About the Institute

During the Institute’s infancy, it produced numerous written works that would become major contributions to the reinforced concrete industry. One such publication was the Standard Building Code Provisions for Reinforced Concrete adopted by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) as the ACI Building Code Regulations Covering Reinforced Concrete Construction.

Several years later, a new membership structure that included steel producers (mills) bolstered CRSI as it weathered the Great Depression and World War II. Government intervention and war-time restrictions impacted the work of the membership, however, one constant remained, and it was during this time the Institute would produce the precursors and first editions of publications that would become industry staples. Titles included Reinforced Concrete – A Handbook on Reinforced Concrete Construction Containing Information of Value to the Architect and Engineer (predecessor of the current Manual of Standard Practice), CRSI Design Handbook (now produced as series of design guides), Recommended Practice for Placing Reinforcing Bars (later to become simply Placing Reinforcing Bars), and the Reinforcing Bar Detailing manual were published throughout this period providing industry education and guidance.

As the industry matured, CRSI kept evolving with the changing needs of its members and an environment impacted by technological advancement, demographic changes, and the advent and evolution of new products and related processes. Taller buildings, new highway infrastructure, the evolving building code, and corrosion resistance were all topics of focus and research.

Leading up to and entering the new millennium, CRSI expanded its membership, technical committees, standards and codes representation, and research obligations. New services included the development of industry specific software, plant certification programs, as well as various initiatives to help members conform to a growing number of regulatory frameworks, from health and safety to environmental protection. The Institute embraced government advocacy and developed the necessary documents for its members to comply with requirements in the sustainability movement. It also fostered the research and adoption of high-strength (80 and 100 ksi) reinforcing steel in partnership with the CRSI Foundation, Pankow Foundation, and ACI Foundation. Workforce development and outreach to universities and construction school programs also continue to be key issues within in the Institute and Foundation.

More recently, it was during the global pandemic that CRSI’s most recent flagship publication, Design Guide on the ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, was released. Shortly thereafter, a series of companion Design Checklists were created to provide additional time-saving information to designers. Currently, a comprehensive design guide addressing state-of-the-art seismic design requirements is in development for a late 2024 release.