ACI Concrete Sustainability
Forum XI
Concrete sustainability is entering a new stage!
by Koji Sakai and Julie K. Buffenbarger
T
he ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum XI was held on
October 14, 2018, at The ACI Concrete Convention
and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV. The Forum series
originated in 2008 as a workshop in St. Louis, MO, when
ACI Committee 130, Sustainability of Concrete, was formed.1
Forums have since taken place in New Orleans, LA;
Pittsburgh, PA; Cincinnati, OH; Toronto, ON, Canada;
Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA;
and Anaheim, CA.2-10
The 10th ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum was held on
October 17, 2017, at the ACI Convention in Anaheim.
During that event, key objectives identified for the next
decade include:
•• Governmental incentives or taxes to encourage sustainable
practices;
•• Mandatory education at colleges and universities on the
application of sustainability to engineering and architecture
design;
•• Increased renewable energy use at cement, concrete, and
concrete-related product manufacturing plants;
•• Increased cement clinker performance;
•• Innovative solutions to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) in
cement and concrete manufacture, delivery, and
construction methodology; and
•• Development and adoption of a code-specific language
addressing sustainability practices.
ACI Committee 130 is finalizing its guide document, and
ACI Committee C601, New Certification Programs, is
preparing to launch the ACI Concrete Construction
Sustainability Assessor Certification Program. These steps
provide a foundation for education to address sustainability.
While ACI 318-1411 and fib Model Code 2010 (MC2010)12
included “sustainability” requirements, the provisions are
limited as the codes place priority on life safety. However, fib
has since taken action to revise MC2010, and the updated
MC2020 document is expected to have a more in-depth
framework. In addition, the subcommittee on performance
requirements for structural concrete of the International
Standards Organization (ISO) technical committee on
concrete, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete
(ISO/TC 71/SC4) is presently discussing the integration of
sustainability into ISO 19338.13 Across the globe, resiliency is
rapidly being integrated into the broader concept of
sustainability, and this is expected to more closely associate
sustainability practices with structural design. The U.S.
Resiliency Council, for example, is promoting resilience-
based design. In addition, innovative technologies that address
sustainability aspects have been developed.
Presentations
The 11th ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum provided
information on the following topics:
•• Sustainability assessor certification program;
•• Incorporation of sustainability into the ACI Code, ISO
Standard, and fib Model Code;
•• Resilience-based design; and
•• An innovative bridge technology.
New sustainability certification
Sean Monkman, CarbonCure, Chair of ACI Committee
130, discussed the current 23 certification programs offered
by ACI. These programs cover three areas, including testing,
inspection, and construction/specialist. He emphasized that
the importance of concrete is growing in correlation with
worldwide population growth. ACI has supported the
creation of a Concrete Sustainability Assessor certification.
The program is being developed to endorse the competency
of individuals tasked to assess and oversee the sustainability
and resiliency aspects of concrete construction. This
certification program will assist concrete construction
professionals in obtaining the required knowledge and skills
to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete construction
and develop/improve the planning for the resilience of
concrete construction projects. The effort promises to
www.concreteinternational.com | Ci | MARCH 2019 47
promote education in sustainable concrete construction and
would aid concrete contractors and designers in highlighting
their commitment to sustainability. The beta test exam for
the certification will be conducted at a future convention.
Sustainability and ACI Code
Randall W. Poston, Pivot Engineers, ACI Vice President,
initiated his talk by reviewing the first known law affecting
builders (in the Code of Hammurabi, a code of laws of the
king of Babylon dating from around 2250 BCE)14 and
imaginatively remarking that its content undoubtedly
contained “thou shalt make sustainable structures.” He also
referenced the Brundtland Report,15 in which “sustainable
development” was defined. Poston then presented the Marina
del Rey Seawall repair project, which demonstrated a balance
of economic growth, environmental protection, and social
equality—thus serving as a case study in sustainability.
