1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

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Concrete Cover Speci cations for Reinforcement in Di erent C

Concrete cover is assumed to be the rst measure considered to prevent in uences of aggress
the reinforcement steel bars. That is why utmost cautions are needed during concrete cover th
its construction.

Commonly, the thickness of concrete cover is speci ed based on the type of the reinforced con
the environment in which the structure is constructed.

In this article, concrete cover speci cations based on various most commonly used codes will b

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

The speci cation of di erent codes regarding concrete cover is commonly dependent on natur
method of construction, environmental factors around the structure, and quality of concrete u
construction.

Determination of Concrete cover thickness according to the speci cations of the following code

ACI code

European Code

British standard

Special speci cations for structures subjected to considerably sever conditions

Concrete Cover Speci cations as per ACI code

The American code institute (ACI 318-11) provides minimum concrete cover thickness for di er
reinforced concrete structure. These minimum concrete covers can be found in the Table 1.

The ACI code speci es certain condition in which this minimum cover thickness would not be a
it needs to be increased. These conditions include corrosive environment, re protection, and f

For example, for reinforced concrete member subjected to sea water, the ACI code speci es th
concrete cover should be at least 50mm.

It is desired to set minimum thickness of concrete cover as 65mm to account for possible cons
hence make sure that 50mm cover thickness is achieved.

The code allows the use of cover thickness smaller than those provided in Table-1 for precast c

Table-1: Minimum Cover Thickness for Cast-in-Place Concrete

Type of structure Concrete

Concrete cast against and permanently in contact with ground 75

Concrete in contact with ground or water

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

No. 19 through No. 57 bars 50

No. 16 bar and smaller 40

Concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground

Slabs, walls, joists

No. 43 and No. 57 bars 40

No. 36 bar and smaller 20

Beams, columns

Primary reinforcement, ties, stirrups, spirals 40

Shells, folded plate members

No. 19 bar and larger 20

No. 16 bar and smaller 13

Concrete Cover Speci cations as per European Code

The euro code provides exact recommendation and details regarding the thickness of concrete
speci ed minimum concrete cover along with water to cement ratio, concrete strength, and mi
content based on the type of weather condition to which the structure is exposed.

This can be clearly observed in Table-2 that provided minimum concrete cover thickness along
parameters based on the weather condition.

Table-2: Minimum concrete cover according to the European code an

speci cations

Exposure Maximum W/C Minimum cement content, Minimum concrete cover

condition ratio Kg/m3 mm

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

Dry 0.65 260 15

Humid

No frost 0.60 280 20

Frost 0.55 280 25

De-icing salts 0.5 300 40

Seawater

No frost 0.55 300 40

Frost 0.50 300 40

Aggressive chemicals

Slightly 0.55 280 25

Moderately 0.50 300 30

Highly 0.45 300 40

It is proven by number of researchers like Browne et. el. and Van Daver that concrete cover in
structures are less than that speci ed in design.

For example, Browne et. el. reported that average cover thickness of observed structures was 1
25mm that speci ed in the design.

That is why European code states that minimum cover thickness should be increased by permi
deviation which ranges from 5-10mm for cast in situ concrete and 0-5mm for precast concrete

Concrete Cover Speci cations as per British standard

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

According to the British standard thickness of concrete cover is based on weather condition in
structure is constructed. In addition to the concrete strength, and quality of concrete that is de
cement content and water to cement ratio.

Table-3 provides minimum concrete cover thickness determined according to the British stand

Table-3: Thickness and properties of concrete cover according to Brit

Concrete grade, MPa

30 35 40 45

Water/ cement ratio

Environmental conditions 0.65 0.60 0.55 0.50

Minimum cement content, Kg/m3

25 20 20 20

Concrete cover thickness

Moderate1 25 20 20 20

Moderate2 — 35 30 25

Hard3 — — 40 30

Very hard4 — — 50 40

Maximum condition5 — — — 60

1 concrete surface protected from external weather or hard condition

2 concrete surfaces protected from rain or freezing and concrete under water or concrete adjac
soil

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

3concrete surface exposed to rain and wetting and drying

4concrete exposed to seawater spray or melting ice by salt or freezing

5concrete surface exposed to abrasion such as seawater containing solid particles, or moving w
machines or cars

Special speci cations for structures subjected to considerably

conditions
Commonly, o shore structures are directly subjected to sea water and speci c protection mea
considered to prevent corrosion of embedded steel bars.

There are three major regions of severe weather condition to which reinforced concrete struct
exposed.

These severe weather conditions include air, splash zone, and immersed in water. The most da
is the splash zone since the structure subjected to seawater and air combination.

ACI 357 provides recommendation regarding cover thickness in severe weather conditions bas
strength, location of structure, and maximum water to cement ratio, see Table 4.

Table-4: ACI 357 recommendations for cover thickness in o shore st

Cover thickn
Location Maximum w/c ratio Minimum concrete strength at 28 days
Reinforced s

Air 0.4 35 50

Splash zone 0.4 35 65

Immersed in water 0.45 35 50

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1/9/2019 Concrete Cover Specifications for Reinforcement in Different Codes

Apart from ACI 357, British standard provides recommendation about the selection of concrete
for private structures.

The determination of concrete cover thickness takes several parameters into consideration for
mixing for each concrete quality, life expectancy of the structure, and chloride di usion factor

Read More: Minimum Concrete Cover for Reinforcement (https://theconstructor.org/pra

guide/concrete-cover-for-reinforcement/6014/)

About Madeh Izat Hamakareem (https://theconstructor.org/author/madeh/)

Madeh is a Structural Engineer who works as Assistant Lecturer in Koya University. He is the author, editor an
theconstructor.org.

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