AC1 533.

1R-02

Design Responsibility
for Architectural
Precast-Concrete Projects

Reported by AC1 Committee 533

B
itional"
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Design Responsibility for Architectural

Precast-Concrete Projects

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 --``,`,-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
Design Responsibility for Architectural
Precast-Concrete Projects
Reported by AC1 Committee 533
Benjamin Lavon
Chair
Robert B . Austin
George F. Baty
Harry A . Chambers
Sidney Freedman
'Primary author
tDeceased.
Architectural precast concrete is a unique subcategory of concrete
construction that involves the same basic entities as other construction.
This document outlines the responsibilities f o r various parties of the
desigdcon struction team f o r architectural precast-concrete projects.
Keywords: Architect; architectural concrete; construction; design; design
responsibility; general contractor; precast concrete.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1-Introduction, p. 533.1 R-1
1.1-Background
Chapter 2-General responsibilities, p. 533.1 R-2
2.1-Architect
2.2-Engineer of record
2.3-General contractor
2.4-Precaster (manufacturer)
2.5-Erec tor
2.6-Inspection
AC1 Committee Reports, Guides, Standard Practices,
and Commentaries are intended for guidance in plan-
ning, designing, executing, and inspecting construction.
This document is intended for the use of individuais who
are competent to evaluate the significance and limita-
tions of its content and recommendations and who will
accept responsibility for the application of the material
it contains. The American Concrete Institute disclaims
any and all responsibility for the stated principles.
The Institute shall not be liable for any loss or damage
arising therefrom.
Reference to this document shall not be made in contract
documents. If items found in this document are desired by
the Architect/Engineer to be a part of the contract
documents, they shall be restated in mandatory language
for incorporation by the ArchiteciEngineer.
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AC1 533.1 R-02
Donald F. Meinheit
Secretary
Edward M. Frisbee Navin N . Pandya
Harry A. Gleich James B . Quinn
Thomas J. Grisinger Ralph C. Robinson
Theodore W. Huntt Joseph R. Tucker
Allan R. Kenney
Chapter 3-Forms of contracts, p. 533.1 R-4
3.1-Negotiated versus competitive bid
3.2-Single-source responsibility
3.3-Mockups
Chapter 4-Conclusion, p. 533.1 R-5
Chapter 5-References, p. 533.1R-5
5.1-Referenced standards and reports
Appendix-Prebid process, p. 533.1 R-6
CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION
Design and construction of structures is a complex process.
Defining the scope of work and the responsibilities of the
involved parties by means of the contract documents is
necessary to achieve a high-quality structure. This is a guide
document for all parties involved in a precast-concrete
project and defines the responsibilities of each party. This
document does not specifically address the inspection functions
but provides direction on who should be conducting inspections.
These responsibilities are subject to relationships between the
parties defined in the contract documents.
1.l-Background
Practices regarding the assignment and acceptance of
responsibility in design and construction vary throughout
North America. In many cases, there has been confusion
regarding the responsibility of the various parties. This
situation has sometimes led to protracted legal proceedings.
The first consensus document to attempt to define essential
AC1 533.1R-02 became effective June 26,2002.
Copyright O 2002, American Concrete Institute.
All rights reserved including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any
means, including the making of copies by any photo process, or by electronic or
mechanical device, printed, written, or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction
or for use in any knowledge or retrieval system or device, unless permission in writing
is obtained from the copyright proprietors.
533.1 R-1
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 533.1 R-2 AC1 COMMITTEE REPORT
roles was Quality in the Constructed Project, published by
the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1990
(ASCE 1990).
In 1987, AC1 organized a standing board committee on
Responsibility in Concrete Construction. The document, Guide-
lines for Authorities and Responsibilities in Concrete Design
and Construction, was published by the committee (AC1
Committee on Responsibility in Concrete Construction 1995).
One of the basic principles of the construction industry is
that responsibility and authority should go hand in hand.
Another principle is that every entity should be responsible
for its own work. These principles are frequently violated.
