The Story of Reinforced Concrete Explorer

Inspiring a fresh look at a routine evaluation process at the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute.

Much of the value of steel-reinforced concrete structures can be overlooked by routine considerations that focus heavily on the structure's first cost alone. CRSI needed an efficient mechanism to explore a broader range of potential value. That realization led to the development of Reinforced Concrete Explorer as both an on-demand online tool and a printed guide for local educational events, including A/E firm Lunch& Learns and university guest lectures.

CRSI’s Reinforced Concrete Explorer presents literally hundreds of opportunities to reduce costs and improve value. If even one of these ideas improves efficiency or provides a solution, this brief exercise will have been worthwhile.

Focused on a building’s structural framing system, this interactive online tool is a valuable resource for the entire development team. Members of the design and construction leadership group can use this review, individually and collaboratively, to discover substantial savings in time and cost during construction, as well as over the entire useful life of the structure.

Information, cases, and questions challenge assumptions about reinforced concrete structures. Exploration reveals that what holds true in most cases may be a critical exception or special opportunity in another.

The program consists of a website (or printed workbook) and is often combined with an on-site presentation.