SECTION VI

(Sub-section 237)
Structural Concrete
Article

Page

1.

Scope of Work

237-1

2.

General Requirements

237-1

3.

Materials

237-1

4.

Cement

237-1 thru 237-2

5.

Aggregates

237-2

6.

Admixtures

237-3

7.

Water

237-3

8.

Concrete Proportioning

237-3 thru 237-4

9.

Plant Approval

237-4

10.

Mixing and Delivery

237-4

11.

Quality

237-4

12.

Reinforcing Steel

237-4 thru 237-6

13.

Forms

237-6 thru 237-7

14.

Embedded Items

237-7

15.

Placing Concrete

237-7 thru 237-8

16.

Test Specimens

237-8

17.

Water Stops

237-9

18.

Curing and Protection

237-9 thru 237-10

19.

Finishing

237-10

20.

Bonding Agent

237-10

21.

Measurement and Payment

237-10

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE
SUB-SECTION 237

1.0

SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work under this section includes all materials, equipment and labor,
and performing all operations for constructing the concrete work as shown on the
drawings, called for herein, or necessary for the proper completion of the work.
The work shall be performed in accordance with these specifications and to the
lines, notes, and dimensions indicated on the drawings or specified herein. All
references to industry standards (ASTM, ANSI, etc.) shall be to the latest revision
unless otherwise stated.

2.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
All concrete shall be proportioned, mixed, placed, finished and cured in
accordance with the requirements of Standard Specifications of the American
Concrete Institute, ACI 301, as modified herein, except that concrete for
pavement replacement, including sidewalks, driveways and curb and gutter, shall
be placed, finished and cured in accordance with ACI 617.

3.0

MATERIALS
All concrete shall be ready-mixed, normal weight, as produced by a plant
acceptable to the Engineer. Job mixed concrete may be used for small
quantities upon specific approval of the Engineer.

4.0

CEMENT
4.1.

Cement shall be a single brand of Portland Cement conforming to the

ASTM Standard Specifications for Portland Cement, Designation C150,
for Type I cement, Type II cement, or Type III (high-early-strength)
cement.

4.2

Air entraining cement shall not be used.

4.3

When no Type cement is specified, Type I shall be used.

4.4.

Type III (high-early-strength) cement may be used only with the written
permission of the Engineer, but no additional payment will be made to the
Contractor for the use thereof.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

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5.0

4.5.

In addition to the requirements of the above mentioned specifications the

cement to be used in exposed concrete shall exhibit no efflorescence
when tested in accordance with the ASTM Standard Methods of Sampling
and Testing Brick, Designation C-67. Employing 2 inch x 7 inch x 1/2 inch
mortar slabs, comprising a 1:3 mixture by weight of the cement in question
and Ottawa Sand, mixed with local tap water to a flow of 100 percent and
aged one week before test.

4.6.

All cement to be used in the work shall be subject to testing to determine

whether it conforms to the requirements of these specifications. The
methods of testing shall conform to the appropriate specification, but the
place, time, frequency, and method of sampling will be determined by the
Engineer in accordance with the particular conditions of this project.
Cement which is partially set or which is lumpy or caked shall not be used,
and the entire contents of the sack of cement or the container of bulk
cement which contains damages, partially set, or lumps of caked cement
will be rejected for use.

4.7

If required, the Contractor shall furnish sworn certificates of mill tests of

cement, in triplicate, at least 7 days before the cement will be used. Citrus
County reserves the right to make such independent tests as deemed
necessary at any time.

.
AGGREGATES
5.1.

Fine aggregate shall be washed sand, clean, sound, sharp, screened and
well graded with no grain larger than will pass a No. 4 sieve. No less than
15 percent nor more than 30 percent by weight shall pass a No. 50 sieve.
No fine aggregate shall be used if it contains more than 2 percent of silt or
which shows a color darker than Plate 2 when tested according to the
ASTM Standard Method of Test for Organic Impurities in Sands for
Concrete, Designation C40.

5.2.

