Smiths Concrete for Foundations, Floors, Pavings & General Applications
Applications for Designated/Standard Concretes
The following information is extracted from BS 8500, and will assist when specifying the precise Concrete for the job. Select your application from the left-hand column and match it with the suitable type of Concrete on the right. If you require further assistance contact us by e-mail or using the telephone order hotline above.
General Applications
Application |
Designated Concrete |
Standardised Prescribed Concrete |
Recommended consistence class |
| Foundations | |||
| Blinding and mass concrete fill | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Strip footings** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Mass concrete foundations** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Trench fill foundations** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Reinforced foundations** | RC 28/35 | N/A | S3 |
| Foundations in Class 2 sulfate conditions | Seek specialist Advice | ||
| Foundations in Class 3 sulfate conditions | Seek specialist Advice | ||
| Foundations in Class 4A sulfate conditions | Seek specialist Advice | ||
| Foundations in Class 4B sulfate conditions | Seek specialist Advice | ||
| General application | |||
| Kerb bedding and backing | GEN 0 | STI | S1 (nominal 10) |
| Drainage works to give immediate support** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S1 (nominal 10) |
| Other drainage works** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Oversite below suspended slabs** | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| Floors | |||
| House floors with no embedded metal | |||
| - Permanent finish to be added, e.g. a screed or floating floor | GEN 1 | ST2 | S3 |
| - No permanent finish to be added e.g. carpeted | GEN 2 | ST3 | S3 |
| Garage floors with no embedded metal | GEN 3 | ST4 | S3 |
| House/Garage floors containing embedded metal | RC25/30 | ST5 | S3 |
| Paving | |||
| House drives, domestic parking & external parking | PAV 1 | N/A | S3 |
| Heavy-duty external paving | PAV 2 | N/A | S3 |
Agricultural Applications
Designated Concretes are quality assured concretes that conform to a specification detailed in BS 8500. These concretes have been selected by governmental bodies and industry to be fit for their intended end uses and they can only be supplied by ready-mixed concrete producers who have third-party product conformity certification. A QSRMC or BSI logo on the delivery ticket provides this confirmation. Purchasers can therefore be confident that the concrete will be delivered as specified and ordered.
This publication contains advice that is the same as that contained in the Ministry of Agriculture's booklet Standard Costs. Part 1:Specification, July 1992.
Selecting the appropriate Concrete
Decide which of the 'typical applications' matches your application and site conditions.
Note: Some soils are potentially aggressive to concrete and it is important to take this into account. If there is no professional advisor, the local Building Control Officer (not the concrete producer) may be able to advise whether the local soil contains sulfates and if so, how aggressive it is. The appropriate designated Concrete can be selected from the table which uses the same terms.
Specify the nominal maximum aggregate size only if it needs to be different from 20mm. Options, if available, will be 40 or 10mm.
The user should specify the required consistence based on the recommendations in the table.
Inform the producer of the intended method of placing and finishing the concrete.
Application |
Designated Concrete |
Recommended consistence class
(nominal slump*) |
| Concrete in non-aggressive soils | ||
| Un-reinforced foundations | GEN 1 | S3 |
| Reinforced foundations | RC 28/35 | S3 |
| Oversite concrete | GEN 3 | S3 |
| Blinding under slabs | GEN 1 | S3 |
| Mass concrete (non-structural) | GEN 1 | S3 |
| Column bases | RC 28/35 | S3 |
| Foundations in sulfate-bearing soils | ||
| Foundations in class 2 sulfate conditions | Seek Specialist Advice | |
| Foundations in class 3 sulfate conditions | Seek Specialist Advice | |
| Foundations in class 4A sulfate conditions | Seek Specialist Advice | |
| Foundations in class 4B sulfate conditions | Seek Specialist Advice | |
| Floors and roads | ||
| Livestock floors | RC 28/35 | S3 |
| Stable floors | RC 35/45 | S3 |
| Crop store floors | RC 28/35 | S3 |
| Floors (and walls) for silage | RC 35/45 | S3 |
| Sugar beet storage areas | RC 32/40 | S3 |
| Workshop floors and floors subject to small-wheeled forklift trucks | RC 32/40 | S3 |
| Brewers'grain stores | RC 35/45 | S3 |
| Mushroom sheds | RC 32/40 | S3 |
| Toppings for floors such as parlours and dairies | RC 35/45 | S3 |
| Floors (and walls) for manure and slurry stores | RC 32/40 | S3 |
| External yards and roads subject even to occasional de-icing salts | PAV 2 | S3 |
| Other applications | ||
| Cavity infill to reinforced masonry | RC 32/40 | S3 |
**Notes
1. 4Omm aggregate may be used in mass concrete or large
foundation bases.
2. S3 slump class concrete can be used in large foundations and
should be used in trench fill foundations.
3. When concreting on steep slopes, 5Omm or in some
cases 20mm slump concrete
should be used but this will require vibrating equipment
to compact it adequately. On flat surfaces, S3 slump class concrete may be
specified if the concrete is to be compacted by hand
tamping.
4. In a few parts of the UK, local materials may not
be suitable for the production of these high strength
concretes.
In such
circumstances, Mix 8 in the
Ministry of Agriculture's Standard Costs. Part 1: Specification
should be used.
5. C35A concrete meets the
requirements of BS 8007 Code of practice for design
of concrete structures for retaining aqueous liquids
demanded by the Control of Pollution Regulations 1991. and this concrete should be specified for any application
that is to be used for holding/storing liquids.
6. Where the concrete is subject to even occasional
de-icing salts, designated concrete PAV2 is recommended.
7. Use low consistence concrete's
for acid and abrasion resistance. Take care to
ensure full compaction of the fresh concrete and proper
curing for at least several days.
8. What used to be known as
Workability is now referred to as CONSISTENCE. New consistence
classes have been introduced as follows:
Slump Class
Target slump mm
S1
20
S2
70
S3
130
S4
180
S5
220 plus
Note: Slump is now specified and measured to the nearest
10 mm
For further reading refer to:
1. BS EN 206-1: Concrete: Specification,
performance, production and conformity.
BS 8500-1
: Method of specifying and guidance for the producer
BS 8500-2
: Specification for constituent materials and concrete
2. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE FISHERIES & FOOD. Standard
costs. Part 1. Specification, July 1992. London, MAFF.
3. BRITISH CEMENT ASSOCIATION. Pocket guide 1. Laying
concrete. Publication 47.518, 1983. 8pp. Crowthorne,
British Cement Association.
Smiths concrete limited does it’s best to ensure that any advice, recommendations or information given is accurate. However, no liability of any kind (including liability for negligence) is accepted in this respect by the company it’s servants or agents.
