 Prof Tamon UEDA @ |
When ICCMC came into existence a decade ago, members joined the committee through recommendation from the existing members. After we started accepting direct applications, we received applications from interested individuals -- many of whom were not known to us. In my opinion this is a good sign that Asian people have begun to recognize the importance of having an international code. The Asian Concrete Model Code was first published in 2001. Although an excellent code prepared in such a way that it is flexible enough to cope with the Asian diversity, it is new and not known. Vietnam is the first country to, in August 2004, issued a national standard on concrete maintenance based on ACMC 2001. The project was carried out jointly by the Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology and ICCMC. Many ICCMC members represent their countries on ISO/TC71 on Concrete, Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Concrete. Recently ISO approved a new SC7 on Maintenance and Repair of Concrete Structures with Prof Ha-Won Song, my vice-chairman (policy) as chairman and me as secretary. It is likely that this new SC document will be drafted based on ACMC. Also we are asking SC4 to include ACMC in the list of codes gdeemed to satisfyh ISOfs umbrella code prepared by SC4. The present situation strengthens my belief that the existence of ICCMC is vital. Not only because it is responsible for maintaining ACMC but also because it serves as a body representing Asian countries in international concrete related organizations or committees, e.g. in fib and ISO/TC71. On the other hand, we have been putting efforts to organize workshops on ACMC in many countries so that local engineers can easily understand ACMC and prepare their local codes in accordance with ACMC (Level 3 Documents) by themselves. I look forward to seeing a greater participation worldwide so that we can have a closer collaboration through code drafting. @ |