Infrastructure Projects

Project: Enhancing Quality Infrastructure in East Africa through Modern Reinforced Concrete Building Codes
Implementer: American Concrete Institute (ACI)

Concrete is an essential building element and the most widely used construction material in the world.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is the leading authority and resource worldwide for the development and distribution of consensus-based codes, standards, technical resources, educational and training programs, certification programs and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.

The Standards Alliance is leveraging ACI’s market-based solutions to implement this project in Africa. As part of the activity, ACI plans to build awareness around ACI CODE-318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary and to build capacity around “concrete use” in the region, beginning with East Africa.

Many countries have adopted and implemented ACI 318 to resolve a number of challenges, including but not limited to the lack of skilled labor, capacity building support, technological and financial resources to create and maintain a self-managed reinforced concrete building code. ACI has assisted over 70 countries that have encountered similar challenges and has used this approach through jointly funded cooperative efforts in several countries like Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam to facilitate the adoption of ACI 318.

Adherence to ACI standards and building code requirements like ACI 318 helps ensure quality concrete design and construction, facilitates compliance and enforcement, and provides the necessary durability and longevity in construction projects, which ultimately supports economic growth and long-term sustainability.

While a majority of African countries predominately use British Standards and the Eurocode for construction, these nations still stand to benefit from adopting ACI codes/standards due to its ease of use compared to the aforementioned codes, amongst other related benefits. With funding assistance from the Standards Alliance: Phase 2, ACI will support code adoption and implementation efforts in East Africa.

This project aims to create awareness and build confidence amongst key decision makers and relevant stakeholders on the adoption and implementation of modern building codes for construction, based on ACI’s widely applied code. A contextualized national plan for the use of ACI documents in civil/structural engineering curriculums will be developed to advise governmental entities on customizing ACI codes and standards for local conditions. The goal is to provide the country with a functioning and enforceable set of codes and standards for structural concrete.

Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania

• Read the SA2 ACI Fact Sheet
• Learn more about ACI
• about this project