Project specifications require all concrete to be designed according to ACI standards. Project specifications also require anti-crash “K-ratedâ€ concrete walls which are beyond the scope of ACI standards. K-rating is a standard given to security structures according to US Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Standards SD-STD-02.01 (1985) and SD-STD-02.01 Revision-A (2003). Recently ASTM standard ASTM F 2656-07, “Perimeter Barrier Vehicle Crash Test Standard.â€ has been developed to replace USDoS standards. 

While ACI standards show how to design concrete, the DoS standards (or the recent ASTM standards) do not show how to design concrete but to test the structure against a crash. To retain the minimum blast stand-off distance after a vehicle crash, the perimeter barriers must fully stop any impacting vehicles and keep explosives out of the security perimeter. Systematic crash test standards (like K-ratings) have been developed to physically verify and quantitatively certify barrier performance.

In light of the above, and based on the fact the project specifications mention both ACI and K-rated standards and requirements, ICC cannot make any claims for performing tests to prove the K-rating.

Should you have any questions, please contract Fahad A. Al-Balawi, Sr. Project Engineer on Tel. No. +966 12 422 4393.
