ACI Releases Shotcrete Guide for Pools
Years in the making, the American Concrete Institute has published the definitive guide for shotcrete applications in swimming pool construction—a document aimed at unifying application practices and quality standards.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has released “Shotcrete Use in Pool Construction—Guide” (ACI PRC-506.8-24). The document was painstakingly assembled by ACI Committee 506 and is now ready for widespread distribution and adoption.
“This is the definitive guide for placing shotcrete in a swimming pool,” said Bill Drakeley, co-founder of Watershape University, and ACI Pool Committee Chairman. “This document codifies standards that have been known for years, but now is all in one place, with language that applies directly to swimming pool construction.”
The guide covers all essential facets of shotcrete used to create swimming pool shells including detailed chapters on Design & Reinforcement, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, Shotcrete Equipment, and Shotcrete application, which includes section on surface preparation, forming, shooting multiple layers, finishing, and other key application factors.
According to the guide: “Shotcrete swimming pool construction is unique and very demanding. With infinite shapes, curves, and features above and below pool water elevation levels, an installation crew is tasked with fully encapsulating all the embedded reinforcement, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, and fixture penetrations during shotcrete placement. Workers walk over and negotiate slope elevation changes on top of the installed steel reinforcing bars while carrying the material hose in the process. The degree of care and attention needed cannot be overstated during the shooting process.”
One of the most significant standards in the guide is required concrete compressive strength, which ACI sets at a minimum of 4.000 psi, or higher depending on soil and other site conditions, a standard that complies with compressive strength targets maintained by the American Shotcrete Association (ASA 318-08).
“This forever puts to rest the idea that you can build a pool using lower compressive strengths, such as 2,500 psi, which has been promoted by some people in the pool industry,” Drakeley said, while adding, “Those days are over. You really cannot overstate how significant this is for everyone who uses shotcrete to build swimming pools. This is now the accepted standard, the law of the land.”
Drakeley proudly added that fellow Watershape University members, including WU co-founder Dave Peterson, along with instructors, Paolo Benedetti and Ben Lassiter and members Brett Holland and George Frederick, were key players in developing the standards included in the document.
The new guide is available on the ACI website. Free to ACI members, and $84.00 for non-members.