Poston also discussed the inclusion of sustainability in
design as an option in ACI 318-14. Although no rigorous
prescriptive or performance requirements are provided, this
allows a designer to include sustainability in design as long as
it does not compromise public health and safety. Other aspects
of the 318 Code indirectly incorporate sustainability,
including provisions permitting the use of supplementary
cementitious materials (SCMs) and blended cements that are
more carbon-friendly than ordinary portland cement.
Poston explained the steps to the incorporation of
sustainability into the ACI 318-14 Code:
•• The first attempt by ACI Committee 318, Structural
Concrete Building Code, stated, “Materials and
components of structural concrete shall comply with the
sustainability requirements of which this Code forms a part.”
•• The fourth attempt stated, “Materials and components of
structural concrete shall comply with minimum
sustainability requirements in the General Building Code.”
•• The final, approved text stated, “The licensed design
professional shall be permitted to specify sustainability
requirements in addition to the strength, serviceability, and
durability requirements of this Code.”
Poston concluded that while ACI 318 has not specifically
addressed sustainability, the “spirit of adoption” of sustainable
principles is there.
Sustainability and ISO Standards
James K. Wight, University of Michigan, Chair of ISO/
TC71/SC4, Performance Requirements for Structural
Concrete, discussed a plan for adding sustainability
requirements to ISO Standard 19338. He outlined the
existing codes and standards, including fib MC2010, ACI
318, and ISO 13315.16 Wight emphasized that ISO 19338 is
not a design code but serves as an “umbrella” document to
define requirements that are to be included in a concrete
design code to satisfy ISO requirements. ISO 19338 is
currently under review for updating and adding
performance-based design and assessment requirements for
48 MARCH 2019 | Ci | www.concreteinternational.com
new and existing buildings, and this will be coordinated with
the current ISO 13315-4:2017. It is anticipated that the new
sustainability provisions in ISO 19338 will include
requirements for material selection during the construction
process, as well as building operational requirements and
end-of-life recycling requirements. As an umbrella
document, ISO 19338 will provide general sustainability
performance and assessment requirements without defining
detailed performance goals and assessment targets. Wight
anticipates that national and regional codes seeking
recognition in meeting ISO Standard 19338 will contain
more specific sustainability requirements.
Sustainability and fib Model Code
Koji Sakai, Japan Sustainability Institute, past Chair of
ISO/TC71/SC8, Environmental Management for Concrete and
Concrete Structures, outlined the essence of sustainability
issues, which includes the environmental aspects of climate
change and natural resource consumption, the economic
aspects of cost and investment, and the social aspects of
natural disasters. Sakai emphasized that “without robust
infrastructure, commercial, and residential structures, human
society has no chance of sustainability.” He continued by
stating that “the construction industry consumes appreciable
volumes of natural resources and emits considerable quantities
of CO2, and attention must be paid to their reduction for future
generations.” Therefore, a new design system should be
established to address these aspects. The basis of this system
includes performance-based design.
The basic principles in MC2010 included the performance-
based design and sustainability requirements in which
environmental impacts and impacts on society (aesthetics)
were considered. However, social aspects such as safety and
serviceability and economic aspects were not covered by
MC2010. Sakai clearly indicated the necessity of all
sustainability elements for the framework and the inclusion of
all life-cycle ranges in MC2020. The life-cycle ranges include
a combination of basic life-cycle phases which consist of
design, execution, use, and end-of-service life. Thus, this
system may be called a performance-based life-cycle
sustainability design. Reasonable design procedures for new
and existing structures were shown.
Sakai concluded that:
•• Our environment has drastically changed—socially,
economically, and environmentally—over the last decade
and it continues to dynamically evolve;
•• The concrete industry has a tremendous opportunity to
embrace and use sustainability to preserve society and the
Earth; and
•• Our industry must promote the transformation of values
through the development of new system-based codes on
sustainability design. Sustainability is a compass to simply
and directly deal with societal, economic, and
environmental issues. Proper development of fib MC2020
will be a great opportunity for this to occur.
