Chap. 11 (2010).

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Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures ◆ EB001

Table 11-3. Exposure Categories for Durable Concrete (Adapted from ACI 318)
Min. Design
Compressive
Max. Strength,
Exposure Categories w/cm MPa (psi)
Freezing and thawing F0 (Not applicable) – for concrete not exposed to cycles of
freezing and thawing — 17 (2500)
F1 (Moderate) – Concrete exposed to freezing and thawing
cycles and occasional exposure to moisture (and no deicing
chemicals) 0.45 31 (4500)
F
F2 (Severe) – Concrete exposed to freezing and thawing
cycles and in continuous contact with moisture 0.45 31 (4500)
F3 (Very Severe) – Concrete exposed to freezing and thawing
cycles that will be in continuous contact with moisture and
exposure to deicing chemicals or seawater† 0.45 31 (4500)
Sulfates*** S0 (Not applicable)
– Soil: SO4 <0.10%
– Water: SO4 <150 ppm — —
S1 (Moderate)
– Soil: 0.10% ≤ SO4 < 0.20%
– Water: 150 ppm ≤ SO4 <1500 ppm
S – Seawater 0.50 28 (4000)
SO4 2–
S2 (Severe)‡
– Soil: 0.20% ≤ SO4 < 2.0%
– Water: 1500 ppm ≤ SO4 <10,000 ppm 0.45 31 (4500)
S3 (Very severe)‡
– Soil: SO4 > 2.0%
– Water: SO4 >10,000 ppm 0.40* 35 (5000)**
Corrosion
C0 (Not applicable) – Concrete that will be dry or protected
from moisture in service — 17 (2500)
Cl -
C C1 (Moderate) – Concrete exposed to moisture but not to an
external source of chlorides in service 0.45 31 (4500)

C2 (Severe) – Concrete exposed to moisture and an external

source of chlorides in service 0.40 35 (5000)
Permeability
P0 (Not applicable) – Concrete where low permeability to
water is not required
— 17 (2500)
P

P1 Concrete required to have low permeability

to water
0.50 28 (4000)

*ACI 318 uses a w/cm of 0.45

**ACI 318 uses a min. strength of 31 (4500 psi)
*** ASTM C1580 method is recommended to determine sulfate content of soil and ASTM D516 for testing water
† See ACI 318 for the amount of SCMs allowed in concrete exposed to deicers
‡ Chloride admixtures are not allowed

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