AA SPECIFICATION SPEC_114011

CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE Issue 0

WORK Copyright

CONTENTS PAGE

INTRODUCTION 2

SPECIFICATION DATA 2

1 SCOPE 2

2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES 2

3 DEFINITIONS 2

4 REQUIREMENTS 3

5 COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS 5

APPENDIX A: RELATED DOCUMENTS 6

APPENDIX B: RECORD OF AMENDMENTS 6

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INTRODUCTION
This specification details the requirements for the construction of structural concrete work in
buildings and structures. It is specifically intended for use in the construction of structural concrete
work in South Africa, but it can also be used for structural concrete work to be constructed in other
countries, provided all specific requirements, as set out in the relevant construction standards and
legislation applicable to those countries, are taken into account.

All structural concrete work shall comply with the requirements of the latest edition of SANS 2001
Part CC1: Concrete works (structural) as amended by the AA plc Specification Data defined by this
specification.

SPECIFICATION DATA
This specification data is to be read in conjunction with the latest edition of SANS 2001 Part CC1
and is structured to reference the numbers used therein. Only clauses amended from
SANS 2001 CC1 are included in this Specification Data.

The amendments to SANS 2001 CC1 are:

1 SCOPE
Delete the second paragraph, and insert the following:

“Where so stated in the scope of works and conditional upon additional specification data,
the followings structures may be covered by this specification:
• Harbour and marine structures.
• Underground structural concrete, including shaft system structures e.g. shaft and
station structures.”

2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES
The following reference is added:
• AA Specification 114010; Design of Concrete Structures

3 DEFINITIONS
The following definition is added:

3.1.14 Scope of work

The scope of work is as defined by SANS 10403, but specifically including the
construction drawings. Where any conflict exists between the construction
drawings and other portions of the scope of work, the construction drawings
take precedence.

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The following definition is deleted and replaced with:

3.2.3 cool weather

Weather in which the ambient temperature is greater than 5°C but not greater
than15°C.

4 REQUIREMENTS
4.2.1 The following sub-clauses are to be added:

4.2.1.4 Where alkali reactive aggregate is used for concrete, or where concrete may be
subject to sulphate attack, cement extenders complying with SANS 1491-1,
SANS 1491-2 or SANS 1491-3 shall be used. The appropriate cement
extender and blend proportions shall be specified by a registered Concrete
Technologist.

4.2.2 This clause is amended to require that “Water shall comply with the
requirements of EN 1008.”

4.2.3.5 The clause is amended to require that tests are performed to determine the
following:
a. drying shrinkage on fine and coarse aggregate,
b. drying shrinkage of concrete,
c. flakiness index of stone,
d. alkali-aggregate reaction.

Sub-clause a).3) is amended to read “For use in plain concrete substructures…”

4.2.4.1 The clause is amended to allow the use of admixtures, provided the results of
trial tests which demonstrate their suitability and the following are made
available:
a. the trade name of the admixture, its source and the manufacturer's
recommended method of use.
b. typical dosages and possible detrimental effects of under-dosages and
over-dosages.
c. whether compounds likely to cause corrosion of the reinforcement or
deterioration of the concrete (such as those containing chloride, in any
form, as an active ingredient) are present and, if so, the chloride content of
admixtures, expressed as a mass fraction of chloride ions or expressed as
an equivalent mass fraction of anhydrous calcium chloride.
d. the average expected air content of freshly mixed concrete containing an
admixture that causes air to be entrained when the admixture is used at the
manufacturer's recommended dosage.

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4.3.1.5 The clause is deleted, and replaced by “Earth cuts shall not be used as forms
as forms for vertical surfaces, unless the cut face is stable, will not become
loose during the concreting operation, and is sufficiently impermeable to prevent
egress of water from the concrete.”

4.3.1.7 The clause is deleted and replaced by “Precautions shall be taken to prevent
deterioration of the foundation excavations during the course of construction.”

4.3.1.8 The clause is amended to read “. . . Unless otherwise specified in the scope of
work, the formed surfaces of sections of the works shall be as follows: . . .”

4.4.1.2 The clause is deleted and replaced by “All bars shall be bent cold and bending
shall be done slowly, using a steady, even pressure without jerking or impact.”

