CONCRETE & REINFORCING PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION

1.1 GENERAL

1.1.1. Drawings and Specification

The drawings and specification shall be read together and the works
shall be completed in accordance with the true intent and meaning of
the same. Anything shown on the drawings and not specified or vice-
versa shall be equally binding as though included in both.

Any item not expressly shown or specified shall be constructed or

finished in conformity with the standard of construction and finish
described throughout the job generally.

1.1.2. Nature of the Works

Before submitting a price the Contractor (and intending sub-contractors)

shall visit the site of the Contract to ascertain for himself the nature of
the works required. He shall further examine all drawings and details
relating to the work and shall become fully informed as to the extent and
character of the work required.

In the event of ambiguities or contradictions in the plan and/or

specifications, the Contractor/s must verify the item/s with the Engineer
before pricing that part of the work. Thereafter no consideration will be
granted for any alleged misunderstanding of the materials to be
furnished or work to be done, it being understood that the lodgement of
a tender carries with it:

(a) A full understanding of the project

(b) Agreement with the conditions therein
(c) An undertaking to execute and complete all work as specified
herein and/or as indicated or implied by the accompanying
drawings.

1.1.3. Materials and Workmanship

All materials and workmanship shall comply with the relevant

requirements of every appropriate NZ Standard Specification and the
Building Act. Where no such Specification is available then the relevant
British Standards shall apply.

Materials throughout shall be of first quality and the best of their

respective kinds. All workmanship is to be carried out in accordance
with the best trade practise, accurately set out, structurally sound, neatly
executed and finished.

Wherever a Manufacturer provides printed instructions as to the best

manner in which to use a material, such printed instructions shall be
deemed part of this Specification, except that in the event of detailed
 drawings or specifications varying from the Manufacturer's
recommendations, instructions shall be sought from the Engineer.

If any work is not in accordance with the above, or if any work is

defective, it shall be removed and replaced at the Contractor's expense.

1.1.4. Protection of Works and Security

It shall be the Contractor's responsibility to safeguard his work from

damages by the public and the property of others from damage by his
operations. He shall at all times ensure that the work in progress is not
damaged by storm or flood, by providing adequate means of stormwater
disposal.

1.1.5. Sections of Specifications

This Specification is divided into various sections for convenience and

reference only. Whilst reasonable care has been taken to classify by
trades, no claims will be admitted in respect of work not specifically
mentioned in a particular section but which is provided for, expressed or
implied elsewhere in the Specification or the Drawings. It shall not be
construed that each section is a separate Contract.

1.1.6. Safety of the Works

Where work is vitally necessary for the saving of life or property or for
assuring the safety of the works, such works shall be carried out by the
Contractor immediately, by day or by night. The Contractor immediately
shall advise the Engineer in writing of the full circumstances.

Should the Contractor not be in a position to undertake immediately

such vital work, the Principal reserves the right to carry out such work by
his own or other agencies, and to deduct the costs arising therefrom
from monies which may become due to the Contractor under the
Contract.

1.1.7. Existing Services

The Contractor must locate all services as far as is possible before work
commences. Any information shown in the drawings is given in good
faith but with no guarantee of accuracy as regards alignment,
furthermore, no guarantee is given or implied that the information
provided covers all existing services. The Contractor shall be solely
responsible for all damage done to existing services and shall make
good at his own cost all such damage without delay to the satisfaction of
the Engineer and the appropriate Controlling Authority or owner. The
Contractor shall provide all temporary support etc, necessary to allow
the continued use of all services throughout the duration of the Contract.

1.1.8. Damage to Adjacent Work

Should damage occur to adjacent work and/or adjacent structures,

during the course of reinstatement, the Contractor is required to make
good such damage at his own cost, without delay and to the satisfaction
 of the Engineer. Provision in the tender price should be allowed for such
contingencies whether or not the damage is unavoidable.

1.1.9. Avoidance of Nuisance

The whole of the work shall be carried out in such a manner as to cause
as little convenience to adjoining property owners and the public and the
Contractor will be responsible for any claims which may arise. In
particular all noisy equipment shall, where practicable, be fitted with
silencers.

1.1.10. Fire Precautions

The Contractor shall take special precautions when any operation

involves fire, heat or welding and shall have suitable hoses or fire
extinguishers ready for immediate use adjacent to any such operations.

The Contractor shall be responsible for seeing that all his sub-
contractors and workmen are employed on the site comply with these
requirements.

1.1.11. Dimensions

It shall be the sub-contractor's responsibility to check all dimensions on

site before he commences fabrication.

1.1.12. Setting Out

The Contractor is responsible for the correct positioning of the new

work.

1.2. IN-SITU CONCRETE

1.2.1. Preliminary

Refer to the General Conditions of Contract and the Preliminaries

section of this specification, which are equally binding on all sections.

