QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 1

TRANSPORTATION AND PLACING OF CONCRETE ............................................ 2

8.1
8.1.1
8.1.2
8.1.3

GENERAL ............................................................................................................... 2
Scope of Work
2
References
2
Submittals
2

8.2
8.2.1
8.2.2
8.2.3

TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................... 3
General
3
Pumped Concrete
3
Records
4

8.3
8.3.1
8.3.2
8.3.3
8.3.4
8.3.5

PLACING CONCRETE ............................................................................................ 4

General
4
Preparation
4
Placing
5
Compaction
7
Continuity of Concrete Work
8

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QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 2

TRANSPORTATION AND PLACING OF CONCRETE

8.1

GENERAL

8.1.1

Scope of Work

This part deals with the transportation, placing and compaction of concrete.

Related Parts are as follows:

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References

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8.1.2

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This Section
Part 1 ............... General
Part 7, .............. Concrete Plants
Part 9, .............. Formwork
Part 15, ............ Hot Weather Concreting
Part 16, ............ Miscellaneous

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ACI 304, ............. Guide for Measuring, Mixing, Transporting, and Placing Concrete
ASTM C94, ......... Specification for ready-mixed concrete
BS 8500,............. Concrete, Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1.
BS EN 206-1, ..... Concrete. Specification, performance, production and conformity
EN 1992-1-1 ....... Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures. General rules and rules for
buildings
Submittals

Should the Contractor propose to use concrete pumps for the transportation and placing of
concrete, he shall submit details of the equipment and operating techniques he proposes to
use for the approval of the Engineer.

A method statement shall be submitted for approval for major concrete placements, which
shall address
(a)

the planned rate of placing

number of batching plants

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(b)

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8.1.3

number of trucks

(d)

number and positioning of pumps

(e)

pour sequence

(f)

quality control measures

(g)

spare equipment

(h)

any other factors that might affect the placing of concrete.

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(c)

The method statement should be submitted at least three days in advance of the planned
pour. If required by the Engineer or any other concerned party a prepour planning meeting
may be arranged with representatives from the ready-mix supplier, Contractor and Engineer.

The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer for approval details of his proposed operations
and standby equipment.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 3

TRANSPORTATION

8.2.1

General

Transportation delivery and handling shall be in accordance with the requirements of BS

8500 and BS EN 206-1.

Concrete shall be conveyed from the mixer to its place in the Works as rapidly as possible by
methods which will prevent segregation or drying out and ensure that the concrete is of the
required workability at the point and time of placing.

Should segregation occur in the concrete then the materials shall be remixed to the
satisfaction of the Engineer or discarded. Furthermore the cause of the segregation shall be
determined and further occurrences prevented.

The Contractor shall ensure that the time between placing of different lifts or layers of
concrete is short enough to prevent the formation of cold joints. The Contractor shall ensure
that there is a back up plant that can be used in the event of a breakdown, and that adequate
provision has been made for the number of delivery trucks.

The concrete shall be transported to the site in an approved type of truck mixer or agitator
truck which apart from the cab and chassis shall be painted white and kept clean at all times.
The discharge chute and other dirty areas shall be washed down after delivery to prevent
spillage on the roads.

If a truck mixer or a truck body with an agitator is used for central-mixed concrete, limit the
volume of concrete charged into the truck to 80% of the drum or truck volume as per ASTM
C94 and NRMCA requirements. if shrink mixing is approved by the engineer limit the volume
of concrete charged into the truck to 63% of the drum volume.

All trucks shall be rotated 30 revolutions at mixing speed before discharging concrete to
assure uniformity.

The insides of concrete mix trucks shall be inspected periodically, and any build up of
concrete removed that may impair the efficiency of the mixing action. All trucks shall be
NRMCA certified or any equivalent certification

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Discharge of the concrete shall be completed within 90 min, or before the drum has revolved
300 revolutions, whichever comes first, after the introduction of the mixing water to the
cement and aggregates or the introduction of the cement to the aggregates. These limitations
are permitted to be waived by the purchaser if the concrete is of such slump or slump flow
after the 90 min time or 300-revolution limit has been reached that it can be placed, without
the addition of water, to the batch. In hot weather, or under conditions contributing to quick
stiffening of the concrete, a time less than 90 min is permitted to be specified by the Engineer

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8.2

8.2.2

Pumped Concrete

Access for the pump shall be checked prior to the pour. If access cannot be assured, the
Contractor shall not continue with concreting operations.

