CIP 44 - Durability Requirements for Concrete

WHAT are Durability Concerns

Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, has F0, S0, C0, W0

specific requirements for concrete for defined F0, S0, C1, W1

environmental exposure conditions. These provisions Courtesy: Portland Cement Association

are covered in Chapter 19 of ACI 318-14. The Durability Exposure Classes for Concrete Members
following Exposure Categories are covered:
F Concrete exposed to cycles of freezing and HOW Should Durability be Addressed
thawing
Concrete that has a low permeability to water and
S Concrete exposed to water soluble sulfates dissolved chemicals will generally be durable in
C Conditions requiring corrosion protection of most exposure conditions. Permeability of concrete
reinforcement is impacted by water-to-cementitious materials ratio
W Concrete members in contact with water (w/cm), and type and proportions of cementitious
Similar exposure categories are addressed in ACI materials used in the mixture. The w/cm is the ratio
332, Residential Code Requirements for Structural of the weight of mixing water to the weight of all
Concrete. The durability requirements of ACI 318 are cementitious materials. For durability, ACI 318
covered in specification format in ACI 301, requires specifying a max w/cm and min specified
Specifications for Structural Concrete strength, ƒ´c. Since w/cm cannot be verified when
Additional durability considerations, such as cracking concrete is delivered, strength tests are used as the
due to drying shrinkage or thermal gradients, basis of acceptance. The Code cautions that
abrasion, and alkali aggregate reactions, may need to specified strength, ƒ´c, should be reasonably
be considered by the engineer designing the structure. consistent with the w/cm required for durability.
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), like
WHY should Durability be Addressed fly ash and slag cement, reduce the permeability
relative to mixtures that contain only portland
Buildings must comply with the locally adopted cement. SCMs also make concrete more resistant to
Building Code; generally these refer to ACI 318 for chemical factors that impact concrete durability,
structural concrete. Transportation structures must like sulfate attack and alkali aggregate reaction.
comply with the requirements of state highway
agencies. Appropriate durability requirements in ACI 318 defines Exposure Classes (EC) within
specifications minimizes the potential for each Exposure Category based on the severity of
deterioration of concrete to assure public safety and exposure. Increasing severity is represented by
provide adequate service life of concrete structures. If higher numerical value in the EC designation. The
owners want to further extend service life, design and numeral “0” is used when the condition does not
specifications should exceed the minimum stated in apply. The designer is required to assign the
building codes. When the defined exposure durability EC for each member type in a structure.
conditions do not exist, the requirements related to This sets the basis and lends clarity to the
these conditions should not be specified as this can requirements for concrete. It can avoid problems
increase cost with no real benefit. while accepting bids and during construction.
Freezing and thawing exposure (Category F). ECs C0 and C1 there is no max w/cm. For EC C2, the
Four ECs are defined: Code requires a max w/cm and min ƒ´c. For
F0 for no exposur e; reinforced concrete, the Code has max limits on water
F1 for a lower level of satur ation when exposed -soluble chloride ion concentration, expressed as
to freezing; percent by weight of cement, for each EC. Chloride
F2 for higher level of satur ation; and limit for all prestressed concrete is 0.06%. Chloride
F3 same as F2 and the potential for application limits will generally preclude the use of chloride-
of deicing chemicals. based admixtures in reinforced and prestressed
Examples of member types for each EC are concrete. Corrosion inhibiting admixtures are
provided in the commentary of ACI 318. effective for improving corrosion resistance of
Requirements for concrete for these ECs include reinforcement.
max w/cm, min ƒ´c, and air content. Air content can Concrete in contact with water (Category W).
be reduced by 1% for ƒ´c greater than 5000 psi. For Two exposure classes are defined:
plain concrete (non-reinforced) assigned to EC F3, W0 for dr y in ser vice or in contact with water
the max w/cm and min ƒ´c are the same as for EC where low permeability is not required; and
F2. Limits on quantity of SCMs are applicable to
W1 for concr ete in contact with water r equir ing
concrete assigned to EC F3. The intent for these
low permeability.
limits is to minimize the potential for surface
scaling as this will reduce cover and can initiate For EC W1 a max w/cm and min ƒ´c apply.
corrosion of reinforcement. Limits on SCMs should There may be other durability issues that the engineer
not be specified if EC F3 does not apply. of record needs to address and specify for concrete.
Sulfate exposure (Category S). More details on durability and methods to minimize
deterioration are available in other references.
ECs are defined based on concentration of water-
soluble sulfates (SO42-) in soil (% by mass) or water
Min Specified Strength ƒ´c and Max w/cm for
(ppm) in contact with the member. ACI 318 Durability Exposure Classes
S0 <0.10% <150 ppm;
Exposure Class Max w/cm Min ƒ´c, psi
S1 0.10—0.20% 150—1500 ppm
& seawater F0, S0, W0, C0, C1 None 2500
S2 0.20—2.00% <1500—10,000 ppm; F1 0.55 3500
S3 >2.00% >10,000 ppm;
S1, W1 0.50 4000
Sulfate resistance is improved with lower concrete
permeability and a sulfate resistant cementitious S2, S3, F2, F3 (plain) 0.45 4500
system. For each EC, the Code states a max w/cm C2, F3 (reinforced) 0.40 5000
and min ƒ´c and the type of cementitious material.
Sulfate resisting cements include Type II and Type
V portland cements (ASTM C150) and moderate References
sulfate (MS) and high sulfate (HS) resistant blended 1. ASTM Standards, Annual Book of Standards, Vols. 04.01 and
cements (ASTM C595 and C1157). For EC S3, 04.02, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA,
www.astm.org
additional quantity of SCMs that improve sulfate
2. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, ACI 318
resistance is required. The sulfate resistance of a and Commentary 318R, ACI, Farmington Hills, MI,
cementitious system can be determined by service www.concrete.org.
history or by test—ASTM C1012. 3. Specifications for Structural Concrete, ACI 301, ACI,
Corrosion protection of reinforcement (Category C). Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org.
Three ECs are defined : 4. Residential Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and
C0 for member s dr y in ser vice; Commentary, ACI 332, ACI, Farmington Hills, MI,
www.concrete.org.
C1 for moist in ser vice; and
5. Guide to Durable Concrete, ACI 201.2R, ACI, Farmington
C2 for moist and exposed to an exter nal sour ce Hills, MI, www.concrete.org.
of chlorides. 6. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, EB001, 16th ed.
Reinforcement embedded in concrete is protected Ch. 14, PCA, www.cement.org
from corrosion because of the high pH. Corrosion 7. Guide to Improving Specifications for Ready Mixed Concrete,
initiates when chlorides exceed a threshold Pub 2PE004, NRMCA, www.nrmca.org.
concentration or the cover concrete carbonates. For 2017