Coarse aggregate shall be washed, hard, tough and durable screened

gravel or crushed stone having not more than 5% by weight of deleterious
substances and soft fragments. Aggregate shall be well graded from the
largest which shall pass a 1 inch mesh to the smallest which shall pass a
3/8 inch mesh and be retained by a inch mesh. No coarse aggregate
shall be used if it contains more than 1 percent of silt or which shows a
color darker than Plate I when tested as above specified for fine
aggregate.

5.3.

Both fine and coarse aggregate shall conform to the requirements of

ASTM Standard Specification C33. The Contractor shall submit clearly
labeled samples of aggregates to the Engineer when requested.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

237-2

6.0

ADMIXTURES
6.1.

Admixtures causing accelerated setting of cement in concrete shall NOT

be used.

6.2.

The particular admixture to be used shall meet with the approval of the
Engineer. Recognized and approved admixtures are:
6.2.1. Vinsol Resin, manufactured by the Hercules Powder Company of
Wilmington, Delaware. This product requires preparation on the job
by dissolving in a solution of sodium hydroxide according to the
manufacturers directions.
6.2.2. Darex AEA, manufactured by the Dewey and Almy Chemical
Company, Cambridge, Mass. This product is furnished in liquid
form ready for use.
6.2.3. Pozzolith, manufactured by the Master Builders Company,
Cleveland, Ohio. This product is furnished in Powder form ready
for use. The use of Pozzolith shall be contingent on its entraining
the specified amount of air with not more than one pound of the
admixture per bag of cement.
6.2.4. Aerocrete, manufactured by L. Sonneborn Sons, Inc. , 80 Eighth
Avenue, New York, New York, 10011. This product is furnished in
liquid form ready for use.

7.0

WATER
The water for concrete shall be clean, fresh, and free from injurious amounts of
oil, acid alkali, organic matter, or other deleterious substances.

8.0

CONCRETE PROPORTIONING
8.1.

Materials shall be proportioned in accordance with ACI-613.

8.2.

Air content, determined in accordance with ASTM C173, shall be 5% (

1%) by volume.

8.3.

Slump shall be as listed below:

8.3.1.
Class A
2 1 inch
8.3.2.
Class B
3 1 inch
8.3.3.
Class C
3 1 inch

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8.4.

9.0

Concrete shall be of plastic consistency such that it can be worked readily

into all parts of the forms and around embedded work without segregation
of constituent materials or collection of free water on the surface. Cement,
fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and water for concrete shall be
measured separately and with accuracy.

PLANT APPROVAL
The Engineer shall have the right to inspect the plant of the manufacturer and the
proportioning and mixing of the concrete.
The materials methods of
proportioning, mixing, and delivering are to be satisfactory and in accordance
with the above specifications.
The manufacturer shall furnish, from an
independent testing laboratory and through the Contractor, appropriate
certificates of tests, materials, proportions, mixing and strengths when requested
by the Engineer.

10.0

MIXING AND DELIVERY

10.1. The quantity of concrete to be mixed or delivered in any one batch shall
not exceed the rated capacity of the mixer or agitator as stated on the
nameplate for the type of mixer in use.
10.2. Attention is directed to the importance of dispatching trucks from the
batching plant so that they shall arrive at the site of the work just before
the concrete is required, thus avoiding excessive mixing of concrete while
waiting. Concrete shall be discharged into forms within 1 hours after
water was first added to the mix, and shall be mixed at least 5 minutes
after all water has been added.

11.0

QUALITY
Concrete for slabs on grade (not tank bottoms) shall have a compressive
strength of not less than 3,000 psi at 28 days; concrete for fill shall have
compressive strength of not less than 2,500 psi at 28 days; concrete for all other
work shall have compressive strength of not less than 4,000 psi at 28 days.
Concrete of 4,000 psi strength shall be designated Class "A", 3,000 psi concrete
shall be designated Class "B", and 2,500 psi concrete shall be designated Class
"C".

12.1

REINFORCING STEEL
12.1. Concrete reinforcement in sizes No. 3 (3/8 inch) and larger shall be
deformed steel bars of the shapes and sizes indicated on the drawings.
12.1.1.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

Deformations shall conform to CRSI Manual of Standard

Practice (Latest Edition).
237-4

12.1.2.

