Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318 14) and Commentary (ACI 318R 14)

The “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (“Code”) provides minimum requirements for the materials, design, and detailing of structural concrete buildings and, where applicable, nonbuilding structures. This Code addresses structural systems, members, and connections, including cast-in-place, precast, plain, nonprestressed, prestressed, and composite construction. Among the subjects covered are: design and construction for strength, serviceability, and durability; load combinations, load factors, and strength reduction factors; structural analysis methods; deflection limits; mechanical and adhesive anchoring to concrete; development and splicing of reinforcement; construction document information; field inspection and testing; and methods to evaluate the strength of existing structures. “Building Code Requirements for Concrete Thin Shells” (ACI 318.2) is adopted by reference in this Code.The Code user will find that ACI 318-14 has been substantially reorganized and reformatted from previous editions.

The principal objectives of this reorganization are to present all design and detailing requirements for structural systems or for individual members in chapters devoted to those individual subjects, and to arrange the chapters in a manner that generally follows the process and chronology of design and construction. Information and procedures that are common to the design of members are located in utility chapters. The quality and testing of materials used in construction are covered by reference to the appropriate ASTM standard specifications. Welding of reinforcement is covered by reference to the appropriate American Welding Society (AWS) standard. Uses of the Code include adoption by reference in a general building code, and earlier editions have been widely used in this manner. The Code is written in a format that allows such reference without change to its language.

Therefore, background details or suggestions for carrying out the requirements or intent of the Code provisions cannot be included within the Code itself. The Commentary is provided for this purpose. Some of the considerations of the committee in developing the Code are discussed within the Commentary, with emphasis given to the explanation of new or revised provisions. Much of the research data referenced in preparing the Code is cited for the user desiring to study individual questions in greater detail. Other documents that provide suggestions for carrying out the requirements of the Code are also cited.Technical changes from ACI 318-11 to ACI 318-14 are outlined in the May 2014 issue of Concrete International.

Transition keys showing how the code was reorganized are provided on the ACI website on the 318 Resource Page under Topics in Concrete. Keywords: admixtures; aggregates; anchorage (structural); beam-column frame; beams (supports); building codes; cements; cold weather construction; columns (supports); combined stress; composite construction (concrete and steel); composite construction (concrete to concrete); compressive strength; concrete construction; concrete slabs; concretes; construction joints; continuity (structural); contract documents; contraction joints; cover; curing; deep beams; deflections; earthquake-resistant structures; embedded service ducts; flexural strength; floors; folded plates; footings; formwork (construction); frames; hot weather construction; inspection; isolation joints; joints (junctions); joists; lightweight concretes; load tests (structural); loads (forces); materials; mixing; mixture proportioning; modulus of elasticity; moments; pipe columns; pipes (tubing); placing; plain concrete; precast concrete; prestressed concrete; prestressing steels; quality control; reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels; roofs; serviceability; shear strength; shear walls; shells (structural forms); spans; splicing; strength; strength analysis; stresses; structural analysis; structural concrete; structural design; structural integrity; T-beams; torsion; walls; water; welded wire reinforcement.

Reference: ACI Committee, & International Organization for Standardization. (2014). Building code requirements for structural concrete (ACI 318-14) and commentary. American Concrete Institute