For example, an architecdengineer (A/E) can require that
certain tasks not be undertaken by the contractor without the
AB’s approval, but the A/E may not wish to accept respon-
sibility for problems that develop resulting from requiring
those tasks. This is a case of requiring compliance without
accepting responsibility. There have also been cases where
owners have sued architects and engineers for approving
poor-quality construction but gave them no contract to
monitor the work as it progressed. Safety enforcement
agencies and plaintiffs’ lawyers have often charged engineers
or architects with the responsibility for construction accidents.
These last two situations typically are cases of responsibility
without authority, although there could be instances where a
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design professional’s work can affect jobsite safety. If the
designers are involved with construction-management
functions, they could be making decisions affecting worker
safety as well as quality of construction.
Construction has reached a level of complexity today where
it is essential to have design input from the subcontractors.This
input, whether submitted as value engineering proposals, in
response to performance requirements, or simply offered as
design alternatives, has a legitimate place in construction.
Panels are designed for stripping, handling, and installation
loads, usually by the panel manufacturer. Service loads are
set by the governing building code and are multiplied by the
appropriate load factor. Minimum load factors are set by the
governing building code.
Panel design should consider dead, live, and environ-
mental loads including wind, earthquake (if applicable),
temperature, and moisture effects. Service loads set by
the governing building code should be considered only as
minimum requirements.
Frequently, a precaster wants to change some items in the
design to make a fabrication or erection operation easier or
more economical. In approving the changes, the A/E still has
responsibility for proper interfacing with other materials in
contact with precast concrete. This notion of responsibility is
presented in the ASCE document (ASCE 1990) and in the
PrecastPrestressed Concrete Institute’s guidelines (PCI Ad-Hoc
Committee for Responsibility for Design of Precast-Concrete
Structures 1998).
The engineer of record (EOR) always has to take overall
responsibility for the structurai design of the complete structure.
Often, certain aspects of the design are delegated to specialty
engineers working for the material suppliers or subcontractors.
When any of this structural design work for that portion of
the structure involves engineering (as opposed to simply
detailing), then the design work should be under the control
of a professional engineer licensed in the same state as the
project who takes responsibility for the work done. One
state, Florida, has formal legal procedures for this process.
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Local regulatory authorities should be consulted for their
specific requirements. Contract documents often require that
structural design be the responsibility of a professional
engineer, regardless of government mandate.
CHAPTER 2-GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1-Architect
The architect develops the design concept, overall structure
geometry, selects the cladding material for appearance,
provides details for weatherproofing, selects tolerances for
proper interfacing with other materials, and specifies perfor-
mance and quality characteristics and inspection and testing
requirements in the project specifications.
The architect and EOR should have responsibility for all
aspects of the precast-concrete design. The architect can
specify in the contract documents that design services for
portions of the work are to be provided by the precaster.
Such design services should be performed for the precaster
by a licensed precast engineer who can be an employee of the
precaster or an independent structural engineer. The architect
and EOR should review these designs, including structural
calculations. This review does not relieve the precaster and the
specialty engineer of their design responsibility. The contract
and the design documents should state clearly the scope of both
the precast design and review responsibilities, and the responsi-
bilities of others providing design services.
The contract drawings prepared by the architecîlengineer
should provide the overall geometry of the structure and
typical connection concepts to permit design, estimating,
and bidding. Frequently, the architect’s drawings will only
show joints, reveals, or panel articulation. This lets the
precaster determine panel sizes. In the prebid process, the
precaster and erector should discuss their approach to panelize
and subsequently connect the units to the building frame
within the architectural and structural concepts of the project.
In addition, the contract documents (design drawings and
specifications) also should provide the general performance
criteria, including concrete strength requirements for loading,
deflection requirements, temperature considerations, and
any tolerance or clearance requirements for proper interfacing
with other parts of the structure.
The contract documents should clearly define:
Precast-concrete components that are the design
responsibility of the precaster (who takes responsibility
for elements at interfaces with other parts of the structure,
such as the secondary steel bracing to prevent rotation of
beams or panels);
Details or concepts of supports, connections, and
clearances that are part of the structure designed by
the architect and that will interface with the precast-
concrete components; and
Permissible load transfer points and indicate connection
types to avoid having the precaster make assumptions on
connection types and piece counts during bidding.
