The American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) announce the launch of the new Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification program.
In the summer of 2006, a portion of the concrete ceiling 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 process of adopting the design procedures into the ACI 318 Building Code, it became clear to the ACI 318 Code Committee members that a certification program was imperative for successful installation of these anchors under certain conditions,” explained Neal Anderson, CRSI Vice President of Engineering. “This connection type should be thought of as being similar to a structural weld, in that an adhesive anchorage is usually a key load carrying connection in a structure. As such, proper training and certification is crucial for its proper installation.”
As part of the overall response to the recommendations of the NTSB, ACI has partnered with the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) to develop a certification program for Adhesive Anchor Installers. Additionally, Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification is a new requirement in ACI 318-11, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, for anchorages in sustained tension loading conditions and installation orientations from horizontal to vertically upward (overhead). ACI 318-11 was recently released.
To satisfy the new ACI 318-11 certification requirements, the following components of the ACI / CRSI certification program were developed by ACI Committee 601-A and its main oversight body, ACI CPC – Certification Program Committee:
• Development of a 75-question written examination – The exam covers information on adhesive concrete anchor installation in regards to preparing for installation, drilling anchor holes, cleaning anchor holes, injecting adhesive using cartridge systems, installing adhesive capsule systems, and installing anchors. The exam was developed under the direction of Professional Testing Services of Orlando, Fla., in accordance with recognized ANSI guidelines.
• Development of a performance exam – Candidates must be able to read, comprehend, and execute the generic Manufacturer’s Printed Installation Instructions (MPII) for the installation of an anchor in a vertical-down position, and the ability to inject adhesive to the proper depth into simulated holes in an overhead (vertical-up) position with both a rigid applicator tip and flexible stinger end with piston plug in a manner that produces results meeting program requirements.
The performance examination required creation of a generic MPII, representing the combined content of typical MPIIs from the various anchor manufacturers. In working with the Concrete Anchor Manufacturers Association (CAMA), a generic set of installation instructions was developed for use the performance portion of the certification program.
ACI and CRSI completed two pilot programs earlier this year with a total of 35 participants taking both the written and performance examinations. Based on the results of the pilot programs, passing score criteria were finalized for both the written and performance components of the exam.
At the present time, the ACI/CRSI Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification program is going to market in specific geographical areas. Typically, ACI Certification programs are sponsored and conducted by Local Sponsoring Groups (LSGs), which include ACI chapters and other concrete-related businesses and associations around the world. To date, more than 30 LSGs have signed on to prepare and eventually conduct this certification program. Presently, the following groups have undergone the LSG orientation class and are currently positioned to offer the Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification program: ACI Illinois Chapter, ACI Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Chapter, and the ACI San Diego International Chapter. Other LSGs are in the process of being oriented into the program mechanics. The phase-in period is expected to be commensurate with the adoption of ACI 318-11 into revised editions of local building codes and/or incorporation of the requirements into project construction documents by licensed design professionals.
As with many of ACI’s certification programs, a training program is currently in development for the Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification program to allow certification candidates to train and study before taking the certification tests.
The training program is expected to be ready by the end of 2011.
A directory of ACI Local Sponsoring Groups that conduct certification testing can be found by visiting the following website: http://www.concrete.org/CERTIFICATION/CERT_SPON.HTM. BD+C
Related Stories
| Jul 1, 2013
Firestone Building Products Company LLC Announces Sustainability Report
Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, the leading manufacturer of superior “Roots to Rooftops” products for commercial building performance solutions, today announced the release of its 2012 Sustainability Report. The report, the first for Firestone Building Products Company, covers the fiscal 2012 year and is available for download at firestonebpco.com.
| Jul 1, 2013
LEGOLAND builds 12-foot replica of One World Trade Center
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers, N.Y., celebrated the completion of a LEGO replica of One World Trade Center by lighting the 12-foot-tall, 100-pound model.
| Jul 1, 2013
Report: Global construction market to reach $15 trillion by 2025
A new report released today forecasts the volume of construction output will grow by more than 70% to $15 trillion worldwide by 2025.
| Jul 1, 2013
Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, elected 2015 AIA President
Delegates to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national convention in Denver elected Elizabeth Chu Richter (AIA Corpus Christi) to serve as the 2014 AIA first vice president/president-elect and 2015 AIA president.
| Jun 28, 2013
Calculating the ROI of building enclosure commissioning
A researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory calls building enclosure commissioning “the single-most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings today.”
| Jun 28, 2013
A brief history of windows in America
Historic window experts from Hoffmann Architects look back at the origin of windows in the U.S.
| Jun 28, 2013
Building owners cite BIM/VDC as 'most exciting trend' in facilities management, says Mortenson report
A recent survey of more than 60 building owners and facility management professionals by Mortenson Construction shows that BIM/VDC is top of mind among owner professionals.
| Jun 27, 2013
Thermal, solar control designs can impact cooling loads by 200%, heating loads by 30%
Underestimating thermal bridging can greatly undermine a building’s performance contributing to heating load variances of up to 30% and cooling load variances of up to 200%, says the MMM Group.
| Jun 26, 2013
New York’s ‘Scaffold Law’ may be altered to place larger burden on workers
New York's Scaffold Law, which “places the burden of responsibility on the contractor to prove that the job site was safe for workers,” could be facing a major change.
| Jun 26, 2013
Commercial real estate execs eye multifamily, retail sectors for growth, says KPMG report
The multifamily, retail, and hospitality sectors are expected to lead commercial building growth, according to the 2013 KPMG Commercial Real Estate Outlook Survey.
