gy and Codes

Concrete Concrete Specifica

Specifica

Concrete Technolog
Standards and 

Specifications

z Standards - used for methods, 

procedures, practices,... step-byinstructions... 

z Specifications - manuals, codes, 

requirements...

z Performance specifications - sp

end results... how it will perform

z Prescriptive specifications - spe

exactly what to use
Standard Organization

z American Society for Testing and Mat

(ASTM) - all types of materials includi

z American Concrete Institute (ACI) - sp

and codes only... no standards!

z American Society of State and Local H

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - bhighway standards
Why use standards an

specifications?

z Convenience - I need a concret

with C618 ash instead of... I neconcrete mix with fly ash that LOI f % d i b LOI o

f x

% an

d a maximum car

b

content of y% and reference compressive strength of z%, etetc., etc.
Clarity

z ASTM C150 Portland Cem

means the same thing whyou’re placing concrete in A h Al k W Anchorage, Alaska or WesBeach, Florida or KandahaAfghanistan
Safety

z These are consensus standards

they represent the current statthe-industry so, if they’re used correctl h h l b il

ly, they can help us buil

structures

z Since they’re consensus standa

so, if they’re used correctly, thhelp limit the designer’s liabilit
What does it mean to 

meet the standard?

z You’ve met certain minim

requirements

z Concrete can meet the 

minimum requirements abe bad concrete if the workmanship is bad
Who’s Responsible?

z Architect - Design Issues... the 

building should look like this ause these materials

z En

gineer - Takes the architect

design from finished concept practice... here are the design member sizes, size, spacing, aamount of rebar, etc.

z Contractor - Decides the mea

methods to build the structur
Who’s Responsible? Pa

z Subcontractor - responsible for 

specific portion of the structureelectrical, mechanical, HVAC, pl bi d ll i i lumbing, 

dry wall, painting, co

z Owner - pays for everything... 

approves the architects design with the contract documents... authority to his representative
Q/A & Q/C 

Responsibilities

z Owner - Develop the plan and 

review/approve the contract documents

z A/E - Creates a design to meet t

Creates a design to meet t

owner’s requirements and regurequirements

 prepares contract documents helps choose contractor accepts/rejects workmanship a

materials

 evaluates testing/inspection re
Q/A & Q/C Responsib

Part II

z Contractor - comply with 

contract documents and schedule inspections

z Suppliers - make sure the 

materials supplied meet trequirements of contract documents
ACI 301
ACI 301

z Is the standard specification for cast-i

structural concrete 

z You should know that if this specificat

then more than 70 other standards aspecifications are referenced 301 is specifications are referenced... 301 is 

“umbrella” specification

z You should know that designers can e

301 or individually list 70 specification
ASTM C143
Slump Test for Concre

z Details the test procedure 

slump test for portland ceconcrete

z You should know that the 

the most basic test of fresconcrete available but doetell you anything about thquality of the concrete
ACI 305/306
ACI 305/306

z Specifies what is cold and hot weathe

 cold is 3 consecutive days where the 

or less and the temperature doesn’t g50°F for more than 12 hours

 hot weather can mean... hi

gh ambien

temperature, high concrete temperatrelative humidity, high wind, or solar 

z You should know that certain weathe

conditions will require that certain prmust be taken
ACI 211.1
ACI 211.1

z Specifies how a concrete 

mixture is proportioned

z You should know that con

mixtures are designed for strength and durability coand any changes will impastrength and durability of concrete
ACI 318
ACI 318/349 318/349

z Provides the building code 

requirements used for conconstruction

z You should know that the

requirements give specific guidance on what to do if concrete doesn’t meet the specified strength
ASTM C31

z Making and curing test 

specimens in the field

z You should know the diffe

between initial curing, fincuring, and field curing
ASTM C33
ASTM C33

z Defines the grading and q

requirements for concrete aggregates

z You should know that;

 not all aggregates are cre

equally

 aggregates can meet C33 

yet give gap-graded or pograded concrete mixture
ASTM C39
C39

z Defines testing procedure

compressive strength contest cylinders

z You should know that the

rigid requirements that temachines need to meet
ASTM C 94
C94

z Covers all aspects of ready mixe

concrete

z You should know that this 

specification gives information 

 ordering options air content tolerances scale and weight tolerances required batch ticket informat sampling procedures
More C94...

 Batch-to-placement time 

limitations

 Batch-to-placement mixi

revol ti li it ti lution li

mit

ations

 information on the addit

water at the job site
ASTM C 150
C150

z Covers the physical and 

chemical requirements foportland cement used to produce concrete

z You should know that pro

won’t sell portland cemendoesn’t meet C150 
C595

z Specification for Blended Cementsz Covers portland blast furnace slag cem

IS) and portland-pozzolan cement (Ty

z You should know this is a prescriptive 

You should know this is a prescriptive 
C1157

z Performance specification 

hydraulic cements

z Physical performance test 

requirements

z No prescriptive restriction

ingredients or cement che
Material Specification

for SCMs

z ASTM C618 - Fly ash and natural 

pozzolan

z ASTM C989 – Slag cementz ASTM C1240 – Silica fume
ASTM C172
C172

z Sampling procedures for fresh concrez You should know that;

 composite samples are required all material must be sampled within a 

all material must be sampled within a 

period

 tests must be performed within 5 min

the last portion of the sample is obta

 cylinders must be cast within 15 minu
ASTM C173
C173

z Air content by volumetric 

method

z You should know that;

 this method can be used 

any type of concrete agg

 this method doesn’t tell 

how much air is entrappeentrained

 it does tell you the total 

content
ASTM C23
C231

z Air content by pressure mz You should know that

 only used for concrete w

relatively dense aggregat

 requires that the apparat

calibrated

 requires an aggregate 

correction factor
ASTM C309
C309

z Curing compoundsz You should know that 

 these compounds should be sprayed, 

brushed in temperatures above 40°F

 they should be non-reactive they should restrict the loss of water 

kg/m2 in 72 hours

 they should have a daylight reflectan

60%
More on C309

 They should be dry to the 

in 4 hours

 they can be either Type 1 

or t l t d ith translucen

t an

d with o

without a fugitive dye

 Type 2 - white pigmented
ASTM C470
C470

z Molds for forming concret

vertically

z You should know that mo

have to meet specific requirements and that nomolds are reusable
C511

z Moist cabinets, moist roo

water storage tanks

z You should know that 

compressive strength test cylinders need to be storemoist condition once they the laboratory until they atested
Summary

z ASTM Vol 04.01z ASTM Vol 04.02z ACI MCP