1.2.2. Scope

These specifications cover cast-in-place structural concrete and minor

concrete work.

1.2.3. Materials and Workmanship

1.2.4. NZS Standards

Attention is drawn to the following NZ Standards, the relevant clauses of

which, including amendments, shall be deemed to form part of this
specification unless otherwise specified herein:

NZS 3101: The Design of Concrete Structures

 NZS 3104: Concrete Production High Grade and Special Grade
NZS 3109: Specification for Concrete Construction
NZS 3111: Methods of Test for Water and Aggregate for Concrete
NZS 3112: Methods of Test for Concrete
NZS 3121: Water and Aggregate for Concrete
NZS 3122: Portland Cement (ordinary, rapid hardening and modified).
NZS 3402: Steel Bars for the Reinforcement of Concrete
NZS 3421: Hard Drawn Mild Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement
NZS 3422: Welded Fabric of Drawn Steel Wire for Concrete
Reinforcement
NZS 4702: Metal Arc Welding of Reinforcing Bar
NZS 3114: Specification for Concrete Surface Finishes

1.2.5. Cement

Portland Cement shall conform in every respect with the requirements of

NZS 3122. Ordinary Portland cement shall be used. Rapid hardening
cement shall not be used. Cement shall be stored and handled at all
times so as to be protected from moisture from the air, the ground or
any other source whatsoever.

1.2.6. Fine Aggregates

Fine aggregates shall consist of natural sand, or sand prepared from

stone or gravel, fully complying with NZS 3111 and NZS 3121.

1.2.7. Coarse Aggregates

Coarse aggregates shall consist of gravel, crushed stone or crushed

gravel, or other inert materials of similar characteristics, or combination
thereof, having hard, strong, durable pieces free from adherent coatings,
provided that the full requirements of NZS 3111 and NZS 3121 are met.
The maximum size of coarse aggregate shall be 20 mm. The source of
supply of aggregate shall not be changed without the written approval of
the Engineer.

1.2.8. Additives

No additives, admixtures or surface agents shall be used in or on the

concrete without approval, except that 4.5% plus or minus 1.5% of air
may be entrained without approval.

1.2.9. Water

Clean water from the Council water supply shall be used for making
concrete.

1.2.10. Dimensions

Check all dimensions on the site and notify the Engineer of any
inconsistencies of levels or dimensions with the plans prior to
commencing work.
1.2.11. Concrete Mixtures

Concrete strengths and grades shall be as required by the Concrete

Work and Precast Concrete sections of this Specification.

Design of mixes and supervision of manufacture and testing at the plant

shall be the responsibility of an approved person. The Contractor will
supply, on request, any information in his possession to assist mix
design. The Contractor shall supply the following mix details in writing
for approval before concrete supply commences:

Concrete Grade Batch Weights of Cement and Aggregate Slump

Amount of Entrained Air Yield Target Compressive Strength Total
Amount of Water in Mix Water/Cement Ratio by Weight Admixture and
Amount.

The Engineer shall be advised immediately of any subsequent change.

The mixes shall be capable of being readily placed and well compacted
in normal placing situations without segregation. They shall result in
homogeneous concrete with the required strength, density, durability
and surface finish.

When use of any mix has been approved it shall still be the Contractor's
responsibility to ensure that the concrete satisfies the Specification at all
times.

If at any time the concrete does not satisfy the Specification, delivery
shall cease until approved corrective action has been taken.

The cost of any mix alteration, including increased cement content if

required, necessary to make the concrete satisfactory shall be the
Contractor's responsibility. Any such altered mix shall be dealt with in
terms of the Specification.

Permission may be given only by the Engineer for higher than specified
slumps in special situations provided the water cement ratio is not
changed. Special situations shall be those where spacing between
reinforcing bars makes placement of concrete and use of a suitable
vibrator difficult.

1.2.12. Concrete Plant Grading

For a ready mixed concrete plant supplying concrete for the precast
concrete the initial grading shall be either:

The current grading as determined. by the Qualification Committee of

NZ Ready Mixed Concrete Association; or

A current grading certificate and report issued by an approved assessor

(current means that the inspection and grading determination have been
carried out within the previous twelve months).
 For a site mixed concrete plant:

The Contractor shall demonstrate his ability to comply consistently with

the requirements of NZS 3109:1997.

For the grade of concrete required, the Contractor shall submit full
details of all plant, materials, mix details and supervision, and co-
operate in conducting any tests required. Where some or all of the
details of the plant, materials and concrete proposed for the Contract
are the same as have applied on recent work, the Contractor shall
supply supporting test data from:

Plant test results obtained in the course of plant quality control, certified
by the Supervising Engineer; or, Consecutive test results from an
independent test agency with MWD Laboratory.

