Incorporated new requirements from the American Concrete Institute’s building code. Updated Design Aids:
Last updated: May 2026
For decades, the industry operated largely under Allowable Stress Design (ASD), also known as Working Stress Design. While safe, ASD often resulted in conservative designs that didn't fully capitalize on the material efficiency of high-strength prestressed concrete. The move to LRFD, which aligns with the design philosophies of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318-08 code, allowed engineers to use statistically consistent safety factors. The move to LRFD, which aligns with the
The 7th Edition (2010) was more than a code update—it was a philosophical shift. For the first time, PCI acknowledged that precast concrete could no longer be treated as simple gravity framing. It must perform in earthquakes, resist fire, last 100+ years, and document its carbon footprint. It must perform in earthquakes, resist fire, last
The 7th Edition brought significant updates to align with then-current standards, specifically ACI 318-08. It was designed to assist practitioners in reaching optimum design solutions more efficiently. It must perform in earthquakes