The architect and EOR should review designs, calculations,
and shop drawings submitted for conformance with design
criteria, loading requirements, and design concepts as specified
in the design documents. This review, however, does not
relieve the precaster and the precast engineer of their design
responsibilities.
Key design issues for the architect-Buildings using
architectural precast panels are becoming increasingly
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 DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST-CONCRETE PROJECTS
complex. The architect should understand the issues that
affect a precaster?s bid and make sure the contract documents
address these items clearly. For preparation of shop drawings,
all items interfacing with other materials should be defined.
Contract documents that lack detail generally require numerous
requests for information. While such documents are easier
and less expensive to produce, they may ultimately result in
disputes, delays, and additional costs.
The contract drawings developed by the architect should
provide a clear interpretation of the configurations and
dimensions of individual units and their relationship to the
structure as a whole. To do this, the contract documents
should supply the following data:
Elevations, wall sections, and dimensions necessary to
define the sizes and shapes of each different type of
wall panel;
Locations and sizes of all joints, both real (functional)
and false (aesthetic). Joints between units should be
completely detailed;
Required materials and finishes for all surfaces, with a
clear indication of which surfaces are to be exposed to
view when in place;
Comer details;
Details for jointing and interfacing with other materials
(coordinated with the general contractor);
Details for special or unusual conditions, including fire
requirements;
Governing building code and design loads;
Deflection limitations; and
Specified dimensional tolerances for the precast concrete
and the supporting structure, location tolerances for the
contractor?s hardware, clearance requirements, and
erection tolerances for the precast concrete. Any
exceptions to industry tolerances specified in the contract
documents are not recommended.
Lack of detail will extend shop drawing time and potentially
lead to disputes over work scope, schedule delays, or both.
Also, lack of detail can lead to unanticipated changes that
will impact cost. Poor detailing of panel cross sections within
the contract documents will often lead to disputes.
Ideally, the assembly (or erection) drawing process should
be as simple as submitting elevations showing panel sizes,
surface features, and panel relationships; detail sheets showing
panel cross sections and special edge conditions, and feature
details; and connections showing mechanisms and locations
of force transfer to the supporting structure. The review of
shop drawings by the architect should be performed within
the time specified in the contract documents. These drawings
should be reviewed and any minor revisions made so that
production can start. Verification of minor dimensional and
detailing revisions is anticipated. When major shop drawing
revisions are required, however, it can indicate a lack of
planning or detailing within the contract documents.
It is the architect?s responsibility to establish the standards
of acceptability for surface finish, color range, and remedial
procedures for defects and damage. This can be best accom-
plished by the precaster producing at least three sample panels
a minimum of 4 x 4 ft before the initial production to establish
the range of acceptability with respect to color and texture
variations, surface blemishes, and overall appearance. When
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533.1 R-3
the units have returns, the same size return should appear
in the sample panels.
2.2-Engineer of record
The EOR has responsibility for describingloading on precast
element inserts and loading criteria (combinations, wind,
seismic) for the structural design of the complete structure
and the effects of the precast erection sequences on individual
structural members, for example, steel spandrel beams when
numerous concentrated panel loads are placed on them. The
EOR should anticipate these loadings and provide means to
support them. Responsibility for the precast-concrete design
can be delegated to someone else, such as the precaster or
precast engineer. The EOR should consider the consequences
of the weight and eccentricity of the panels when designing
the supporting structure. The EOR should also determine
where, when, and what type of loading is to be assigned to
the panels and the structure. The EOR has the responsibility
of reviewing the delegated design work for compatibility
with the overall structural design. This does not, however,
relieve the preparer of the design work of the responsibility
for doing it correctly.
