REINFORCED CONCRETE

========================= GENERAL The work shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the Reinforced Concrete Detail Drawings prepared by the Consulting Engineers. All variations shall be ordered in writing and supported by amended detail drawings, the value of which will be calculated on nett quantities according to the Schedule of Rates. The reference to cement, aggregate, water and mixing under the heading Concretor shall apply. All reinforced concrete shall comply with the requirements of the British Standard Code of Practice C.P. 114 (1957), B.S. 8110 (1985) and those of the Local Authorities. The mix shall be Grade 25 (1:1.1/2:3) or otherwise stated. STEEL FOR REINFORCEMENT The steel for reinforcement shall be obtained only from makers approved by the Engineer and its properties shall comply with the requirements of the appropriate British Standard Specification. Mild steel round bars shall be in accordance with B.S.S. 785:1838. Mesh fabric reinforcement shall be in accordance with B.S.S. 1221:Part A:1954. Samples of all reinforcing steel shall be tested before despatch from the manufacturers works and a copy of the manufacturers Test Certificate shall be made available to the Engineer. The Engineer may require further tests to be carried out on samples taken from the steel delivered to the site. BENDING AND FIXING OF REINFORCEMENT Reinforcing bars shall be cut to length by means of a bar -cutting machine and bent in the manner indicated on the Drawings and/or detailed in the Bar Bending Schedules in accordance with B.S.S. 1478:1948. Bending and straightening shall generally be done cold in a manner that will not injure the material. Hooks and bends shall be formed in a gradual even motion and any bar showing signs of cracking or brittleness shall be rejected. Large diameter bars may be bent or straightened by hot methods unless the material depends for its strength on cold working. Bars bent hot shall not be cooled by quenching. The reinforcement shall be free from oil, grease, dirt and paint, dried concrete and any loose rust shall be removed before use. Reinforcement shall be accurately positioned as shown on the Drawings and adequately secured against displacement by tying with no. 16 gauge annealed steel wire and the ends of all binding wire shall be bend back clear of the formwork. The reinforcement shall be placed so that the concrete cover shown on the Drawings is obtained and supported by means of precast mortar spacer blocks or other approved means. Reinforcement shall be so arranged that construction joints may be properly prepared and formed as specified. Temporary bracing shall be provided to prevent movement of all reinforcement projecting from the concrete during the course of construction.

RC 1/3

REV. 2 8/04

FORMWORK FOR CONCRETE The formwork shall be made of sound and properly seasoned timber or other approved material of sufficient thickness to resist the pressure of the moist concrete without appreciable distortion and where vibration is to be used for the compaction of the concrete shall be suitably strengthened to withstand the additional forces. Forms described as wrot shall consist of closed-jointed planned timber or shall consist of, or be faced with, other suitable material approved by the Engineers, and designed to impart a smooth face to the finished concrete surface. Rough formwork shall be of rough sawn timber or other suitable material. CONSTRUCTION OF FORMWORK Formwork shall be constructed to the outlines of the concrete shown in the Drawings. For the construction of all water retaining structures, no bolting of formwork shall be allowed. It shall be properly braced and supported to withstand, without movement or deflection, the loads which may be placed upon it. All joints shall be sufficiently tight to prevent the loss of any mortar or fine materials from the mix. Formwork for vertical sides is to be so arranged that it can be struck first. Formwork shall be arranged to be removable without jarring or damaging the fresh concrete. All formwork is to tongued and grooved edges when vibration is used to compact concrete. Wedges and clamps shall be used in preference to nails for securing the form components and bolts or rods shall preferably be used for internal ties. The later shall be so arranged that when the forms are removed, no metal shall be within 1 inch of the concrete surface. Formwork shall be supported form previously constructed parts of the structure only with the prior permission of the Engineer. When this permission is given, the formwork shall be so designed as not to produce over stress in the structure. Otherwise the formwork shall be supported from a solid bed and the supporting members shall be capable of withstanding the loads imposed on them by the loaded formwork without deflection or overstress. MOULD OIL FOR FORMWORK Mould oil or other approved coating shall be applied to the surface of all formwork which will be in contact with the concrete to be placed. The coating shall be insoluble in water, non-staining and not injurious to concrete. Mould oil must not be allowed to come into contact with the reinforcement. Mould oil shall be applied to all wrot formwork prior to fixing of formwork. PREPARATION PRIOR TO CONCRETING Before placing concrete all shavings, sawdusts, nails and foreign matter are to be removed from the forms, preferably by the application of a jet of compressed air. Temporary openings for cleaning out and inspection shall be provided at the base of vertical forms and at other places as necessary.

RC 2/3

REV. 2 8/04

REMOVAL OF FORMWORK No formwork or supports shall be removed until the concrete has attained sufficient strength to support its own weight and any designed loads which may be imposed upon it and in all cases, the direct permission of the Engineer shall be obtained before such removal. The removal of forms shall be done under the personal supervision of a competent foreman in such a way that concrete is not jarred or damaged. The following minimum periods shall elapse between the placing of concrete and the striking of formwork:Beam sides, walls and columns - 4 days Slabs (props left under) - 7 days Beam soffits (props left under) - 10 days Removal of props under slabs - 14 days Removal of props under beams - 21 days All these times may be reduced when the concrete if vibrated or otherwise to the approval shall not be taken to relieve the Contractor of liability for any injury to the work and any consequential damage cause by, or arising from premature removal of formwork or props. All formwork which is to be re-used shall be thoroughly cleaned and re-conditioned. SLUMPS Slump tests to be made at frequent intervals each day during the progress of concreting. The following are the maximum permissable slumps for ordinary cement:Beams and slabs Columns Walls Impermeable work Steps Foundations TEST CUBES The Contractor to allow for the full cost of preparing, submitting and testing test cubes of the various mixes of concrete, and for testing the cement at intervals during the progress of the Contract, as and when required by the Engineers. KEY FOR PLASTER All concrete to be well roughened to form key where it is to receive plaster. Any wood burr remaining on concrete from formwork to be washed and scrubbed off with wire brushes. Concrete to be hacked if the Engineers consider it necessary to provide a further key for plaster rendering. SUNDRIES Cut and form all grooves, holes, mortices, chases, etc., and make good. Provide temporary fillets or carving, form all throats, channels and the like. 125mm(5) 100mm(4) 125mm(5) 115mm(4.1/2) 100mm(4) 75mm(3)

RC 3/3

REV. 2 8/04