Is there a Minimum concrete volume for testing?

[JoeManNorth]

The contractor ran into a slight problem and will not be able to pour the walls. He is only pouring one column with 2.8 cu.m of concrete. Does this require a test or is it below the minimum concrete volume required for a test... if there is any.

 

[civilperson]

Does he want paid for this concrete or is he donating it since it is such a small volume? If it is paid for, should be tested. Only one test per type of concrete per day for volumes less than 50 CY is required in some specifications.

 

[henri2]

Yes. Check ACI 318 Sections 5.6.2.1 through 5.6.2.3

 

[spagetti]

in addition to civilpersons comment about testing requirements, it is incomplete in that, a minimum of one test per day per mix design plus at anytime a noted difference in slump, and when ever compressive test cylinders are made, and they need to be made for each 75 yards of continious pouring.

 

[JoeManNorth]

The pour was of less then 5 yards (2.8 cubic metres). I know the standards say a test per day, per mix design and no less then one for each 75 yards (100 cubic metres here witch equals to 130 cu. yards). The owner of the building will just have a fit seeing a 185$ test on 5 yards of concrete when not one load has been bad yet.

The ACI notes that there is no need for a test if the total amount of a specified mix design is less then 50 yards given the concrete comes from a reputable cement factory. This does not apply to my job.

 

[boffintech]

The owner's beef is not with the testing lab for testing fees; the owner's beef is with the contractor for pouring a concrete structure is 5 cubic yard increments. I mean this guy is kidding right? If the owner has a problem he should have his contractor develop a more efficient construction schedule that maximises his quality assurance budget.

And where is it written that just because a form is built it has to be filled with concrete that instant? Why can't that little column wait until the next day when the wall is ready and pour everything together?

 

[henri2]

When volume of concrete placed on a given day is less than 50 cubic yards, only the building official has the power to waive testing, according to ACI 318. Check 5.6.2.3

Is the project located in a jurisdiction where ACI 318 is part of the building code referenced standards?

 

[BigH]

And, for you who follow other countries' codes, the 75 m3 is not necessarily the norm for all cases. In India, on the highway projects, you did one test for the less than 6 m3; 2 tests for 7 to 15 m3; 3 tests for 15 to 25 m3 and 4 tests for 25 to 50 m3. Then one test for each 50 m3. Look at your own jurisdiction's or code's requirements.