Concrete Construction

Inspection
Gerald (Ax) Axford
AMEC
O 505-821-1801
C 505-967-8708
gerald.axford@amec.com

Who is Ax
USAF Engineering Assistant
Drafting
Surveying
Materials testing
Construction management
Concrete batch plant operation
Special weapons testing
Construction
Liaison between USAF and COE for B-2
Program

USAF Experience
USAF Experience
Draftsman / Surveyor
Construction management
NCOIC Drafting Surveying
Base construction manager
Liaison between USAF and COE B-2 bed
down program
DTRA White Sands
Lab tech and plant operator

Lafarge Experience
Lafarge
5 years Concrete Quality
Control
5 years Asphalt Area Manager

AMEC Experience
AMEC
Concrete inspector (mainly
airfields)
HSE Coordinator
Quality assurance manager
Quality control manager

Education
3 Civil Engineering technician schools
USAF
Construction Management USAF
4 courses at PCA
ACI Special Concrete and Transportation
inspector certified
NRMCA II and III certified
Have held ACI Lab I and II

What is Concrete Inspection

????

What is concrete inspection

The term inspection as used in concrete
construction includes not only visual
observations and field measurements but
also laboratory testing and the assembly and
evaluation of test data. Likewise, the term
inspector also applies in many instances to
individuals classed as lab techs who are
assigned to perform the testing , particularly
in the field
ACI Manual of Concrete Inspection

What do concrete construction

inspectors bring to a project
Concrete inspection is a specialized task.
Should be the most knowledgeable concrete
person on the job site in concrete
Bridge between the contractor and designer
Looks out for the builder, contract
management company, and owner
Details are easily overlooked
Should not be money based but specifications
based in approach

Qualifications
Certifications
IBC
ACI
Experience ?????

What do we need to know at the

beginning of a project

Authority levels
Plans and specifications
Weather conditions
Capability (experience) of the contractors

Concrete standards

ACI
UBC
Local codes
Specifications

Preplacement
Soil compaction
Check compaction

Soil moisture
Soil should be moist but no standing water

Temperatures
Determine if Hot or Cold weather concrete
controls need to be implemented

Smoothness specifications
What measures will be taken to control
smoothness

Preplacement
Elevations
Should be established and checked by a surveyor

Rebar

Right size
Right layout
Right location
Right configuration
Clear spaces

Form materials
Form layout
Form and rebar temperatures
Anchors / Embedment's
Mix design

Rebar placed in concrete for

Airfield paving

Rebar in formwork for footings

Forms and rebar for footing

Rebar for a Stem Wall and Column

Rebar for a Stem Wall

Forms for a Stem Wall and

Columns

 Placement method
Bucketed
Pumped
Telebelt
Shute
Equipment and spares

Pump Truck

Motorized Buggy

Bucket

Telebelt

placement

Rate of placement
Will impact required delivery rate for tucks
Time and rotation of trucks

Drop/free fall
Generally not more than 5

Vibration
Correct size for concrete and slump
Inserted straight in and out 5 to 15 seconds

Finishing
No steel on air entrained concrete
What are the requirements for the finished material

Form tightness
Paste leaking out will cause rock pockets

Testing
What is the required frequency
Is the technician certified

Post placement
Smoothness/flatness
Finishing

Screeding
Floating
Toweling
Broom
Jointing

Curing

Generally 7 days
Water
Plastic
Paper
Curing compound
Cure all edges if forms are taken off before 7 days

Post placement
Protection
Cold weather

Heat for 2 to 6 days

Let cool slowly
May be a strength requirement
Curing requirements

Hand finishing airfield paving

Hand finishing airfield paving

Curing Airfield Paving

Protecting in cold weather

Heater for maintaining concrete

temperature

conclusion

The need
The right person
Communication
Documentation

Questions ?????????
I will be around for a while