Construction Loads
and Cracking
Q. We’re constructing a parking garage and want to
place concrete in some interior columns by using a
forklift to carry a concrete bucket. We will be running the
forklift and loaded bucket on the newly completed elevated
slab. The Engineer of Record (EOR) has indicated that the
slab is designed for a live load of 50 psf (3 kPa) uniform
load or 3000 lb (1350 kg) concentrated wheel load over a
20 in.2 (13,000 mm2) area. Also, the EOR will allow us to
match, but not exceed, the controlling live load as a
construction load. We can do this with a forklift that will
raise the bucket to the desired height above the column by
controlling the volume of concrete in the bucket so as not to
exceed the live load.
The Construction Manager (CM) disapproves of this
placing method and says we’ll be responsible for slab
cracking due to construction loads that include the use of
the forklift and loaded concrete bucket. We’re worried that
the CM will hold us responsible for any flexural cracking if
we put a forklift and loaded bucket on the slab. Are the
responses by the EOR and CM compatible? Also, cracking
caused by drying shrinkage, thermal contraction, or both is
common but we fear this cracking too will be attributed to
our use of the forklift for placing concrete. How can we
protect ourselves against claims by the CM that we are
responsible for repairing all cracks in the elevated slab?
A. Typically, construction loads are limited to the
design loads or less if the concrete has not reached
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the specified compressive strength, fc'. Thus, the EOR’s
requirement that you not exceed the design load is a
reasonable one if the concrete strength on the newly
completed slab has reached fc'. The forms for elevated
slabs are usually stripped when the concrete field
strength is 70 to 75% of fc'. Because of the construction
schedule, most contractors choose a concrete mixture
that reaches this level in 2 to 3 days; so by 7 days, it’s
likely that fc' will be reached. This strength level should be
verified for the project before applying construction
loads that equal the design service loads.
The CM’s response is not compatible with that of the
EOR. It’s not economical, or necessary, to avoid flexural
cracking at design service load levels. Thus, applied
design service loads or construction loads equal to the
design service loads will produce visible flexural cracking
in the slab. The EOR would be aware of this, but the CM
is probably not familiar enough with design practice to
understand that cracking is expected.
Statements in Sections R10.6.1 and R10.6.4 of the
Commentary for “Building Code Requirements for
Structural Concrete (ACI 318-08)”1 indicate that visible
flexural cracking should be expected:
“R10.6.1 — Many structures designed by
working stress methods and with low steel stress
served their intended functions with very limited
flexural cracking. When high strength reinforcing
steels are used at high service load stresses,
however, visible cracks should be expected,
and steps should be taken in detailing of the
reinforcement to control cracking. For reasons of
durability and appearance, many fine cracks are
preferable to a few wide cracks.”
“R10.6.4 — This section was updated in the
2005 edition to reflect the higher service stresses
that occur in flexural reinforcement with the use
of the load combinations introduced in the 2002
Code. The maximum bar spacing is specified
directly to control cracking. For the usual case of
Concrete international / january 2010 75
 beams with Grade 60 reinforcement and 2 in.
clear cover to the main reinforcement, with fs =
40,000 psi, the maximum bar spacing is 10 in.
Crack widths in structures are highly variable.
In Codes before the 1999 edition, provisions were
given for distribution of reinforcement that were
based on empirical equations using a calculated
maximum crack width of 0.016 in. The current
provisions for spacing are intended to limit
surface cracks to a width that is generally
acceptable in practice but may vary widely in a
given structure.
The role of cracks in the corrosion of reinforce-
ment is controversial. Research shows that
corrosion is not clearly correlated with surface
crack widths in the range normally found with
reinforcement stresses at service load levels.
For this reason, the former distinction
between interior and exterior exposure has
been eliminated.”
Shrinkage and temperature cracking aren’t related to
the applied design service loads or to construction
loads. Such cracking should be expected regardless of
construction loading. Section 7.12.2 of ACI 318-08
mandates the required ratios of shrinkage and temperature
reinforcement area to gross concrete area that are
needed to hold crack widths to an acceptable level. You
can protect yourself against claims by the CM that you
are responsible for repairing all cracks in the elevated
slab by citing and discussing the information provided
in this Q&A, and perhaps by including the EOR in
the discussions.
References
1. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for
Structural Concrete (ACI 318-08),” American Concrete Institute,
Farmington Hills, MI, 2008, 465 pp.
Thanks to S.K. Ghosh, S.K. Ghosh Associates, Inc.,
Palatine, IL, for reviewing the answer to this question.

2010 Honors and Awards

Program Nominations
The American Concrete Institute is seeking your nominations
for the 2010 Honors and Awards Program! Nominations are
now being accepted for ACI’s Honorary Member and Fellow
of the Institute honors as well as for ACI’s personal awards
for individual or organizational merit and the Young Member
Award for Professional Achievement.

To provide a nomination for an ACI honor or award, go to

www.concrete.org and click on About ACI and then Honors
and Awards to choose an honor or personal award you wish
to nominate an individual or organization for. Nomination
forms are available under each individual award category as
downloadable Word documents.

If you have any questions regarding the nomination process,

please contact Diane Pociask at Diane.Pociask@concrete.org.
Please submit your nominations by February 15, 2010.
Nominations for Fellow of the Institute must be submitted
by May 30, 2010.

76 January 2010 / Concrete international