The steel shall be newly rolled stock, substantially free from

mill scale, rust, dirt, grease, or other foreign matter. Bars
shall be domestic billet steel or rail steel.

12.1.3.

Billet steel bars shall be intermediate grade conforming to

ASTM A615 Standard Specification for Deformed and Plain
Billet-Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement.

12.1.4.

Rail steel bars, if used, shall conform to ASTM A616

Standard Specification for Rail-Steel Deformed and Plain
Bars for Concrete Reinforcement.

12.1.5.

In the case of rail steel bars, the bars shall be re-rolled by an

approved mill. If requested by the Engineer, the Contractor
shall submit at his expense certified copies of tests of rail
steel bars furnished. The tests shall be as specified in the
appropriate ASTM Specifications above referred to, and
shall be made by an approved laboratory. To be accepted
for use, the bars shall show an elongation of at least 8
inches as required by the ASTM Specifications, but not less
than 10.5 %.

12.2. If requested by the Engineer, the Contractor shall submit for approval
shop drawing submittals for cutting and bending, drawings, and schedules
for all reinforcement to be furnished by him.
12.3. Reinforcement shall be accurately formed to the dimensions indicated on
the drawings. Stirrups and tie bars shall be bent around a pin having a
diameter not less than two times the minimum thickness of the bar. Bends
for other bars shall be made around a pin having a diameter not less than
six times the minimum thickness except for bars larger than 1 inch in
which case the bends shall be made around a pin of eight bar diameters.
All bars shall be bent cold. Bars shall be shipped to the project site
fastened in bundles of the same size and shape, with identification tags,
giving size and mark, securely attached thereto.
12.4. Before being placed in a position, reinforcement shall be thoroughly
cleaned of loose mill and rust scale, dirt, and other coatings that reduce or
destroy bond.
Where there is delay in depositing concrete after
reinforcement is in place, bars shall be re-inspected and cleaned when
necessary.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

237-5

12.4.1.

Reinforcement shall be accurately positioned as indicated on

the drawings, and secured against displacement by using
annealed iron wire ties or suitable clips at intersections. Bar
splices, laps, etc., shall be as called for on the drawings, or if
not called for, laps shall be not less than 24 times the
nominal diameter of the bar. Wire mesh sheets shall have a
side lap of not less than 2 inches and an end lap of not less
than 6 inches. Concrete blocks having a minimum bearing
area of 2 inches by 2 inches and equal in quality to that
specified for the slab shall be used for supporting spacers, or
hangers may be used. Wood blocks, stones, brick chips,
etc., shall not be used to support reinforcement.

12.4.2.

Reinforcement, which is to be exposed to the atmosphere for

a considerable length of time after having been placed, shall
be painted with a heavy coat of cement grout when required
by the Engineer.

13.0 FORMS
13.1. Forms shall be securely braced, substantial and unyielding, and of
sufficient strength to hold the concrete without bulging between supports,
or without other deviation from the neat lines as shown on the plans.
Forms shall be mortar-tight and shall be constructed of dressed lumber of
uniform thickness, with or without a form liner.
13.2. The spacing of joints and wales shall be such as to prevent warp and
bulging and to produce true and accurate surfaces. All lumber shall be
free from knotholes, loose knots, cracks, splits, warps, or other defects
affecting its strength or the appearance of the finished concrete surface.
Fiberboard or other artificial lumber, approved by the Engineer, may be
used as a lining for forms.
13.3. The interior surfaces of forms shall be adequately oiled, greased or
soaped, to prevent adhesion of mortar. Form oil for exposed work shall be
non-staining. Before placing of concrete, the forms shall be cleaned of all
dirt, sawdust, shavings or other debris, and the surfaces shall be
dampened.
13.4. Special care shall be exercised to secure smooth and tight-fitting forms,
which can be rigidly held to line and grade and removed without injury to
the concrete. All corners in the finished work shall be true, sharp and
clean-cut. Alignment of forms and grade of top chamfer strips shall be
checked immediately after the placing of concrete in the forms.
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237-6

