A new standard approved by ASTM Committee C13 has precast concrete segmental box culvert producers rejoicing. ASTM C1786 is the first standard to address segmental precast reinforced concrete box culverts as an approved structural design.
Prior to this standard, most job specifications called for box culverts to comply with ASTM C1433 and C1577. These standards address monolithic box culverts. Non-monolithic box culverts, manufactured as two pieces, had to be submitted under section 7.2 as an alternative design. With no standard addressing the specifics regarding the design and manufacture of segmental box culverts, it was an uphill climb for some precasters to get contractors or engineers to accept their design.
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“We had to design the box culvert following AASHTO criteria, which is what ASTM C1433 and C1577 do,” said Rusty Stever, senior vice president of Jensen Precast. “Then, we would have to submit it as an alternative design and somehow still satisfy the standard. Now we hope to get jobs under this new standard.”
Stever said now that ASTM C1786 is approved, the next step is for producers to spread the word. Once it becomes mainstream, jobs can start asking for box culverts to comply under these three standards.
The standard was originally written by Tom Elliot of Jensen Precast and Josh Beakley of the American Concrete Pipe Association. To read more about ASTM C1786, visit www.astm.org/Standards/C1786.htm.
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