BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE (ACI 318-05) AND

COMMENTARY (ACI 318R-05)
REPORTED BY ACI COMMITTEE 318

ACI Committee 318

Structural Building Code

James K. Wight Basile G. Rabbat

Chair Secretary

Sergio M. Alcocer Luis E. Garcia Dominic J. Kelly Myles A. Murray

Florian G. Barth
Roger J. Becker
Kenneth B. Bondy
John E. Breen
James R. Cagley
Michael P. Collins
W. Gene Corley
Charles W. Dolan
Anthony E. Fiorato
Catherine E. French
S. K. Ghosh
Lawrence G. Griffis
David P. Gustafson
D. Kirk Harman
James R. Harris
Neil M. Hawkins
Terence C. Holland
Kenneth C. Hover
Phillip J. Iverson
James O. Jirsa
Gary J. Klein
Ronald Klemencic
Cary S. Kopczynski
H. S. Lew
Colin L. Lobo
Leslie D. Martin
Robert F. Mast
Steven L. McCabe
W. Calvin McCall
Jack P. Moehle
Julio A. Ramirez
Thomas C. Schaeffer
Stephen J. Seguirant
Roberto Stark
Eric M. Tolles
Thomas D. Verti
Sharon L. Wood
Loring A. Wyllie
Fernando V. Yanez

Subcommittee Members

Neal S. Anderson Juan P. Covarrubias Michael E. Kreger Vilas S. Mujumdar Guillermo Santana
Mark A. Aschheim Robert J. Frosch Daniel A. Kuchma Suzanne D. Nakaki Andrew Scanlon
John F. Bonacci Harry A. Gleich LeRoy A. Lutz Theodore L. Neff John F. Stanton
JoAnn P. Browning Javier F. Horvilleur† James G. MacGregor Andrzej S. Nowak Fernando R. Stucchi
Nicholas J. Carino R. Doug Hooton Joe Maffei Randall W. Poston Raj Valluvan
Ned M. Cleland L. S. Paul Johal Denis Mitchell Bruce W. Russell John W. Wallace
Ronald A. Cook

Consulting Members

C. Raymond Hays Richard C. Meininger Charles G. Salmon

†
Deceased

ACI 318-05 is deemed to satisfy ISO 19338, “Performance and Assessment Requirements for Design Standards on Structural
Concrete,” Reference Number ISO 19338.2003(E). Also Technical Corrigendum 1: 2004.
 CHAPTER 6
CODE
6.3 — Conduits and pipes embedded in
concrete
6.3.1 — Conduits, pipes, and sleeves of any material
not harmful to concrete and within limitations of 6.3
shall be permitted to be embedded in concrete with
approval of the engineer, provided they are not consid-
ered to replace structurally the displaced concrete,
except as provided in 6.3.6.
6.3.2 — Conduits and pipes of aluminum shall not be
embedded in structural concrete unless effectively
coated or covered to prevent aluminum-concrete reac-
tion or electrolytic action between aluminum and steel.
6.3.3 — Conduits, pipes, and sleeves passing through
a slab, wall, or beam shall not impair significantly the
strength of the construction.
6.3.4 — Conduits and pipes, with their fittings, embed-
ded within a column shall not displace more than 4
percent of the area of cross section on which strength
is calculated or which is required for fire protection.
6.3.5 — Except when drawings for conduits and pipes
are approved by the structural engineer, conduits and
pipes embedded within a slab, wall, or beam (other
than those merely passing through) shall satisfy
6.3.5.1 through 6.3.5.3.
6.3.5.1 — They shall not be larger in outside dimen-
sion than 1/3 the overall thickness of slab, wall, or
beam in which they are embedded.
ACI 318 Building Code and Commentary
75
COMMENTARY
intervals between the various operations;
(e) Any other loading or condition that affects the safety
or serviceability of the structure during construction.
For multistory construction, the strength of the concrete
during the various stages of construction should be substan-
tiated by field-cured test specimens or other approved
methods.
R6.3 — Conduits and pipes embedded in
concrete
R6.3.1 — Conduits, pipes, and sleeves not harmful to con-
crete can be embedded within the concrete, but the work
should be done in such a manner that the structure will not
be endangered. Empirical rules are given in 6.3 for safe
installations under common conditions; for other than com-
mon conditions, special designs should be made. Many gen-
eral building codes have adopted ANSI/ASME piping codes
B 31.1 for power piping6.8 and B 31.3 for chemical and
petroleum piping.6.9 The specifier should be sure that the
appropriate piping codes are used in the design and testing
of the system. The contractor should not be permitted to
install conduits, pipes, ducts, or sleeves that are not shown
on the plans or not approved by the engineer or architect.
For the integrity of the structure, it is important that all con-
duit and pipe fittings within the concrete be carefully assem-
bled as shown on the plans or called for in the job
specifications.
R6.3.2 — The code prohibits the use of aluminum in struc-
tural concrete unless it is effectively coated or covered. Alu-
minum reacts with concrete and, in the presence of chloride
ions, may also react electrolytically with steel, causing
cracking and/or spalling of the concrete. Aluminum electri-
cal conduits present a special problem since stray electric
current accelerates the adverse reaction.
76 CHAPTER 6

CODE COMMENTARY
6.3.5.2 — They shall not be spaced closer than 3
diameters or widths on center.

6.3.5.3 — They shall not impair significantly the

strength of the construction.

6.3.6 — Conduits, pipes, and sleeves shall be permit-

ted to be considered as replacing structurally in com-
pression the displaced concrete provided in 6.3.6.1
through 6.3.6.3.

6.3.6.1 — They are not exposed to rusting or other

deterioration.

6.3.6.2 — They are of uncoated or galvanized iron or

steel not thinner than standard Schedule 40 steel pipe.

6.3.6.3 — They have a nominal inside diameter not

over 2 in. and are spaced not less than 3 diameters on
centers.

6.3.7 — Pipes and fittings shall be designed to resist
effects of the material, pressure, and temperature to
which they will be subjected.
R6.3.7 — The 1983 code limited the maximum pressure in
embedded pipe to 200 psi, which was considered too restric-
tive. Nevertheless, the effects of such pressures and the
expansion of embedded pipe should be considered in the
design of the concrete member.

6.3.8 — No liquid, gas, or vapor, except water not

exceeding 90 F nor 50 psi pressure, shall be placed in
the pipes until the concrete has attained its design
strength.

6.3.9 — In solid slabs, piping, unless it is for radiant

heating or snow melting, shall be placed between top
and bottom reinforcement.

6.3.10 — Concrete cover for pipes, conduits, and fittings

shall not be less than 1-1/2 in. for concrete exposed to
earth or weather, nor less than 3/4 in. for concrete not
exposed to weather or in contact with ground.

6.3.11 — Reinforcement with an area not less than

0.002 times area of concrete section shall be provided
normal to piping.

6.3.12 — Piping and conduit shall be so fabricated and

installed that cutting, bending, or displacement of rein-
forcement from its proper location will not be required.

6.4 — Construction joints R6.4 — Construction joints

6.4.1 — Surface of concrete construction joints shall For the integrity of the structure, it is important that all con-
be cleaned and laitance removed. struction joints be defined in construction documents and
constructed as required. Any deviations should be approved
by the engineer or architect.

ACI 318 Building Code and Commentary