If approval is obtained for pumped concrete, the Contractor shall ensure that shock is not
transferred from the pipeline to the formwork and previously laid concrete.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 4

During placing concrete by pumping the end hose must never reach into the concrete. All
measures shall be taken to avoid blockage of the delivery hose system. The Compaction of
concrete shall be carried out as per standard practice procedures.

Grout shall be pumped through the concrete pump to provide initial lubrication. The initial
discharge of any pumped concrete shall not be incorporated in the permanent works.

Where concrete is conveyed by chuting or pumping the plant shall be of a size and design to
ensure continuous flow in the chute or pipe. The slope of the chute or the pressure of the
pump shall allow the concrete to flow without the use of any water additional to that approved
by the Engineer to produce the required consistency and without segregation of the
ingredients. The delivery end of the chute or pipe shall be thoroughly flushed with water
before and after each working period and kept clean. The water used for this purpose shall
be discharged outside and away from any permanent works.

8.2.3

Records

Within 24 h of delivery, the Contractor shall provide the Engineer with delivery notes giving
the information required under Paragraph 7.4.1.5 of this Section.

8.3

PLACING CONCRETE

8.3.1

General

The Contractor shall obtain the approval of the Engineer to his proposed arrangements
before beginning concreting.

All placing and compacting of concrete shall be carried out under the direct supervision of a
competent member of the Contractors staff with a minimum of five years of experience in
concreting works, and in a manner to produce a watertight concrete of maximum density and
strength.

For night concreting operations, the Contractor shall arrange adequate suitable lighting.

The Contractor shall provide safe secure access for all personnel on concreting operations.

Where the thickness of the concrete section exceeds 600 mm the Contractor shall adopt

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special precautions, to be approved by the Engineer, to avoid thermal cracking due to

external and core temperature differentials.

Concrete shall not be placed in adverse weather conditions such as dust storms or heavy
rain.

8.3.2

Preparation

No concrete shall be placed until the Engineer has inspected and approved in writing the
surfaces upon which the concrete is to be placed, the formwork, and reinforcing steel. The
Contractor shall give the Engineer at least 24 hours notice to enable this inspection to be
carried out. If concrete is not placed within 24 hours of approval being given, approval shall
be obtained again before concreting. An inspection shall be made immediately prior to
concreting to check the cleanliness of the forms.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 5

Wood forms, unless lined, shall be oiled or wetted with water in advance of placing concrete
so that joints will tighten and prevent seepage of cement grout from the mix.

The reinforcement shall be sprayed with a small amount of water prior to starting the pour.
Reinforcement shall be secured in position, inspected, and accepted by the Engineer before
placing the concrete.

All inserts, anchor bolts, sleeves and other embedded items shall be accurately located,
using templates where appropriate, and held securely to prevent displacement during the
placing of the concrete. Aluminium items shall be completely covered and protected when
embedded in the concrete.

Except where shown on the drawings, no fixtures shall be attached to the concrete by shot
fixing or drilling without acceptance by the Engineer. Notwithstanding any such authorisation,
the Contractor shall be responsible for all damage so caused to the concrete and make good
at his own expense.

Water shall be removed from excavations before concrete is deposited. Any flow of water
shall be diverted through proper side drains and shall be removed without washing over
freshly deposited concrete. All dewatering works shall be continued as long as required.
Hardened concrete, debris, and foreign materials shall be removed from interior of forms and
from inner surfaces of mixing and conveying equipment.

Runways or other means accepted by the Engineer shall be provided for wheeled equipment
to convey the concrete to the points of deposit. Equipment used to deposit concrete shall not
be wheeled over reinforcement nor shall runways be supported on reinforcement.