Panels typically span column to column and are supported
on or near the column. The EOR should determine and show
on the contract documents the locations for supporting the
gravity and lateral loads, including midpoint lateral (tie-back)
connections, if necessary. The panel loads are routinely provided
by the precaster to the EOR. The EOR determines during
assembly (erection) drawing review whether or not the
structure is adequate, within defied deflection limitations, to
resist the loads and forces. The EOR should also provide
sufficient information on seismic detailing. It is important that
preliminary meeting(s) with the architect, EOR, and precasters
be held before structural members are ordered, fabricated, or
both, so that panel sizes, shapes, and basic connections, as well
as their locations can be established (refer to the Appendix).
The EOR will know whether or not a spandrel panel is
designed to transfer load to the columns, but the exact location of
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the load transfer can vary from precaster to precaster. For
example, spandrel panel loads can be transferred from near the
panel bottom or from near the top. The gravity supports of
precast-concrete panels are almost always eccentric to the
centerline of the supporting steel or concrete member. A
concrete member is generally stiff and strong enough in
torsion so that this is not a problem. Because the precaster
does not design the columns or beams, the EOR should
design to prevent excessive deflection and rotation of the
supporting structure during and after erection of the precast
concrete, as well as determine the need for diagonal bracing
or web stiffening (CASE National Guidelines Committee
1994; CASE Task Group on Specialty Engineering 1996).
The contract documents should address the issue of reimburse-
ments to the EOR for engineering the bracing or reinforcement
of the structure if the precaster?s panelization changes the
EOR?s designed connection locations. In some areas, the
precaster is responsible for designing the bracing and may
also supply the secondary steel. These responsibilities
should be clearly addressed in the contract documents and
discussed in a prebid meeting.
2.3-General contractor
The general contractor (GC) typically has responsibility
and authority for implementing the design intent of the
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 533.1 R-4 AC1 COMMITTEE REPORT
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contract documents, which includes furnishing materials,
equipment, labor, maintaining specified quality require-
ments, and coordinating all trades. The GC is responsible for
construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, and
construction procedures. Also, the GC should initiate,
maintain, and supervise all safety procedures and programs
on the construction site. Site access to the structure for
erection of the precast elements can become a problem.
The responsibility to provide and maintain access roads
should be clearly stated in the contract documents.
The GC has no design responsibility. The GC, however,
does have considerable impact on the design process through
its coordination role. The GC receives the different shop
drawing submittals from the various trades and puts them
together to form the completed design. The GC is normally
responsible for project schedule, grid dimensions (which
include control points, benchmarks, and lines on the building),
quantities, and dimensional interfacing of the precast
concrete with other trades, and maintenance of specified
tolerances of the structure to ensure proper fit. During shop
drawing review, the GC should notify the precaster when
as-built conditions (dimensions) vary beyond tolerances
on the contract drawings. In particular, dimensional tolerances
between interfacing materials, such as precast concrete and
glazing, should be considered.
The GC should be a party to direct communication between
the precaster, EOR, and the architect. Communication
channels should be established among the parties. The GC
needs to be informed in writing, particularly if decisions
affect the GC’s activities.
Typically, the GC is responsible for placing embedments in
cast-in-place concrete and coordinating steel attachments with
the steel fabricator. In most instances, the most economical
approach is to have gravity haunch connection hardware
attached to steel columns by the steel fabricator. This necessi-
tates awarding the precast-concrete contract in a timely manner.
2.4-Precaster (manufacturer)
To achieve practical and economical construction, the
precaster first designs panelization and then connections.
Ideally, a precaster performs value engineering as early as
during preliminary design (in a partnering relationship) to
improve economics, structural soundness, and performance.
The precaster should request clarification of ambiguities, in
writing from the architect, through contractual channels on
special conditions not clearly defined in the contract documents.
When the construction schedule demands a rapid turnaround
time for review of drawing submittals, the precaster should
notify all concerned of their obligations to review and return
submitted drawings within the requested time period. At that
time, the architect’s and EOR’s cooperation is needed to expe-
ditiously review submitted documents.
The precaster or precaster’s specialty engineer prepares
detailed assembly, or erection drawings and design calcu-
lations that are usually signed and sealed. These drawings,
calculations, or both, should show all design criteria,
identify each material, show how precast panels interface
with each other and the structure, and indicate the magnitude
and location of all design loads imparted to the structure
by the connections.