No concrete shall be supplied by a site plant until approval has been

obtained.

A plant shall continue supplying concrete in the initially determined

grade until sufficient test results show that a change is justified, or
necessary.

If at any time a plant supplying special grade concrete shows that it is

not attaining this standard then concrete delivery shall cease until it is
shown that corrective action has been taken.
If a plant supplying high grade concrete consistently attains special
grade results, then consideration will be given to acceptance of special
grade concrete from it.

1.2.13. Batching and Mixing

Volumetric measurement of cement and aggregates shall not be used

except under approved exceptional circumstances.

The interval between adding cement to the ingredients in the mixer and
discharging at the site shall not exceed 90 minutes of 300 revolutions,
whichever comes first, unless otherwise approved.

No water shall be added to the mixer after it has left the mixing plant.

1.2.14. Ready Mixed Concrete

Delivery dockets shall show specified strength and slump, date, time
completed, admixtures, cement content, and mix designation and time
of loading and unloading.

1.2.15. Handling and Placing

Before concrete pouring commences, the Contractor shall submit for

approval his proposed handling and placing methods, sequence and
timing of pours, and location of construction joints if these have not been
specified.
 Unless otherwise approved the Engineer shall be advised at least
twenty-four hours before the proposed time for concreting that
foundations, formwork, reinforcing steel and construction joints are
ready for inspection. Concreting shall not commence until approval is
given.

Concrete shall be placed directly in corners, at ends and at intervals of

not more than 1.5 m to restrict lateral flow to 0.75 m, depth of each layer
shall not exceed 0.5 m and in congested areas 0.3 m.

Concrete shall be placed within 30 minutes of discharge from the mixer

or agitator, or before initial set whichever is sooner.

Concrete shall not be dropped through a free fall greater than 2 m

unless otherwise approved.

Vibrators shall be immersion type of frequency not less than 8000 RPM
and centrifugal force not less than 5 KN.

Vibrators shall penetrate the previous layer at about 0.5 M intervals for
periods of five to fifteen seconds and shall continue to be operated while
being slowly withdrawn. Concrete shall not be vibrated to such an extent
as to cause segregation. Sufficient reserve vibrators shall be held at the
job during concreting operations, some powered by alternative means.

Equipment for rain and frost protection shall be available immediately

when required.

No concrete shall be placed under unfavourable weather conditions

except with such precautions as the Engineer may approve in writing.
Unfavourable weather conditions shall be deemed to include rainfall in
excess of 1.5 mm per hour, and low temperatures below 5 degrees C,
when the temperature is descending, or below 2 degrees C with the
temperature ascending

1.2.16. Construction Joints

Where not shown on the drawings or specified, construction joint

locations shall be Subject to approval.

Generally, however:

Joints in floors shall be located near midspan of slabs or beams, but

shall be offset twice the width of any beam intersecting this area.
Horizontal joints in walls and columns shall occur immediately above
and below beams and slabs.

Beams shall be poured monolithically with slabs unless otherwise

approved.

If used, upstands to concrete walls and columns shall be poured at the

same time as the floor slabs.
 Unless otherwise approved or specified:

The area of ground floor slab poured in one pour shall be planned so
that when saw cut the area between joints shall not exceed 30 square
metres and the length of any side shall not exceed 7.5 metres.

Saw cuts, when used, shall be 6.0 mm wide and between 25% and 30%
of the slab thickness in depth and unless specifically noted otherwise
shall be washed out and filled as soon as is practicable after cutting with
Fosroc Colpor 200 or other equivalent approved product applied strictly
in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.

If necessary, areas shall be less than those given above and shall be
poured in alternate bays, or with shrinkage gaps, with a suitable delay
before infilling is carried out.

Construction Joints shall be one of the following two types:

Type A

Joint surfaces shall be roughened and cleaned of laitance, loose

and foreign matter by approved methods. Permission must be
obtained from the Engineer for use of a retarder.

Type B

Surfaces shall be intentionally roughened with an amplitude of

approximately 3 mm above and below the average surface, so
that the surface provided is similar to a broken concrete surface.
This shall be accomplished with air tools or similar approved
means.

The surface shall be kept moist for 24 hours prior to placing fresh
concrete, there shall be no separate application of grout or mortar to the
joint.

A delay until the concrete has ceased sedimentation and bleeding water
shall be allowed in walls, columns and deep beams before concreting
any member supported by them as part of the same pour. This delay will
not normally be less than half an hour or so long that penetration of the
supporting concrete by a vibrator cannot readily be accomplished. This
delay is intended to avoid a crack between supported and supporting
members caused by settlement of concrete in the latter.

1.2.17. Curing

Water curing shall commence as soon as possible after concreting and

continue for at least seven days unless approval has been obtained for
the use of membrane or other curing method.

