2006 IBC

1808.1
PIER FOUNDATIONS: isolated cast-in-place concrete structural elements extending
into firm materials. Piers are relatively short in comparison to their width, with lengths
less than or equal to 12 times the least horizontal dimension of the pier.
PILE FOUNDATIONS: concrete, wood or steel structural elements either driven
intothe ground or cast in place. Piles are relatively slender in comparison to their length,
with lengths exceeding 12 times the least horizontal dimension.

1808.2
Piles are permitted to be designed in accordance with provisions for piers in Section 1808
and Sections 1812.3 through 1812.10.

1808.2.9.1
Any soil other than fluid soil shall be deemed to afford sufficient lateral support to the
pier or pile to prevent buckling.

1808.2.22
Special inspections for piles and piers are per Sections 1704.8 and 1704.9, respectively.

1808.2.23.1
Piers or piles in Seismic Design Category C:
• Individual pile caps, piers or piles shall be interconnected with ties. Ties shall be
capable of carrying, in tension and compression, a force equal to the product of
the larger pile cap or column load times the seismic coefficient, SDS, divided by
10.
• Ends of hoops, spirals and ties shall be terminated with seismic hooks, as defined
in Section 21.1 of ACI 318.
• The minimum transverse steel ratio for confinement shall not be less than one-half
of that required for columns.

1808.2.23.2
Piers or piles in Seismic Design Category D, E or F:
• Same requirements as for SDC C
• The requirements of ACI 318, Section 21.10.4 shall apply when not in conflict
with the provisions of Sections 1808 through 1812.
• Concrete shall have a specified compressive strength of not less than 3000 psi.
• ACI 318, Section 21.10.4.4(a) need not apply to concrete piles.
• Piers or piles in Site Class E or F shall be designed and detailed in accordance
with ACI 318, Sections 21.4.4.1, 21.4.4.2 and 21.4.4.3….

1810.1
• Concrete shall have a compressive strength of at least 2500 psi.
• A slump not less than 4 inches and not more than 6 inches
1810.1.2.1
Reinforcement in Seismic Design Category C:
• 0.0025 minimum longitudinal reinforcement ratio in top 1/3 of the pile length, 10
feet below the ground or that required by analysis, whichever length is greatest.
• The minimum reinforcement ratio, but no less than that ratio required by analysis,
shall be continued throughout the flexural length of the pile.
• 1808.1 FLEXURAL LENGTH: the length of the pile from the first point of
zero lateral deflection to the underside of the pile cap or grade beam.
• A minimum of (4) longitudinal bars with closed ties (or equivalent spirals)
• 3/8” minimum tie diameter provided at a 16-longitudinal-bar diameter maximum
spacing
• Transverse confinement reinforcement with a maximum spacing of 6 inches or 8-
longitudinal-bar diameters, whichever is less, shall be provided within a distance
equal to three times the least pile dimension of the bottom of the pile cap.

1810.1.2.2
Reinforcement in Seismic Design Categories D, E or F:
• Same requirements as for SDC C
• 0.005 minimum longitudinal reinforcement ratio in top ½ of the pile length, 10
feet below ground or throughout the flexural length of the pile, whichever length
is greatest.
• The flexural length shall be taken as the length of the pile to a point where the
concrete section cracking moment strength multiplied by 0.4 exceeds the required
moment strength at that point.
• Transverse confinement reinforcement per ACI 318, Sections 21.4.4.1, 21.4.4.2
and 21.4.4.3 within three times the least pile dimension at the bottom of the pile
cap.
• A transverse spiral reinforcement ratio of not less than ½ of that required by ACI
318, Section 21.4.4.1(a) for other than Site Class E, F or liquefiable site is
permitted.
• Tie spacing throughout the remainder of the concrete section shall neither exceed
12-longitudinal-bar diameters, ½ the least dimension of the section, nor 12 inches.
• Ties to be a minimum of No. 3 for piles having a least dimension of 20 inches and
No. 4 bar for larger piles.

1810.3
Drilled or augered uncased piles:
• The allowable design stress in the concrete of drilled or augered uncased piles
shall not exceed 33% of f’c. The allowable compressive stress of reinforcement
shall not exceed 40% of fy or 25,500 psi.
• The pile length shall not exceed 30 times the average diameter.

1908
These are modifications to the ACI 318
ACI 318-05

21.1
SEISMIC HOOKS: a hook on a stirrup, hoop or crosstie having a bend of not less than
135 degrees, except that circular hoops shall have a bend not less than 90 degrees. Hooks
shall have a six-diameter (but not less than 3 inch) extension that engages the longitudinal
reinforcement and projects into the interior of the stirrup hoop.

21.4.4.1 through 21.4.4.3

Transverse reinforcement requirements

21.10.4
(a) does not apply to concrete piles
This section just says transverse reinforcement per 21.4.4