The precaster or specialty engineer designs the precast
panels for the specified loads and is responsible for selecting,
designing, and locating hardware, and panel reinforcement
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or items associated with the precasters methods of handling,
storing, shipping, and erecting precast-concrete units. If
necessary, this also includes an erection and bracing sequence
developed in conjunction with the erector, EOR, and GC to
maintain stability of the structure during erection.
Any additional design responsibility vested with the
precast-concrete manufacturer should be defined clearly in
the contract documents prepared by the architect. Most
precast-concrete work is covered in Option II, Table 1. Option I
in Table 1 has considerable liability for the architect and EOR.
2.5-Erector
The responsibility for erection of architectural precast
concrete is usually determined by the GC. The contract
documents rarely require that the erection be part of the
precast-concrete manufacturer’s work, be performed by
the precaster’s workers, or be subcontracted to specialized
erection firms. Fabrication and erection included into one
contract is preferred by some precasters because this improves
coordination and reduces vulnerability to backcharges.
The GC, however, may choose to issue separate contracts
for fabrication and erection.
Erectors and precasters coordinate development of efficient
connections for each project based on their equipment and
expertise.
2.6-Inspection
Quality control for product manufacturing will be provided
by the precaster according to provisions contained in a
comprehensive quality system manual developed by the
precaster. The quality system manual will be available to the
owner and EOR for review.
Quality assurance will be provided through the precaster’s
participation in a recognized industry quality certification
program. One such program is the PCI Plant Certification
Program.Additional inspections may be required, by specifica-
tion, through the owner’s quality-assurance agency.
Installation quality assurance will be provided by adherence
to industry standards such as the PCI Erectors’ Manual.
Additional quality assurance can be provided by requiring
installation by an industry-qualified erector.
CHAPTER 3-FORMS OF CONTRACTS
3.1-Negotiated versus competitive bid
The price of architectural precast concrete is a relatively small
percentage of the total building cost (usually less than 10%).
Therefore, the possible difference in the price between the lowest
precast bidder and the precaster who is ultimately awarded the
contract will have a minor impact on the overall cost.
In a negotiated project, the precaster can become part of
the building team at the very early design stage and be more
effective in providing valuable expertise on panel design,
performance, and economics (refer to Appendix).
3.2-Single-source responsibility
The architect or owner sometimes prefers single-source
responsibility for wall cladding (which includes windows,
precast, and all related sealants) responsibilityfor the following
reasons: to enhance technical and aesthetic coordination
between building systems; to establish a single-source
warranty; to centralize control for erection and problem-
solving issues; and generally, to provide for a single source
of knowledge and total understanding of the entire system. In
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 DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST-CONCRETE PROJECTS
Contract information supplied by designer
Option I
Provide complete drawings and specifications detailing all aesthetic,
functional and structural requirements plus dimensions.
Detail all aesthetic and functional requirements but specify only the
required structural performance of the precast-concrete units. Specified
performance should include all limiting combinations of loads together
with their points of application. This information should be supplied in
such a way that all details of the unit can be designed without reference to
the behavior of other parts of the structure. The division of responsibility
for the design should be clearly stated in the contract.
single-source responsibility, detailing issues are delegated to
the contractor and material suppliers of the wall.
Single-source responsibility usually puts the precaster in a
position of a broker/contractor without having the management
and engineering skills to work out interfacing details for the
window system, insulation, interior finishes, and sealants. A
more logical entity for single-source responsibility is the
GC. In some cases, the GC may prefer that single-source
responsibilities be separated for greater profit potential.
Generally, the precast-concrete industry tends to avoid
single-source responsibility, not only because of technical
concerns regarding materials whose quality they do not control
directly but also due to economics. It can be uneconomical to
package everything under the precaster’s construction umbrella
because this additional responsibility requires additional
compensation. The notion of a single-source responsibility
for exterior enclosure can break down if that single source is not
clearly defined.
