Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings – Book Review

(Based on IBC, ASCE/SEI 7, and ACI 318)

Book Title: Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Author: David A. Fanella, PhD, SE, PE, FASCE
Publisher: American Concrete Institute (ACI) / International Code Council (ICC)
Discipline: Structural & Reinforced Concrete Engineering
Standards Referenced: IBC, ASCE/SEI 7, ACI 318
Format: Print, Digital Editions

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Overview of Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings

Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings by David A. Fanella is a highly practical and code-oriented reference focused on the structural design of low-rise reinforced concrete buildings. The book is specifically written to help engineers apply U.S. building codes to real-world reinforced concrete structures such as commercial buildings, schools, parking structures, and low-rise residential projects.

Unlike theory-heavy reinforced concrete textbooks, this book emphasizes step-by-step design procedures, making it especially useful for practicing engineers and young professionals.

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Technical Scope and Content

The book is structured around the complete design process for low-rise concrete buildings, closely aligned with building code requirements.

Key Topics Covered

• Structural layout and load paths in low-rise buildings

• Gravity load design of slabs, beams, and columns

• Lateral load-resisting systems for wind and seismic loads

• Reinforced concrete shear walls

• Diaphragm behavior and load transfer

• Foundations for low-rise concrete buildings

• Detailing requirements per ACI 318

• Application of IBC and ASCE/SEI 7 load provisions

The clear integration of analysis, design, and detailing makes the book especially effective as a design-office reference.

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Why This Book Is Widely Used by Engineers

1. Strong Code-Based Focus

The book is tightly aligned with IBC, ASCE 7, and ACI 318, helping engineers design with confidence and code compliance.

2. Practical, Step-by-Step Approach

Design examples and explanations reflect how engineers actually work in practice, not just theoretical calculations.

3. Ideal for Everyday Projects

Most reinforced concrete projects are low-rise, making this book extremely relevant to daily engineering work.

4. Trusted Author and Publisher

David A. Fanella is a recognized authority in concrete design, and the involvement of ACI and ICC adds industry credibility.

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Who Should Read This Book?

This book is ideal for:

• Structural engineers designing low-rise concrete buildings

• Engineers working under U.S. building codes

• Junior and mid-level engineers learning concrete design practice

• Graduate and senior undergraduate civil engineering students

• Engineers involved in plan review and code compliance

It serves as both a learning resource and a practical design reference.

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Is There a Legal Free Download?

⚠️ Important clarification

Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings is a copyright-protected publication.
There is no legal full free PDF download provided by the publisher.

Any website offering an unrestricted “free PDF” copy is illegal and should be avoided.

However, there are legal ways to access or consult the book, listed below.

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✅ Legal Ways to Access Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings

1. Official Publisher (ACI / ICC)

The book is officially published and distributed by ACI and ICC.

🔗 ICC Store (legal access):
https://shop.iccsafe.org/design-of-low-rise-reinforced-concrete-buildings.html

🔗 ACI Store (legal access):
https://www.concrete.org/store/productdetail.aspx?ItemID=LB131

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2. Google Books – Limited Preview

Google Books may provide partial previews of selected sections.

🔗 Google Books preview:
https://books.google.com/search?q=Design+of+Low+Rise+Reinforced+Concrete+Buildings+Fanella

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3. Internet Archive – Controlled Digital Lending

The Internet Archive may offer time-limited online borrowing when available.

🔗 Internet Archive search page:
https://archive.org/search?query=Design+of+Low+Rise+Reinforced+Concrete+Buildings+Fanella

✔ This is a legal way to read the book online for free, subject to availability.

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4. University & Professional Libraries (WorldCat)

Many academic and professional libraries provide access.

🔗 Find a library copy near you:
https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Design+of+Low+Rise+Reinforced+Concrete+Buildings+Fanella

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Final Verdict

Design of Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings by David A. Fanella is a highly practical and code-focused reference for engineers involved in the design of everyday reinforced concrete buildings. Its clear explanations, strong alignment with U.S. codes, and practical design workflow make it an essential resource for professional practice.