ACI 301 spec

[syrupmaker]

I placed a note on my structural drawings saying:

Work on ----- shall conform to ALL requirements of ACI 301......

I also placed a note about the contractor submitting shop drawings to the SER for review and acceptance before fabrication proceeds.

It is my understanding from reading the ACI 301 spec that such a note requires the Contractor to comply with ALL requirements of ACI 301 unless specifically told otherwise. I have a contractor who has not submitted one item for review or acceptance and he is going to place the foundation tommorrow! Am I missing something or is he just clueless concerning his role as a contractor? He hasn't even submitted the placing drawings or mix design and he is going to place the concrete tomorrow! Has anyone ever had this problem, if so...do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

 

[JAE]

The problem with using ACI 301 as your concrete spec is that it is very generic, will not be taylored to your project's specific unique issues, and is usually not in the hands of many contractors.

If you refer to 301 and your job is not too large, chances are your contractor will not have it available and probably won't try to get it. ACI used to provide copies of 301 (paper, not bound) that could be combined with other project specifications. This is really the intended use of 301 (To bind a copy into your project specs).

We use 301 as a reference to write are specific specification for each project using Masterspec or CSI as a starting point.

Even if you didn't copy 301 into a book spec for the contract, your other contract documents should have language that states that all references shall be followed or obtained, etc.

At this point, I would call the contractor and remind him that he has an obligation to produce shop drawings, mix designs, etc. and that anything he builds may not meet the specs and could be rejected. You would then be putting the monkey on his back - its his risk not yours. This presumes that your client will back you up and give you the authority to reject work.

 

[haynewp]

I thought of something while reading this question. Instead of putting material information on the general notes drawing (as always is done), why not just have loading criteria on the general notes dwg (as req'd by code) and just put all the material stuff in the specs?

 

[JAE]

haynewp - I don't see a huge problem with that....usually, though, we try to put on the drawings anything that we envision would be of help to some future engineer (perhaps it even would be us) that would aid in analyzing the structure for some newly required condition, load, aleration, etc.

There are so many times I get an old set of plans and there isn't anything on there as far as loading, material types (is the steel A36, A992) and design method. Its nice to have those handy on the plans as so many times owners will keep the roll of drawings but not the book specs.

 

[PT999]

You should be advising your client in writing that the contractor is not in conformance with your contract requirement for submissions, thus if engineer's approval for work is required, it will be withheld.

What really will get this contractor's attention will be if you also advise your client to withold all payment until submissions are made and approved.

 

[haynewp]

Yeah I guess it's a good practice to include for future engineers dealing with the project.