3.3-Mockup~
Panel-to-panel joint design is necessary to prevent air and
water infiltration, and to properly seal windows and other
openings. The architect is responsible for these designs.
Because precast concrete is inherently watertight and imperme-
able, the panel joints and interfacing performance become the
primary concerns. If testing is desired, it should be specified in
the contract documents. Shipping a full-scale mockup to a
testing lab for a wind-driven rain test, although costly and
time consuming, is one way to satisfy these concerns. Also,
aesthetics can be refined during this process. The cost of
these tests needs to be identified in the bid documents and
included in the precast budget.
A mockup will help determine how the total facade is
assembled. Also, it will help in establishing the actual
field-construction techniques. If a leak develops, which
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533.1 R-5
Responsibility of manufacturer of precast concrete
The manufacturer should make shop drawings (erection and production
drawings) as required, with details as shown by the designer. Modifica-
tions may be suggested that, in manufacturer’s estimation, would improve
the economics, structural soundness, or performance of the precast-
concrete installation. The manufacturer should obtain specific approval for
such modifications. Full responsibility for the precast-concrete design,
including such modifications, remains with the designer. Alternative
proposals from a manufacturer should match the required quality and
remain within the parameters established for the project. It is particularly
advisable to give favorable consideration to such proposals if the modifications
are suggested so as to conform to the manufacturer’s normal and proven
procedures.
The manufacturer has two alternatives:
(a) Submit erection and shape drawings with all necessary details and
design information for the approval and ultimate responsibility of the
designer.
(b) Submit erection and shape drawings for general approval and assume
responsibility for part of the structural design; that is, the individual units,
but not their effect on the building. Firms accepting this practice may
either stamp (seal) drawings themselves, or commission engineering firms
to perform the design and stamp the drawings.
The choice between the alternatives (a) and (b) should be decided between
the designer and the manufacturer prior to bidding, with either approach
clearly stated in the specifications for proper allocation of design responsibility.
Experience has shown that divided design responsibility can create con-
tractual problems. It is essential that the allocation of design responsibility
is understood and clearly expressed in the contract documents.
usually occurs at the window to precast-concrete inter-
face, the details need to be examined and modified. The
contract documents should require that the same sealant
contractor seal both the precast-to-precast panel joints
and the window interface to avoid sealant incompatibility.
CHAPTER 4-CONCLUSION
A successful precast-concrete project requires teamwork.
This means close cooperation between and coordination of
all participants, including the owner, architect, engineer,
precast-concrete manufacturer, erector, general contractor or
construction manager, and all trades. The precast work scope
and the responsibilities of each party (usually defined by the
contract documents) should be established at an early stage
in the development of a project to achieve the desired results
and schedule (refer to Table 1). Each party has the responsi-
bility for communicating with all other parties through the
GC/CM to achieve optimum efficiency during construction,
and quality in the completed structure. When authority and
responsibility roles are correctly and properly defined by
the contract documents and communicated, responsibility
issues are easily resolved.
CHAPTER 5-REFERENCES
5.1-Referenced standards and reports
AC1 Committee on Responsibility in Concrete Construction,
1995, “Guidelines for Authorities and Responsibilities in
Concrete Design and Construction,” Concrete International,
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V. 17, No. 9, Sept., pp. 66-69.
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1990,
“Quality in the Constructed Project,” Manuals and Reports on
Engineering Practice No. 1 3 , American Society of Civil
Engineers, New York, N.Y.
CASE National Guidelines Committee, 1994 “National
Practice Guidelines for the Structural Engineer of Record,”
Not for Resale
 533.1 R-6 AC1 COMMITTEE REPORT
2nd Edition, Coalition of American Structural Engineers,
Washington, D.C., 15 pp.
CASE Task Group on Specialty Engineering, 1996,
“National Practice Guidelines for Specialty Structural
Engineers,” Coalition of American Structural Engineers,
Washington, D.C., 12 pp.
PCI Ad-Hoc Committee for Responsibility for Design of
Precast-Concrete Structures, 1998, “Recommendations on
Responsibility for Design and Construction of Precast-
Concrete Solutions,”PCI Journal, July-Aug., Chicago, Ill.