Building design and resilience
Evan Reis, U.S. Resiliency Council, focused on
“Resilience as the New Sustainability.” He stated that
sustainability is more than eliminating CO2 from the
environment, and resilience is much different from “green”
design. Resilience-based building design is the foundation of
more robust and resilient buildings and communities through
the construction of structures that improve public health and
safety, sustain minimal damage due to natural hazards, and are
capable of recovery to basic functionality in a timely period.
For example, despite the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut
region containing the greatest number of LEED-certified
buildings in the United States; these structures did not
withstand damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. More than
380,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed during the
hurricane, leading to the generation of more than 10 million yd3
(7.65 million m3) of landfilled building debris, $16 to $22 billion
in insurance losses, $25 billion in business losses, and more
than 200 deaths. Reis emphasized that this illustrates where
misconceptions lie between “green design” and building
codes (life safety-based) and the reality of structures to resist
destruction from natural hazards.
Reis explained that the mission of the U.S. Resiliency
Council is to educate, advocate, and promote designs that
consider true long-term sustainability over the full life-cycle
of buildings, especially when the impacts of natural disasters Fig. 1: A sketch for the conceptual design of a butterfly web bridge
are considered. The U.S. Resiliency Council performance (figure courtesy of Akio Kasuga)
metrics include safety, damage, and recovery. In short, it is
imperative to evaluate not only building safety for occupants
but also building performance in terms of cost to repair and
recovery time to basic functional operation. The Council
promotes design and structural systems that reduce both repair
and recovery costs across the multihazard spectrum of
earthquake, wind, flood, and wildfire. Reis highlighted case
studies that illustrate an increase in market demand for
higher-performing buildings. He concluded that “green” and
resilience are two sides of sustainability.

Innovative bridge design

Akio Kasuga, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd, fib
Deputy President, presented an innovative bridge technology
called “butterfly web bridge.” The novel lightweight truss
design was developed to provide a sustainable, low-
maintenance seismic solution in comparison to traditional
measures. Kasuga proclaimed that the essence of innovation is
to solve problems in existing technologies. The key to this
innovative bridge was to overcome the weak points of
conventional materials and structural details. The desired
properties for the bridge included a lightweight structure,
reduction in the duration of construction, reduced
maintenance, and reduced cost in comparison to a bridge with
a corrugated steel web. To resolve these constraints, Kasuga
created conceptual designs. Figure 1 shows a preliminary
sketch of the butterfly web design. The final web panel was
constructed with a concrete strength of 80 MPa (11,600 psi),
Fig. 2: Takubogawa Bridge, Japan (photo courtesy of Sumitomo Mitsui
Construction Co., Ltd.)
thickness of 150 mm (6 in.), reinforcement by prestressing
strands, and removal of traditional reinforcement.
The sustainability evaluation of this innovative bridge
technology in comparison to an ordinary box girder bridge
showed numerous societal and economic benefits as well as a
reduction of 186 tonnes (205 tons) in CO2 emissions from
concrete and reinforcement materials. Four butterfly web
bridges, including an extradosed type, have been constructed
for expressways in Japan. Figure 2 shows the Takubogawa
Bridge, Japan, which was the fib 2018 outstanding concrete
civil engineering project winner.

www.concreteinternational.com | Ci | MARCH 2019 49

Speakers and moderators at the 11th ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum
included (from left): Evan Reis, Koji Sakai, Sean Monkman, James K. Wight,
Julie K. Buffenbarger, and Akio Kasuga
Panel Discussion
A panel discussion concluded the Sustainability Forum XI.
