Thousands of shotcrete tanks have been built since the process was pioneered in the early 1930s. These watertight, durable, and economical tanks, which range in size from 50,000 to 20 million gal., can be used to store a variety of liquids, including wastewater, industrial wastes, and chilled water.
Further, since their initial creation in the 1950s, thousands of shotcrete domes have been built as well, ranging from small shelters to huge vessels spanning over 200 ft.
Sturdy, attractive, and cost-effective, these structures are built for a variety of uses, including homes, grain-salt storage, churches, and auditoriums.
Swimming pools were first built using shotcrete in the 1930s. Shotcrete is especially suited for pools and skate parks with many curves, as it is shot against excavated soil, eliminating the cost of forms. The flexibility of placement that shotcrete affords allows every pool owner to have a uniquely shaped pool. Shotcrete pools are watertight, durable, attractive and economical.
Shotcrete is the preferred material in the construction of many new structures from foundations up to domes and everything in between. After years of investigation and trial, a growing number of new construction projects select shotcrete because of reduced costs due to minimized forming and the ability to construct straight, curved, and irregularly shaped surfaces while providing a durable concrete structure.
The American Shotcrete Association makes available to its Sustaining/Corporate members special graphics for use on their websites and in their publications. To gain access to these files, please contact [email protected].
To learn more about the benefits of Sustaining Corporate and Corporate membership, click here.
American Shotcrete Association
401 Edgewater Place, Suite 600 | Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: (248) 963-0210
Fax: (248) 965-9188 E-mail: [email protected]
Who We Are
Formed in March 1998 to increase awareness of the shotcrete process, ASA celebrated our 25th Anniversary in 2023
To expand and advance global utilization of the shotcrete process for concrete placement.
We do this by providing shotcrete leadership, knowledge, resources, qualification, certification, and education for the concrete industry.
The ASA General Membership Meeting is held in conjunction with World of Concrete, of which the ASA is a co-sponsor. ASA holds an annual convention in late February or early March that attracts leaders in the shotcrete market from around the world. Other Board and Committee meetings are held in the Spring and Fall of each year. For more information on ASA events and meetings, please refer to our online Calendar.
The Educational Seminar associated with this program is “Quality Shotcrete – Know It When You See It”
Recognizing quality shotcrete placement is essential for all those who work on or with shotcrete projects. This seminar covers over 40 critical elements of shotcrete applications required for proper evaluation and approval of shotcrete placement. These include an overview on material selection, equipment, placement techniques, finishing, curing, protection, testing, and safety. Upon completion, attendees should have:
A fundamental understanding of the wet- and dry-mix shotcrete process.
Current knowledge of ACI reference material and other industry standards pertaining to acceptable shotcrete placement.
Industry-specific knowledge to determine if materials, and methods, as well as testing used by the crew meet shotcrete project specifications.
Sufficient insight to recognize satisfactory application techniques, and actions that may reduce quality of the final product.
ACI Shotcrete Inspector Certification
Who might be interested in this credential?
Concrete & Transportation Construction Inspectors
Engineers or Specifiers required to inspect shotcrete placement on projects
Building officials required to review shotcrete projects
General Contractors who frequently subcontract for their shotcrete work
The three components required for certification:
Pass the Shotcrete Inspector Written exam
Currently an ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I or Pass the ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I written exam within 1 year of the Inspector exam
Demonstrate satisfactory education and work experience.
This seminar will provide 1 of the 3 years of required work experience for this certification.
The two-hour, open book written exam uses documents contained in the ACI CP61 – Shotcrete Inspector Reference Pack. Click here to purchase.
ASA has tailored the Quality Shotcrete seminar specifically for the pool industry, recognizing the need for Pool Builders, who frequently subcontract for shotcrete placement, to be equipped to properly evaluate the placement and the contractors who perform them.
This seminar, “Quality Shotcrete for Pools – Know It, Demand it,” includes specific pointers to help Pool Builders evaluate their subcontractors before, during, and after a project. Contractors who are self-performing shotcrete placement will find this seminar helpful to better communicate the quality of their work to inspectors and owners.
Also included as a course for Watershape University (C2241), this seminar is a requirement for the following certifications offered through Watershape University:
ASA informational Presentations are free to the host organization with five or more Architects, Engineers, or Specifiers in attendance. Webinars connecting multiple locations could also be arranged.
What is the value to your organization?
The shotcrete process offers numerous quality, efficiency, and sustainability advantages, but proper knowledge of the process is critical to the creation of a quality specification and for the success of any specifier/owner employing the process. Maintaining a high level of quality for concrete placed via the shotcrete method is ASA’s primary concern and we have found this type of on-site presentation to be an excellent tool for all involved. Typically these are 60-minute presentations, including Q&A, but can be tailored to accommodate your needs. ASA is a registered AIA/CES Provider.