APPENDIX
Prebid process
Where the selection of a precaster cannot be negotiated or
controlled by owner or architect but is governed by an open-
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bid situation, the following prebid process is desirable.
Step 1: Ver$cation of architect’s concepts and systems-
A preview of the proposed precast-concrete assumptions during
the design development stage (50% complete) of the architec-
tural contract documents should be arranged with at least one
local precaster. This review confirmsor modifies the concept so
that a realistic approach is presented on the architect’s bid
drawings. Those attending the meeting should:
Discuss panelization and piece and joint sizes, determine
what can be made, and what can be shipped and erected
efficiently;
Discuss architect’s concept for structural support of
precast concrete so that the architect can communicate
to the EOR what support requirements are needed;
Review desired finish(es) and continue or finalize the
sample process; and
Review the architect’s intent for any interfaces with
adjacent systems, such as roofing, windows, or building
entrances.
Step 2: Theprebid conference-This should be a mandatory
meeting for all precasters wanting to bid the project and is
usually held at least 3 weeks before the bid date. The architect
presents the project’s precast-concrete concepts with the
intent of communicating straightforward information so bids
will be prepared on a comparable basis. Questions can be
asked or clarifications made at this time. Items to be discussed
include:
How and where the project’s precast concrete will be
structurally attached to the building frame;
Specifications and any special provisions;
Design responsibilities and lines of communication;
The architect’s approved finish samples with information
on the type and size of aggregates and cement used,
where applicable;
The finish acceptance criteria and inspection (who,
what, when, and where);
Prebid submittal requirements such as proposal drawings
and finish samples;
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Mockups, if applicable;
Potential problems, discrepancies, or both found in the
contract documents; and
Special erection needs and logistics.
Step 3: Information submitted with bid or after-bid award-
This submittal allows a review of each precaster’s intent and
confirms the precaster’s ability to conform to concepts and
finish requirements. (Realistically, only the three low bidders
are required to provide this submission.) This material should
include:
Proposal drawings expressing the panelization and
structural concepts;
Small-size finish samples;
The history of the precaster’s organization as well as
confirmation of the plant’s quality assurance (plant
certification) program;
A list of comparable projects, references, and financial
capability;
Key schedule items such as mockup panels, shop
drawings and design submittals, mold production,
scheduled start of manufacture, and production
schedules; and
Qualifications to the bid that can be listed and
reviewed.
If bidders are limited to a small group (two to four) by
prequalification or other means, then all precasters are
contacted during the development process; then limited
prebid meetings, bid submittals, or both are needed.
If the project will allow for a negotiated precast contract
and the precaster is brought onto the project team in the
initial stages of development, then prebid and bid submittal
information can be eliminated.
Step 4: The preconstruction conference-A preconsîruction
conferenceshould be held at the job site as soon as possible after
award of the precast concrete and erection contracts. The
GC/CM should conduct job site meetings frequently to
coordinate the precast-concrete erection with the work of
other trades and to facilitate the erection process. These
meetings should include those subcontractors whose work
affects or is affected by the precast-concrete erection.
The coordinating meetings should consider all details of
loading, delivery sequences and schedules, types of
transportation, routes of ingress and egress for delivery
trucks and erection cranes, handling techniques and devices,
connections, erection methods and sequences, effects of
temporary bracing on other trades, and on-site storage and
protection. Questions regarding access, street use, sidewalk
permits, oversized loads, lighting, or working hours should
be addressed at this time.
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 1
Design Responsibility for Architectural
Precast-Concrete Projects

The AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE

was founded in 1904 as a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public
service and to representing user interests in the field of concrete. It gathers and
distributes information on the improvement of design, construction, and
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construction and repair techniques; and education.

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architects, scientists, constructors, and representatives from a variety of
companies and organizations form the Institute membership.

All members are eligible and encouraged to participate in committee activities that
relate to their specific areas of interest. Membership information, a publications
catalog, and listings of educational activities are available.

american concrete institute

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international" FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN 48333-9094
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