Connecticut Design Firm Briefed on Value of ACI 330R-08

Executive Director Jim Langlois of the Connecticut Concrete Promotion Council recently partnered with NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources Doug O’Neill in presenting ACI 330R-08 to a group of engineers from a Northeast-based, employee-owned design firm that is working on several NRMCA National Account client projects across the region. As is typical with many civil engineering firms in the Northeast, not one hand was raised when asked if they used ACI330R-08 when specifying for a concrete parking lot. Most either relied on the recommendations of their hired geo technical engineer or used some form of AASHTO or state DOT guidelines.

The presentation was well received by the attendees, with one commenting on "how is it that we’ve never heard of ACI 330R-08 before?" The main reason is that since concrete is not normally specified in Connecticut, there has been no need for civil or geo techs to stay up-to-date on what is common practice in other, more "concrete friendly" areas of the country, O'Neill said.

Langlois spoke to the group on the history of concrete paving in the state along with an update on pervious concrete and then offered several specific projects that have gone concrete over the last several years. O’Neill stressed how the use of ACI 330R-08 should be thought of as an insurance policy for design teams to hang their hat on when it comes to specifying, designing and constructing concrete pavements. He also mentioned how many NRMCA National Account clients are looking for a concrete option on their projects to allow for competitive situations that would otherwise not be available to them. The hope is that this meeting opens up the opportunity for offering an NRMCA Design Assistance Project for an upcoming job.

For more information, contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.