13.5. Forms shall not be removed until the product of the elapsed number of
days after placement and the average daily air temperature at the surface
of the concrete equals 100 for walls and vertical surfaces and 500 for
slabs.
13.6. Shores under beams and slabs shall not be removed until the concrete
has attained at least 60 percent of the specified cylinder strength and also
sufficient strength to support safely its own weight and the
CONSTRUCTION LIVE LOADS upon it. Shores under cantilevers shall
remain in place at least 28 days after concrete is placed.
14.0

EMBEDDED ITEMS
14.1. All sleeves, inserts, hangers, anchor bolts, dowels, nailing strips, or other
embedded items, shall be accurately set, and firmly held in place while the
concrete is deposited. Anchors and ties for masonry shall be provided as
shown on the drawings or called for in the masonry specifications.
14.2. Pipes, conduits and other items embedded in the concrete shall be so
placed and held that they do not misplace the reinforcing or weaken the
concrete at points of maximum stress or where the concrete section is not
sufficient to permit the reduction of area caused by the embedment.

15.0

PLACING CONCRETE
15.1. All concrete shall be placed during daylight hours allowing sufficient time
for adequately finishing the concrete surfaces during daylight hours unless
approved by the Engineer for nighttime construction. No concrete shall be
placed until the forms have been approved by the Engineer and until all
the reinforcement is in place and has been inspected and approved by the
Engineer. No concrete shall be placed in water, and forms shall be free
from water, dirt, debris, or any foreign matter when concrete is placed.
Normal weather limitations for placing concrete shall be adhered to and no
concrete shall be exposed to the action of water before final setting.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

237-7

15.2. The method and manner of placing concrete shall be such as to avoid the
possibility of segregation or separation of the aggregates. If the quality of
concrete as it reaches its final position is unsatisfactory, the concrete as
placed shall be discontinued or adjusted until the quality of the concrete as
placed is satisfactory. Open troughs or chutes shall be of metal or metallined. Where steep slopes are required the chutes shall be equipped with
baffles or shall be in short lengths that reverse the direction of movement.
Where placing operations would involve dropping the concrete freely more
than five feet, it shall be deposited through pipes, sheet metal or other
approved material. Troughs, chutes or pipes with a combined length of
more than 30 feet shall be used only on written authority from the
Engineer. All troughs, chutes and pipes shall be kept clean and free from
coatings or hardened concrete by being thoroughly flushed with water
after each run, or in its final position. Depositing a large quantity at any
point and running or working it along the forms shall not be done. Special
care shall be taken to fill each part of the forms and to work the coarse
aggregate back from the face and to force the concrete under and around
the reinforcing bars without displacing them. The concrete consistency as
measured by slump shall be as specified above.
15.3. Concrete shall be compacted by continuous working with a suitable tool in
an acceptable manner and by vibrating. Vibration shall be done by
experienced operators under close supervision and the duration shall be
held to a minimum necessary to produce thorough compaction without
segregation. Where vibrators are not used all thin section work shall be
thoroughly worked with a steel-slicing rod. All faces shall be well spaded
and the mortar flushed to the surface by continuous working with a
concrete spading implement.
15.4. In all cases where, on account of the obstructions produced by reinforcing
metal, shapes or forms, or any other uncontrollable condition, difficulty is
encountered in puddling the concrete adjacent to the forms, the mortar
content of the mix shall be brought into proper contact with the interior
surfaces by vibrating the forms. The vibrations shall be produced by
striking the outside surfaces of the forms with wooden mallets or by other
means satisfactory to the Engineer.
16.0

TEST SPECIMENS
Whenever required, for each class of concrete, one set of three cylinders shall be
made by the approved Testing Laboratory for each day's placement of concrete
but not less than one specimen for each 25 cu. yd or less.
One of these
cylinders shall be tested at the age of 7 days, and one at the age of 28 days, to
determine the quality of concrete obtained. The costs for performing such tests
will be paid for by the contractor. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor
to properly inform the Testing Laboratory as to when concrete will be placed into
the forms.
STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

237-8

17.0

WATER STOPS
Water stops shall be furnished where shown on the drawings and specified and
shall be furnished in the longest lengths possible. They shall be rigidly supported
and accurately positioned with the center at the joint interface. All water stops
shall be approved 5-inch polyvinyl chloride of the dumb-bell, or ribbed type, and a
minimum of 3/16 inch thick. They shall be continuous along the concrete joint.
Ends and corners shall be spliced to provide water tightness.