ASA currently offers two presentation options:
Introduction to Shotcrete
Advantages and benefits using the shotcrete process in a wide variety of applications
Dry-mix and wet-mix processes
Specifications, material considerations, placement techniques, and performance guidelines
Follows ACI 506.5R, “Guide for Specifying Underground Shotcrete”
Highlights typical underground applications
Covers materials, anchorage, reinforcement, and performance requirements
Addresses batching/mixing, transport, placing equipment, preparation, curing, and protection
Discusses QA/QC, submittals, preconstruction tests, and construction acceptance
Includes repair and rehabilitation, safety, measurement, and payment
How do I arrange for an ASA informational presentation?
Contact ASA staff at [email protected] or (248) 983-1702 to arrange for an on-site informational presentation tailored for your group’s needs.
The ASA Contractor Qualification Program (CQP) is a straight-forward program that helps to establish a shotcrete contractor’s qualifications through review of the contractor’s work, by the ASA Contractor’s Qualification Review committee, whose members have extensive experience in successful shotcrete work. This qualification program provides a distinct service to the industry by assuring specifiers that shotcrete contractors reviewed here have a proven record for completion of successful projects of similar work and scope.
Specifiers are encouraged to require the ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor (QSC) for their specific projects, selecting the appropriate level of qualification (Structural Level I or II, or Pool) based on the difficulty of application, in the process (Wet-Mix or Dry-Mix) specified. Qualified Contractors will be posted on the ASA website and promoted in Shotcrete magazine and at the various venues where ASA is represented.
ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor Level I or II (QSC – SI or SII)
The majority of self-performing shotcrete contractors would seek this qualification. There are two levels of qualification, Level I Level II (SI or SII) in the process(es), i.e. wet-mix or dry-mix, to the work performed by applicant.
Qualified Shotcrete Contractor – Structural Level I (QSC – SI) – which have thin, lightly-reinforced shotcrete sections that can be easily accessed and placed would be considered “Level I”.
Qualified Shotcrete Contractor – Structural Level II (QSC – SII) – Projects which have thick, heavily-reinforced sections or sections with difficult access would be considered “Level II”.
ASA Shotcrete Contractor Education (aka CQ Seminar) – this seminar represents best practices for the self-performing shotcrete contractor and provides guidance to complete your CQ application.
ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor – Pool (for self-performing)
This qualification program is tailored to the specific needs and unique practices of the pool industry. This qualification is available in the process(es), i.e. wet-mix or dry-mix, in which the applicant self-performs.
ASA Shotcrete Contractor Education (aka CQ Seminar) – this seminar represents best practices for the self-performing shotcrete contractor and provides guidance to complete your CQ application.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) established the Shotcreter certification program to establish a basic skill level for shotcrete placement. A design engineer or specifier should always require an experienced and qualified contractor for support, which includes experienced crew members and the proper equipment including material selection for the specific project. This gives the specifier assurance that the entire shotcrete team (qualified contractor, ACI certified shotcreter, and experienced crew) have proven their knowledge and ability to consistently place quality shotcrete.
Certification credentials are issued by ACI in either process (wet-mix or dry-mix) in the vertical orientation, with overhead available as an additional credential. The education and testing are provided by Sponsoring Groups authorized by ACI. The American Shotcrete Association (ASA) is the primary sponsoring group consisting of ACI Approved Examiners for the Shotcreter certification program.
Listed below are informational items designed to explain the certification process, costs, required forms, and proper use of certification by owners and specifiers.
Call ASA at 248.983.1702 for questions regarding the program or setting up a session.
Hiring a shotcrete contractor solely because he employs a certified shotcreter is short-sighted and irresponsible. Make sure the contractor and his team is well qualified and experienced with your type of project. Due diligence and proper use of shotcreter certification, as outlined below in the “Certification User’s Manual,” could be the difference between the failure and success of a project. The extra work upfront will pay off exponentially as the speed, quality, versatility, and economic advantages of shotcrete are fully realized.
Earth and rock excavations are effectively stabilized with shotcrete and a variety of reinforcement and anchoring systems. Using shotcrete to stabilize soil for excavation has advantages over traditional timber and steel shoring techniques. Shotcrete is also ideal for ground support in tunneling and mining. It provides early ground support after blasting or excavating; early strength development, which provides flexibility to allow for ground stabilization and stress relief; and offers the ability to conform to the natural irregular profile of the ground without formwork, which makes it ideal for any tunnel. It is also the preferred material/process for underground stations, side drifts, shops, and provides long-term stability. It can be used as a final or permanent lining for underground structures.
