scope:

PREFACE

This manual is for the guidance, assistance, and instruction of concrete inspectors and others engaged in concrete construction, such as field engineers, construction superintendents, supervisors, laboratory and field technicians and inspectors, and workers. Journeymen may find it valuable as a reference for improving their work, and apprentices can use it as an effective instruction manual. Although designers' duties are primarily confined to office work they may find the manual a valuable tool that provides a ready description of the various details of concrete construction. Such information may enable designers to better adapt their designs to the realities of field construction.

Because of the diverse possible uses of the manual, and the varied backgrounds of the readers, it includes the reasons behind the technical instructions.

Except for the seventh edition, each previous edition included a series of minor revisions over the previous edition. The seventh edition was completely rewritten. This ninth edition was revised where deemed necessary or required due to changes in reference documents. Much of the older material has been retained because experience has shown it to be useful and technically correct. The field of concrete construction is ever-changing, however, and some of the biggest advances in modern-day construction have taken place in the concrete field. A list of only a few of the recent developments in materials, equipment, and processes includes shrinkage-compensating cement, sophisticated admixtures, fibrous concrete, epoxy resins, high capacity and automated concrete production equipment, high-strength concrete, and systems building. Although there has seldom been reason to change the fundamentals developed earlier, added material is necessary to recognize new technology. The field of inspection has been expanded drastically, and the approach and emphasis modified in recent years, without change to the basic technology of the past. The need to cover all items that affect inspection has been the reason for continuing to revise this ACI Manual of Concrete Inspection.

In preparing this edition of the manual, as with previous editions, the task of ACI Committee 311 was not to make policy on construction practices, but rather to interpret the policies set forth by other authorized bodies. As before, the main emphasis of the manual is on the technical aspects of inspection and construction. Administrative factors of inspection are generally limited to the first chapter. The manual covers brief summaries of many subjects in concrete technology. The reader is encouraged to read ACI Manual of Concrete Practice for further information.

Because this manual is general and broad in nature, no part of the manual should be included by reference in contract documents. Applicable inspection requirements for each project must be determined and specified as necessary.