| PCA Concrete Technology Advisory Council (CTAC)
Codes & Standards
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Purpose
The Concrete Technical Advisory Council (CTAC) provides guidance to the Portland Cement Association (PCA) for the advancement of standards and practices for the design and construction of buildings using cement-based products. CTAC expedites the process of advancing technology and having such technologies incorporated into design and construction practices.
Initial efforts of CTAC are focused on structural design and construction practices for cast-in-place concrete in buildings. CTAC assists PCA by:
- Identifying and prioritizing issues to be addressed in American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, with a focus on simplification.
- Facilitating the standards writing process by developing and reviewing, with adequate justification, proposed revisions to ACI 318, initiated by PCA.
- Participating, on a strictly optional basis, in the development of peer-reviewed and PCA publications (including but not limited to Notes on ACI 318) that encourage the use of new technology in design and construction practices.
CTAC was formed to address issues PCA is concerned about, including:
- In some instances, the current process does not provide sufficiently rapid implementation of important changes to design and construction practices.
- In some cases, the current standard is not sufficiently conservative to assure appropriate levels of life safety, property protection, and welfare of the general public.
- In some cases, the current standard is overly conservative and does not provide sufficient consideration of cost-effectiveness and affordability in providing for life safety, property protection, and welfare of the general public.
Membership
The membership of the CTAC is by invitation from PCA to individuals recognized for their experience and expertise with regard to specific fields of concrete design and construction. The invitation process considers other concrete industry programs and activities. The intent is to complement and coordinate efforts to the fullest extent possible and is not intended to distract from or disrupt other concrete and related industry efforts regarding the advancement of cement-based product technologies.
The CTAC will meet twice a year for a full day meeting. An optional group dinner will be scheduled for the evening before the CTAC meeting. Meeting location will usually be near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
CTAC Members
Robert E. Bachman, R.E. Bachman Consulting Structural Engineers
Daniel L. Baker, Baker Concrete Construction
Raymond Bligh, Watry Design Inc.
Nicholas J. Carino, National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST)
Anthony E. Fiorato, Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc
Robert J. Frosch, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
S.K. Ghosh, CTAC Chair, S.K. Ghosh Associates, Inc
Jacob S. Grossman, Rosenwasser/Grossman Consulting Engineers
James R. Harris, J. R. Harris & Company
Robert F. Mast, BERGER/ABAM Engineers, Inc.
Chris V. Tokas, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
Thomas D. Verti, Charles Pankow Builders, Ltd.
Sharon L. Wood, University of Texas
PCA Staff Liaisons to CTAC
Iyad (Ed) M. Alsamsam
Steve Kosmatka
Joseph Messersmith
Basile G. Rabbat
Stephen S. Szoke, CTAC Secretary
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