and adhesive and anchor. Adhesive anchor manufacturers have developed installation procedures for their specific products that when followed, are intended to provide the proper conditions for the anchor system to achieve that required bond strength.

ACI and CRSI assembled a group of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who identified the criteria candidates must meet for certification as ACI/CRSI Adhesive Anchor Installers. Candidates are required to be able to read, comprehend, and execute instructions to properly install adhesive anchors as are typically provided by adhesive anchor manufacturers. In addition, candidates must possess the knowledge to properly assess ambient conditions, the condition of the concrete, materials, equipment, and tools for installing adhesive anchors and determine when it is appropriate to proceed with an installation or when additional guidance from a supervisor/foreman/project engineer is needed.

“There are many different variables to consider when installing adhesive anchors,” said John W. Nehasil, managing director of certification programs at ACI. “From understanding jobsite conditions and manufacturers’ instructions to recognizing time limits of the adhesive and proper selection and assembly of equipment, installing adhesive anchors properly involves awareness of the variables and skill in executing instructions. The ACI/CRSI Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification program is designed to verify that candidates possess these qualities.”

This new certification program is now a requirement that appears in the latest version of ACI 318, which has been adopted into the 2012 version of the International Building Code. With this new requirement for all installers of adhesive anchors to be certified when installing anchors in a horizontal or overhead position, the Arizona Chapter (AZACI) has geared up to make sure it is ready to offer this program to meet future demand. In October, the Arizona ACI Chapter worked together with staff from ACI's international certification department to train a group of examiners, proctors and trainers who are now able to run this program throughout Arizona.

Thanks to Powers Fasteners, Hilti, Simpson and Western Technologies for providing the needed materials, tools, and facilities to produce this program. ACI is currently finishing development of a workbook that can be used as a part of a training program for this certification. As resources become available, AZACI will announce schedules for this program in Arizona.

Click here to go to ACI's web site for more information about certification requirements for this new program.

 

The members of ACI Committee 318 are currently balloting chapters that will constitute a completely reorganized version of “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete.”

The new organization of the ACI 318 Structural Concrete Building Code for 2014 is being referred to as a “member-based” format. In the past the user was designing for a type of behavior, such as flexure or shear, while in the new organization the emphasis is on the design of members, such beams and columns.

As the material on this portal page is reviewed, the reader will note that the code has been organized into “member” chapters and “toolbox” chapters. The member chapters refer to information in the toolbox chapters that is common for various types of members. For example, the flexural design of Beams (in Chapter 13) and Columns (in Chapter 14) both refer to flexural strength design provisions in the Sectional Strength toolbox chapter (Chapter 9).

Also of note, there will be selected “new” chapters related to Structural Systems (Chapter 4), Foundations (Chapter 16), and Joints and Connections (Chapter 17).

As part of the reorganization, there will be an effort to provide information in tables instead of wordy provisions and to divide existing provisions into single statement provisions. There are also selected cases where figures that have been in the commentary or have not existed at all are being moved into the provisions of the code.

Click here to go to ACI's information portal on the new 318. The web page provide numerous resources, including background information (rationale, structure); an example draft chapter with explanatory notes; a draft version of the Table of Contents; a list of comparisons between the 318-11 and 318-14; and frequently asked questions (FAQs). In addition, there is a Submit Questions/Comments link for members to use to contact ACI Committee 318 with questions or comments. Intermittently, we may post surveys on this site; in such cases, a link will be available to participate in, and see current results of, these surveys.

The Arizona ACI Chapter has added several certification programs to be conducted in the next several weeks in Phoenix and Yuma.

First up will be a Flatwork Technician/Finisher Certification program on November 4th in the Arizona Chapter office in Phoenix. This will include a short review session followed by the written exam. Books and tests are available in both English and Spanish, although the review class will be conducted in English only. This will probably be the last chance in 2011 to take this exam in Arizona, so don't miss this opportunity. Click here for more information and to register on-line now.

Next will be a four day program for the ACI Concrete Construction Special Inspector Certification. This program includes three full days of classroom review, followed by the written and plan reading exams on day 4. This program will run from November 15th to 18th. Click here for more information and to register on-line.

We have also added a Field Testing Technician Grade 1 Certification, and a Strength Testing Technician Certification in Yuma, AZ on December 2nd and 3rd. Again, this will probably the last opportunity in Yuma for several months and space is limited, so please take the time to register now if you are interested. Click on the program title to go to that area of our web site for more information.

Also still up before the end of the year in Phoenix are the Concrete Strength Testing Technician on November 11th and 12th, followed by the Field Testing Technician Grade 1 on December 10th, 16th and 17th. Click on either programs for more details.

Phoenix, AZ - The Arizona Chapter of the American Concrete Institute has launched a new Internet site with enhanced event registration features and on-line member profiles. The new site at www.azaci.org now allows for on-line event registrations for all Chapter events, including ACI Certification Programs. All events are listed on the new site's calendar page. Clicking on an event takes you to that event's web page which allows you to view how many seats are left in the program, check prices, and register on-line using a credit card or check. Paying by credit card through the new site enhances security and fraud protection measures and allows you to use Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and now American Express. When you choose to pay on-line the system opens a secure page to collect and process your information. When you choose to pay by check, the system will automatically email you an invoice with payment instructions. The new system also sends you immediate confirmation by email, so no more waiting on certification confirmations!

The new site also includes enhanced features for members. All members can now easily log in using their email address to view and post an on-line profile that includes contact information, a short bio, and even photos. Corporate members can post a company profile as well as profiles for their listed individual members. The member directory is completely searchable, and members can make as much, or as little, of their information available to the public as they choose. Members can now keep all of their contact information up to date and can use their profile to promote themselves or their company.

The new site also includes up to date news and events, discussion forums, job listings and members only areas. Visit www.azaci.org now to check out the new site. Not a member? You can apply for membership in the Chapter right from the site by clicking here.