Before depositing new concrete on or against concrete that has set, existing surfaces shall
be thoroughly roughened and cleaned of laitance, foreign matter and loose particles. Forms
shall be re-tightened and existing surfaces slushed with a grout coat of mortar consisting of
cement and fine aggregate in the same proportion in the mix, but not leaner than one (1) part
cement to two (2) parts fine aggregate, after the existing surface has been moistened. New
concrete shall be placed before the grout has attained initial set. Horizontal construction
joints shall be given a brush coat of grout consisting of cement and fine aggregate in the
same proportion as concrete to be placed, followed by approximately 75mm of concrete of
regular mix, except that the proportion of coarse aggregate shall be reduced 50%.
High strength grout for precision support of machine base and soleplates, including
equipment subject to thermal movement, tanks, column baseplates, bridge seats, anchor
bolts and dowels, etc., shall be a non-shrink, ready-to-use, fluid precision grout material,
proportioned, premixed and packaged at the factory, delivered to the job site to be placed
with only the addition of water, formwork, and curing shall be as specified.

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8.3.3

Placing

Concrete shall be placed in its final position before initial set has commenced and shall not
be subsequently disturbed. All concrete shall be placed within 15 min of mixing unless carried
in purpose made agitators.

Concrete shall be carefully placed in horizontal layers which shall be kept at an even height
throughout the work. The depth of layers and time between placement of layers shall be such
that each layer can be properly merged into the preceding layer before initial set takes place,
the depth of layer shall be determined from the type of plant the Contractor proposes to use.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 6

Concrete shall be allowed to slide or flow down sloping surfaces directly into its final position
from skips, down pipes or other placing machines or devices or, if this is not practical, it
should be shovelled into position, care being taken to avoid separation of the constituent
materials.

Concrete placed in horizontal slabs from barrows or other tipping vehicles shall be tipped into
the face of the previously placed concrete.

Concrete dropped into place shall be dropped vertically. It shall not strike the formwork
between the point of its discharge and its final place in the Work, and except by approval of
the Engineer it shall not be dropped freely through a height greater than 1.5 m. Chutes and

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conveyor belts shall be also designed so that there is no segregation or loss of mortar and
shall be provided with a vertical tapered down pipe, or other device, to ensure that concrete is
discharged vertically into place.
Concrete shall not be placed in standing water in the formwork.

Concrete that has attained its initial set or has contained its water content for more than 1.5
hours or 300 drum revolutions, whichever comes first, shall not be deposited in the work.

Cold weather concreting shall be in accordance with EN 1992-1-1 or CIRIA Report 67 and
ACI 306.

Hot weather concreting shall be in accordance with Part 15 of this section.

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Special care shall be taken to protect new concrete from the harmful effects of drying winds.

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During wet weather, the concrete shall be adequately protected as soon as it is in position.

12

No concreting shall be carried out during periods of continuous heavy rain unless it is
completely covered during mixing, transporting and placing.

13

No concrete shall be carried out during dust storms.

14

Underwater placing of concrete is allowed only for unreinforced components, the placing
being effected exclusively with stationary tremies or with a bottom-opening watertight boxes
and shall be in accordance with the requirements of design or equivalent as accepted.

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Underwater concrete is to be placed continuously without interruption. For water depths up to

1 m the concrete may be placed without tremie. In the case of water depths exceeding 1 m
the concrete is to be placed in such a way that it does not fall freely through the water. The
tremies must at all times dip sufficiently far into the freshly placed concrete to ensure that the
concrete emerging from the tremie does not come into contact with the water.

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All work connected with the placing of concrete under water shall be designed, directed and
inspected with due regard to local circumstances and purposes. Work shall not proceed until
all phases and methods to be used in the placing operations have been accepted by the
Engineer.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 7

Stops in concrete, at the end of a period of work, shall be made only at construction joint
locations shown on the drawings and/or positions accepted. Where the positions of
construction joints are not indicated on the drawings, these may be assumed, for estimating
purposes, to occur at 5 metre intervals in foundations and retaining walls and at one-third to
one-quarter of span in slabs and beams subject to a maximum spacing of approximately 9
metres.

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At construction joint location the surface of the completed concrete shall be prepared by
spraying, wire brushing or chipping so that it is free from all laitance, scum and loose material
and shows a slightly roughened texture and tips of the coarse aggregate exposed. Before
continuing concreting the exposed concrete face shall be thoroughly wetted.