4.4.1.3 The clause is deleted. Hot bending of bars is not permitted.

4.4.2.2 The clause is amended to read “…Reinforcement shall be secured at sufficient

intersections to avoid displacement of bars, by tying at intersections with
annealed wire of nominal diameter 1,6mm or 1,25mm or by the use of suitable
clips...” Item (b) is deleted. Welding of reinforcing bars for any reason
whatsoever is not permitted.

4.4.3.1 This clause is deleted and replaced by:

“Unless otherwise specified in the scope of work, the cover of concrete over
reinforcement (other than over rail or structural reinforcement) for various
environmental conditions shall in no case be less than the greater of (a) or (b)
below.
a. The applicable value given in Table 3 for the exposure conditions,
measured from the outside of any bar or stirrup, or
b. The diameter of the reinforcement or stirrup to which the cover is
measured, whichever is the greater.

4.7.3.2 The clause is amended to permit the pumping of concrete.

4.7.4 Table 5 is amended to read “Plain concrete” in place of ”Mass concrete”

4.7.4.1 In using table 5 it can be assumed that unless the scope of work indicates
otherwise, efflorescence is acceptable.

4.7.4.2 The clause is deleted and replaced by “The total water soluble sulphate content
of the concrete mix, expressed as SO3, shall not exceed a mass fraction of 4 %
of the cementitious binder content of the mix.”

4.7.5.1 This clause is amended to apply the air content limits of Table 6.

4.7.7.3.2 This clause is amended to insert at the start of the clause “Unless specifically
permitted in the scope of work, batching by volume is not allowed. If a mix is
prescribed by volume in the scope of work, the fine and the coarse aggregate...”

4.7.10 This clause shall be amended by adding”

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“Concrete may only be placed after inspection and approval of the

reinforcement by the Employer.”

4.7.11.3 This clause is amended to read “Compaction shall be carried out by mechanical
vibration. The concrete shall not be over vibrated…” Other compaction
methods are not permissible.

4.8.6.1 The clause is deleted and replaced by: “Samples of precast concrete units that
have architectural finishes shall be prepared to establish a standard for quality
and colour before full scale production is commenced.”

5 COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS

5.1.1.8 The clause is deleted and replaced by: “The test for the percentage of alkali in
cement shall be either the reference method or the alternative method as
specified in SANS 50196-2”.

5.1.2.2 The second sentence of this clause is deleted and replaced by “Where the
average value of such consecutive tests is at least equal to the specified
strength, the concrete yielding such result shall be accepted, but the mix design
and standard of control shall be reviewed and adjusted to comply with the
requirements of table 9”.

5.1.2.4(b) The clause is amended to read in the last line“…reference, as well as apparatus
that has been calibrated within the previous twelve months;…”

5.1.6.1 For the purposes of this clause, the stabilizing period shall be 7 d and the total
permissible drop in liquid level shall not exceed 10mm or 1/500th of the average
liquid depth, whichever is the lesser.

5.1.6.3 Renumber this clause 5.6.1.4. Insert a new clause 5.1.6.3 which states “In lined
concrete structures the tests shall be done after the lining has been applied and
sufficient time has elapsed for any curing required to take place”.

5.2 TOLERANCES
The second row of Table 11 is amended as follows:

Foundations: plain and reinforced concrete

1. Position on plan of any edge or surface measured from the nearest grid ± 50 ± 35 ± 20
or agreed centre line

2. Linear dimensions on plan cast against excavation sides ± 60 ± 40 ± 20

3. Linear dimensions on plan cast against formwork ± 30 ± 20 ± 10

4. Level of underside of concrete +20, -40 +15, -30 +10, -20

5. Surface level (i.e. top of foundation)(excluding floor slabs) +15, -30 +10, -20 +5, -10

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APPENDIX A: RELATED DOCUMENTS

The latest edition of the following document is deemed to be informative to this specification:

SANS 1921 : Construction and management requirements for works contracts – Part 1: General
engineering and construction works.

APPENDIX B: RECORD OF AMENDEMENTS

Issue 0 : New specification; July 2008 (G J Krige)

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the information contained therein, irrespective of the cause and quantum thereof.