The panelists (presenters and moderators) provided
informative and thought-provoking opinions on the following
topics:
•• The need for the sustainability assessor certification
program;
•• The integration of sustainable and enhanced construction
practices into building codes;
•• How to quantify the long-term performance of structures;
•• The economics of resilient design in comparison to
standard code design; and
•• The necessary steps for the adoption of sustainable design
by design professionals.
In response to the necessity of the sustainability assessor
certification program, members of the ACI committee
establishing the program defended its development. First and
foremost, ACI certification is a globally recognized
endorsement of concrete craftsmen, technicians, inspectors,
and other concrete professionals and practitioners. The
training provided in association with this certification will
meet the needs of the growing domestic and international
green building market by providing knowledge of sustainable
concrete design criteria, jobsite environmental practices, and
monitoring of the environmental footprint of the concrete
produced and delivered to the site. Secondly, there is a large
and growing list of specifiers and owners that require
Errata for ACI Publications
Available Online
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www.concrete.org, document errata can be
searched by document number or keywords.
Call ACI Customer Service at +1.248.848.3700 for more information.
50 MARCH 2019 | Ci | www.concreteinternational.com
Randall W. Poston also presented
at the forum
certification credentials due to local, national, and
international building code requirements. Sustainability
design will be internationally generalized in the near future,
and this program shows ACI’s initiative in that field.
With respect to building codes and standards, almost every
panel participant agreed that there is a distinct and necessary
need for enhanced design and construction and/or resilient
design for structures. This design could include performance-
based metrics, increased service life requirements, hazard-
mitigation criteria, functional recovery criteria, and
environmental and economic aspects. For example,
“functional recovery” criteria, where structures can return to
basic service in a timely manner, allow for speedier economic
recovery for citizens, businesses, and the community.
Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, the east Japan
earthquake and tsunami, Christchurch earthquake, and
Superstorm Sandy have shown that without resiliently
designed structures, societal and economic loss recovery for
residents, businesses, and the community will be slow or
may not occur.
Discussion with regard to increased costs for higher-
performing or sustainable structures was well debated by the
panel. While construction costs may increase—by, for
example, about 5% for higher-performing structures—these
increased costs can be tied to quantifiable benefits and
performance metrics for different levels of design, such as
increased wind load resistance, higher earthquake resistance,
and post-hazard repair costs. An education process regarding
this point must take place with owners and architects prior to
construction.
Finally, the integration and adoption of enhanced codes
would occur more prevalently through incentivized benefits to
owners. These programs could be provided through private or
governmental bodies. For example, reduction of insurance
rates, mortgage rates, property taxes, or other monetary means
could provide a stimulus for the adoption of higher-
performance building codes.
Future Perspectives
In 1987, “sustainable development” was defined for the
first time by the World Commission on Environment and
Development.15 After nearly 30 years, the UN sustainable
development goals (SDGs), as well as the Paris Agreement,
were adopted.17,18 The target of the Paris Agreement is to avoid
dangerous climate change impacts by limiting global warming
to well below 2°C (3.6°F) and pursue efforts to limit
temperature rise to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above preindustrial levels.
SDGs require efforts to be made for the sustainability of our
society. It is apparent that sustainability is entering a new
stage of acceptance and is being more defined by its inclusion
into design. One of the most imperative items to reach this
goal is the development of a design system that includes all
sustainability aspects to design structures in a reasonable way.
The time to accomplish this task remains short.
Closing Remarks
The ACI Concrete Sustainability Forum series concluded
at The ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition – Fall 2018
in Las Vegas, NV. The authors would like to thank all the
supporters and contributors of this event since its 2008
inception. We hope that the forum has provided a valuable
role in the promotion of sustainability in our industry. We
encourage younger people to take the next actions.
Acknowledgments
We extend our thanks to all the speakers for their invaluable contributions
and to the participants who added their insights to the fruitful panel
discussions. In addition, we’re pleased to recognize the great efforts of
Steve S. Szoke, ACI Engineer, who managed the preparation of the event.
