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.
ASA note regarding Shotcreter certification
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.
- Stabilization
- Soil Nailing
- Tunneling
- Mining
Resources
Repair & Restoration
Shotcrete is often the best alternative when repair and restoration are being contemplated and can be the ideal application method for both reinforced and nonreinforced construction. From tanks and pools to chemical and automotive to retaining walls and highway structures, the opportunities are endless.
The shotcrete professional must be able to integrate new materials with in-place construction to form a composite that will stand up to exposure and use. As important as the materials is the coordination of effort from a properly qualified contractor, materials supplier, engineer, and architect. When all of these pieces are in place, the exceptional benefits of the shotcrete process are realized.
- Bridges
- Parking Garages
- Dams & Reservoirs
- Seismic Retrofit
- Marine
- Sewers
Resources
Join ASA Today!
Grow Your Business
- Network with your peers in the shotcrete industry
- Stay Current on the latest shotcrete industry trends, strategies, challenges, and opportunities
- Receive Project Leads through project bid alerts and project listings
- Gain Exposure through a variety of tools available to members, such as the ASA Buyers Guide
- Influence ASA’s direction in serving members and growing the industry
- Save significantly on ASA products and services
Grow Your Industry
- Educate the construction world on the advantages of the shotcrete process through in-house presentations to engineers and specifiers
- Promote the benefits of shotcrete at national trade shows
- Coordinate proper specification of shotcrete in private and public specifications and national codes and standards
- Engage DOT and other Public Authority officials with a variety of ASA resources and outreach efforts
- Take advantage of Targeted Marketing in national and regional organizations and publications
- Enable owners and specifiers to embrace shotcrete with a portfolio of tools designed to give them an understanding of and confidence in the shotcrete process
At a time when more and more companies are demanding effective use of their dollars, more companies in the shotcrete industry are realizing the benefits of becoming an ASA Sustaining or Corporate Member.
- ACI Wet-Mix Shotcreter Certification
- ACI Dry-Mix Shotcreter Certification
- ACI Shotcrete Inspector Certification
- WU Certified Pool Shotcrete Inspector
- ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor – Structural Level I or II (QSC – SI or SII)
- ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor – Pool (QSC – Pool)
QSC Code of Conduct
An ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor shall adhere to the following QSC Code of Conduct: “As an ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor, we agree to ongoing compliance with the requirements and standards set forth in the ASA Shotcrete Contractor Qualification Program description. We will not knowingly or purposefully violate any project specifications or requirements. We agree to maintain required insurance coverage, staff our projects with trained and certified personnel, and strive to produce a high-quality product in a safe and professional manner.”
This is Part One of a two-part series on potential causes of problems in concrete and shotcrete.
Cement is at the center of our industry. A common safety issue and hazard with it is cement burns.