18.0

CURING & PROTECTION

18.1. All concrete work shall be protected against damage from the elements
and defacement of any nature during construction operations.
18.2. Water shall not be permitted to rise on concrete within 2 hours after it is
placed, nor shall running water be allowed to flow over completed
concrete within 4 days after it has been placed.
18.3. All concrete, particularly slabs and including finished surfaces, shall be
treated immediately after concreting or cement finishing is completed to
provide continuous moist curing for at least 7 days, regardless of the
adjacent air temperature. Walls and vertical surfaces may be covered
with continuously saturated burlap, or kept moist by other approved
means. Horizontal surfaces, slabs, etc., shall be ponded to a depth of 1/2
inch wherever practicable, or kept continuously saturated wet by the use
of lawn sprinklers, a complete covering of continuously saturated burlap,
or by other approved means. Except on surfaces to which additional
coatings or materials are to be bonded, the Contractor may, at his option,
use an approved membrane-curing compound in lieu of water curing of
concrete.
The compound shall be delivered to the job in the
manufacturer's containers and shall be applied in strict accordance with
the manufacturer's printed instructions.
18.4. Curing compound for exposed surfaces shall be non-staining.
18.5. For at least 7 days after having been placed, all concrete shall be so
protected that the temperature at the surface will not fall below 50 degrees
F.
18.6. No manure, salt, or other chemicals shall be used for protection.
18.7. The above mentioned 7-day period may be reduced to 3 days in each
case if high-early-strength cement is used in the concrete.

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

237-9

18.8. Wherever practical, finished slabs shall be protected from the direct rays
of the sun to prevent checking and crazing.
18.9. When the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or predicted to go
below 36 degrees in the next 24 hours, or predicted to go below 32
degrees in the next 72 hours, no concrete shall be poured without the
express permission of the Engineer. Permission so granted shall be for
the day and location only and must again be requested on subsequent
days when temperatures are as stated above. The use of chemicals in
the concrete mix to reduce temperature of freezing will not be permitted.
19.0 FINISHING
19.1.

Strike off concrete surfaces to elevations and profiles indicated, and finish
with wood or cork float as hereinafter specified, even and true, free from
cracks, pockets, or other imperfections. Discontinue as soon as water
appears on surface. Finished concrete, except at warped surfaces, shall
be such that irregularities shall not exceed 1/4 inch as measured by a 10foot straight edge.
19.2. Following removal of forms, thoroughly wet all surfaces to remain
exposed. Fill all honeycombs, tie rod holes and areas damaged in form
removal with grout composed of one part portland cement to two parts
sand, with water as required, and rub with abrasive stones to a smooth,
uniform surface.
19.3. Any work not formed as indicated on drawings or that is out of alignment
or level or shows a defective surface shall be corrected in a manner
satisfactory to the Engineer.
19.4. It is expected that forms, concrete and workmanship shall be such that the
quantity of trimming and repair work is kept to a minimum.

20.0

BONDING AGENT
Where new concrete is to be placed against existing concrete, the existing
concrete surface shall be coated with a bonding agent SIKA Armatech 110 or
approved equal prior to placing new concrete. Application shall be in strict
accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.

21.0

MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

The quantities to be paid for specifically under this Section shall be the volume,
in cubic yards, of each of the various classes of concrete shown in the plans,
complete in place and accepted including form work, reinforcing, placement, and
all other incidentals. Such quantities, taking into account over-runs and underruns, shall be paid for at the contract proposal unit prices per cubic yard, for each
of the various classes of concrete shown in the proposal. Where the plans call
for water stops, the coast thereof shall be included in the contract unit price for
the concrete.
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237-10