References
1. Sakai, K., and Sordyl, D., “ACI St. Louis Workshop on
Sustainability,” Concrete International, V. 31, No. 2, Feb. 2009, pp. 34-38.
2. Sakai, K.; Buffenbarger, J.K.; and Stehly, R.D., “Concrete
Sustainability Forum,” Concrete International, V. 32, No. 3, Mar. 2010,
pp. 55-59.
3. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “Concrete Sustainability Forum III,”
Concrete International, V. 33, No. 3, Mar. 2011, pp. 37-40.
4. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “Concrete Sustainability Forum IV,”
Concrete International, V. 34, No. 3, Mar. 2012, pp. 41-44.
5. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “Concrete Sustainability Forum V,”
Concrete International, V. 35, No. 4, Apr. 2013, pp. 45-49.
6. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “Concrete Sustainability Forum VI,”
Concrete International, V. 36, No. 3, Mar. 2014, pp. 55-58.
7. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “ACI Concrete Sustainability
Forum VII,” Concrete International, V. 37, No. 3, Mar. 2015, pp. 55-58.
8. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “ACI Concrete Sustainability
Forum VIII,” Concrete International, V. 38, No. 4, Apr. 2016, pp. 72-76.
9. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “ACI Concrete Sustainability
Forum IX,” Concrete International, V. 39, No. 2, Feb. 2017, pp. 27-31.
10. Sakai, K., and Buffenbarger, J.K., “ACI Concrete Sustainability
Forum Celebrates 10 Years,” Concrete International, V. 40, No. 2,
Feb. 2018, pp. 25-29.
11. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete (ACI 318-14) and Commentary (ACI 318R-14),” American
Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2014, 519 pp.
12. International Federation for Structural Concrete, “fib Model Code
for Concrete Structures 2010,” Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, Germany, 2013,
402 pp.
13. ISO 19338:2014, “Performance and Assessment Requirements for
Design Standards on Structural Concrete,” International Organization for
Standardization, 2014, 10 pp.
14. Harper, R.F., “The Code of Hammurabi King of Babylon,
about 2250 B.C.,” University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 1904.
https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1276.
15. “Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on
Environment and Development,” World Commission on Environment
and Development, Geneva, Switzerland, June 1987.
16. ISO 13315-4:2017, “Environmental Management for Concrete
and Concrete Structures—Part 4: Environmental Design of Concrete
Structures,” International Organization for Standardization, 2017, 9 pp.
17. United Nations, “Sustainable Development Goals,” www.un.org/
sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/. (last accessed
Feb. 4, 2019).
18. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “The
Paris Agreement,” https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-
agreement/the-paris-agreement. (last accessed Feb. 4, 2019).
Selected for reader interest by the editors.
ACI Honorary Member Koji Sakai
is the Representative of the Japan
Sustainability Institute, Sapporo, Japan.
He is immediate past Chair of ISO/TC
71/SC 8, Environmental Management
for Concrete and Concrete Structures,
and the Chair of the Asian Concrete
Federation Sustainability Forum. He
chaired fib Commission 3, Environmental
Aspects of Design and Construction, and the Japan Concrete
Institute Committee on Sustainability from 2002 to 2010 and
from 2010 to 2014, respectively. Sakai has been a session co-
moderator for all the Concrete Sustainability Forums.
Julie K. Buffenbarger, FACI, is Senior
Scientist and Sustainability Principal
at Beton Consulting Engineers, LLC,
Mendota Heights, MN. She was
previously Chair of both ACI Committee
130, Sustainability of Concrete, and the
Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative.
She is a member of ACI Committees 132,
Responsibility in Concrete Construction;
232, Fly Ash in Concrete; and 234, Silica
Fume in Concrete; and ACI Subcommittee C601-E, Concrete
Construction Sustainability Assessor. Buffenbarger was a session
co-moderator for the previous 10 Concrete Sustainability Forums.
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