19

In the ground floor slab (where ground bearing), construction joints, crack inducer joints,
contraction joints and expansion joints shall be incorporated into the work as appropriate.
The spacing of construction joints, crack induced joints, contraction joints and expansion
joints in water retaining structures shall be shown on the design drawings

20

Where the positions or type of joints are not indicated on the drawings in the ground floor
slab, the slab shall be cast in strips not more than 4.0 metres wide, in alternating sequence,
across the width of the building. A minimum of 3 days shall elapse between the casting of
adjacent strips. Within each strip, crack induced joints shall be provided at not more than 5.0
metre spacing, and contraction joints shall be provided at not more than 15.0m spacing.
Across the width of the building, construction joint shall be provided between adjacent strips
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with contraction joint at every 4 construction joint.

21

Wherever necessary and as required by the Engineer, waterstops of a type acceptable to the
Engineer shall be embedded in the concrete. The waterstop should be made of a high
quality material, which must retain its resilience through the service life of the structure for the
double function of movement and sealing. The surface of waterstops should be carefully
rounded to ensure tightness of the joint even under heavy water pressure. To ensure a good
tightness with or without movement of the joints, the waterstop should be provided with
anchor parts. The cross-section of the waterstops should be determined in accordance with
the presumed maximum water pressure and joint movements. The complete works of fixed
and welded connections must be carried out strictly in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions.

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Engineers acceptance shall be obtained by the Contractor, prior to start of work, on the
casting sequence and the layout of joints.
Waterstops shall be carefully maintained in position prior to concreting on accurately profiled
stop boards to create rigid conditions.

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The type of waterbar to be used shall suit the joint and purpose according to water bar
manufacturers recommendations

8.3.4

Compaction

Concrete shall be thoroughly compacted by vibration during the operation of placing and
thoroughly worked around the reinforcement, around embedded fixtures and into corners or
the formwork to form a solid mass free from voids.

QCS 2014

Section 05: Concrete

Part
08: Transportation and Placing of Concrete

Page 8

When vibrators are used to compact the concrete, vibration shall be applied continuously
during the placing of each batch of concrete until the expulsion of air has practically ceased
and in a manner that does not promote segregation of the constituents of the concrete.

Immersion type vibrators shall be capable of producing not less than 10000 cycles per
minute, and external vibrators not less than 3000 cycles per minute.

A sufficient number of vibrators in serviceable condition shall be on site to ensure that spare
equipment is always available in the event of breakdown.

Immersion type vibrators shall be inserted into the uncompacted concrete vertically and at
regular intervals. Where the uncompacted concrete is in a layer above freshly compacted
concrete the vibrator shall penetrate vertically for about 100 mm into the previous layer.
Vibrators shall not come into contact with the reinforcement or the formwork. They shall be
drawn back slowly from the mass concrete so as to leave no voids. Internal type vibrators
shall not be placed in the concrete in a random or haphazard manner nor shall concrete be
moved from one part of the work to another by means of the vibrators.

Operators shall be trained in the use of vibrators. Foremen shall have a minimum of five
years of experience in the supervision of placing concrete

Vibration of the concrete shall not be applied by way of the reinforcement.

Compaction shall commence as soon as there is sufficient concrete to immerse the vibrator
and continue during the placing operations so that at no time shall there be a large volume of
uncompacted concrete in the formwork.

The duration of vibration shall be limited to that required to produce satisfactory compaction
without causing segregation. Vibration shall on no account be continued after water or
excess grout has appeared on the surface.

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During the placing of all reinforced concrete, a competent steel fixer and a competent
carpenter shall be in attendance on each concreting gang. They shall ensure the
reinforcement embedded fittings and forms are kept in position as work proceeds.

8.3.5

Continuity of Concrete Work

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Whenever instructed by the Engineer, the Contractor shall carry out the work in such a
manner that the placing of the concrete in any particular section of the structure shall be
executed without any interruption whatsoever from the beginning to the end of the operation.

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Casting of concrete shall not begin until a sufficient quantity of approved material is at hand
to ensure continuity of operation, nor shall work begin until there is sufficient equipment in
reserve in case of breakdown.
END OF PART