Is Freeze-Thaw Cycling ever defined by ACI?

[JLSMART]

thread507-385266 thread507-308298
I feel like I'm late coming to this party, but I understand F0 is not exposed to F-T Cycling and F1 is, with the chance of moisture. I live in a area where it freezes, maybe a half dozen times a winter and maybe once on two consecutive nights. To me, that's not F-T Cycling. We pay a significant premium for the 4000psi we use for heavy-duty slabs, which doesn't make any sense when you consider the minimum cement requirement for flatwork gives you that regardless. I am looking for a more definitive definition of the classes than what is given in ACI 318. What constitutes "cycling"?

 

[JLNJ]

Have a look at the IBC Chapter 19 - Concrete. I think there is a map which indicates freezing/durability zones.

 

[dik]

In Winnipeg, we have one cycle per year... Winter and July 1...

Dik

 

[mcdermott2]

Take a look at the attached ACI meeting agenda, page 12. Below is an excerpt:

"Exposure Class F1 is intended to apply to members that will be exposed to freezing and moisture but are not anticipated to be in a critically saturated condition when freezing occurs, such as foundation walls or external walls and columns."

My reading of the code, bolstered by this reference, is that even a single freeze/thaw cycle requires F1 concrete. Basically, if it will be exposed to freezing, it should be F1.

Note that if you take a look at ACI 318-14, though, ACI has relaxed the minimum f'c for F1 to 3500 psi (See Table 19.3.2.1).

 

[JLSMART]

I knew I had seen that Chapter 19 chart, but I kept thinking it was in an ACI publication. It didn't occur to me to look in the IBC. Thanks.