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12 • January 2015 www.concreteproducts.com GUEST EDITORIAL BY COLIN LOBO The American Concrete Institute's just-released ACI 318-14, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete consolidates concrete mix- ture-specific references from 318-11 Chapters 3 (Materials), 4 (Dura- bility) and 5 (Strength and Construction Issues) into new Chapters 19 (Concrete: Design and Durability Requirements) and 26 (Construction Documents and Inspection). The reorganization of these sections per- mitted an evaluation and elimination of some Code provisions related to concrete mixtures and construction when better addressed in other referenced standards. ACI 318-14 Chapter 19 covers essentials a licensed professional designer (LDP) needs to address on requirements for concrete on a project: minimum specified strength level; modulus of elasticity esti- mate; design modification factors when using lightweight mixes; and, durability requirements for structures subject to specific exposures. Regarding freeze-thaw cycles (Exposure Category F), the chapter clar- ifies descriptors of the exposure condition for concrete. Previously, all Category F classes required a maximum w/cm and minimum specified strength of 0.45 and 4,500 psi, respectively. ACI 318-14 requires Class F1, 0.55 w/cm and 3,500 psi; Class F2, 0.45 w/cm and 4,500 psi; and, Class F3, 0.40 and 4,500 psi. For plain concrete in exposure Class F3, 0.45 w/cm and 4,500 psi targets apply. In addition to its predeces- sor, the new code permits Type IT binder conforming to ASTM C595, Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cement, for concrete subject to water-soluble sulfates (Exposure Category S). Where appropriate, certain 318-11 concrete materials language is replaced in 318-14 Chapter 26 with references to ASTM C94, Stan- dard Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete, or other standards. The chapter spans two distinct types of provisions: design information, or project-specific construction details the LDP needs to include in construction documents; and, compliance requirements, or general 318 Code provisions that establish a minimum level of construction quality. Among key sections for concrete producers and contractors: • 26.4 Concrete Materials and Mixture Requirements—References specifications and other requirements for materials that can be used in concrete; requirements for concrete mixtures that are related to strength, durability and construction; and, provisions for propor- tioning concrete and documenting proposed mixtures to the LDP. Section 26.4.3 references ACI 301, Specification for Structural Con- crete, stipulating a 24-month limit on the age of a strength test record for determining standard deviation, submittals, and labora- tory trial batches. Details establishing the required average strength for concrete mixtures have been eliminated from ACI 318-14. • 26.5 Concrete Production and Construction—Covers production, placement, consolidation and curing provisions; cold and hot weather concreting; and, construction of members and joints. • 26.12 Concrete Evaluation and Acceptance—States strength test requirements, testing frequency, strength acceptance criteria, and investigation of low strength test results. ACI is supporting the new code with more than 50 seminars throughout 2015. Most immediately, it has posted transition keys mapping 318-11 provisions to the new edition at www.concete.org/ ACI318. Also planned this year is an updated Reinforced Concrete Design Manual, published in accordance with ACI 318-14. As a member of ACI Committee 318 – Structural Concrete Building Code, NRMCA Senior Vice President, Engineering Colin Lobo represented ready mixed production stakeholders in code reorganization leading to ACI 318-14. He will remain active in the committee on behalf of the associ- ation and producer members. Revised ACI 318 Code streamlines concrete mix, performance references