1.2.18. Concrete Testing

The Contractor shall carry out all concrete testing and bear the cost for
such tests and all incidentals arising.
 The frequency of testing shall be as required by Clause 9.5.2.3 of NZS
3109:1997.

Locations from which the concrete test specimens are taken shall be
recorded so that limits of the concrete sampled can be identified.

Concrete compression test sets shall consist of six specimens, three for
testing and seven days, and three for testing and 28 days.

1.2.19. Rejection of Concrete

The concrete shall be suspect if the seven day strength is less than
such value as tests have shown to be required and the Engineer may
direct that no more concrete be placed until the suspect concrete is
shown to comply with the Specification.

Concrete may be rejected for any non-compliance with this Specification

including concrete in place which shows by appearance that it does not
comply with the Specification, especially in relation to surface finish,
segregation or low density and that, in the opinion of the Engineer,
cannot be made good.

If the Contractor disputes the results of tests on the basis which

concrete has been rejected, he may arrange, at his own expense, for
tests to be made within seven days on at least three cores of approved
shape and size cut from the concrete in dispute. If tests made by an
approved Authority show that the specified strength has been attained in
the structure, the concrete will be accepted.

1.2.20. Falsework and Formwork

The Contractor shall, if requested, supply fully detailed falsework and

formwork drawings, and calculations showing that allowable stresses
are not exceeded in any part of the bUilding and that the falsework and
formwork is adequate. This shall not relieve the Contractor of
responsibility for satisfactory performance.

Beams, slabs and cantilevers shall be propped beyond the minimum

stripping time if required to control early age creep deflection.

Sufficient strutting shall be provided to ensure that deflections do not

exceed 1/900 of the span in beams, and 1/300 of the length of
cantilevers supporting construction loads.

Provisions shall be made by means of wedges or jacks for adjusting the

height of formwork supported by falsework to allow for settlement, to
provide camber, and to permit the gradual lowering of the formwork
during striking.

Deflection of sheathing shall not exceed 3 mm.

Traps of sufficient size for cleaning inside the formwork and/or placing
concrete shall be provided for all concrete lifts in columns and walls.
 They shall not be more than 1.5m apart horizontally and 2m vertically in
walls. Wall formwork at bottom of openings over 900 mm wide shall be
removable.

Surfaces of forms shall be coated with an approved release agent which

shall not stain or adhere to the concrete, and shall not contaminate
reinforcing steel or construction joints, nor inhibit bonding of any plaster.

Wire ties shall not be used inside the forms to tie them together.

If tie-bolts for the formwork are required, they shall be situated above
the wall. There shall be no tie-bolts passing through the concrete wall.

1.2.21. Cleaning

Immediately before any concrete is placed, formwork shall be carefully

examined to see that all dirt, shavings, sawdust and other refuse has
been removed. If column pours exceed 1200 mm in height, wash out
ports shall be provided at the base of each pour.

1.2.22. Defects

Repair of defects shall not be carried out without prior inspection and
approval.

1.2.23. Tolerances

Tolerances shall be as laid down in NZS 3109:1987 "Specification for

Concrete Construction" and NZS 3114:1987 "Specification for Concrete
Surface Finishes".

1.2.24. Mortar and Dry Pack Mortar

Shall be a sand cement mortar in the proportions of one part ofcement

to one and a half parts of sand by weight. Mortar for general purposes
shall be mixed, allowed to "soak" for 20 minutes, and remixed before
use.

Dry pack mortar shall be of very dry consistency such that when
squeezed in the hand to a ball it will retain its shape. The water cement
ratio shall not exceed 0.40 by weight.

1.2.25. Concrete Cover

Cover to all steel reinforcement shall be as noted on the drawings or as

detailed in Clause 3.7 of NZS 3109:1987.

1.2.26. Slabs

Generally construction joints will be as detailed on the drawings and in

the Construction Joints Section of this Specification.
 Joint positions may be varied to suit the Contractor but the Engineer's
approval must be obtained before any changes are made.

Unprotected slabs will not be poured if the Contractor considers that the
weather or the weather forecast is unsuitable.

1.2.27. Finishes and Forms

Forms shall be of appropriate materials and construction to achieve the

required surface finishes. Engineer's approval of the form materials must
be obtained before construction.

Surface finishes shall be as detailed in NZS 3114:1987 and a copy of

the standard shall be supplied by the Contractor and shall be on site for
reference.

The following are the finishes required:

Foundation Beams and Walls:

Below finished ground level: Finish F1

Exposed Surfaces Finish F5
Precast Concrete Finish F5

The contractor shall advise the Engineer of how they will meet the
specified surface finishes and supply a 1m x 1m test panel of concrete
showing its finish for approval.

1.3. Reinforcing Steel

1.3.1. General

This trade is subject to all the documents of the Main Contract and to
the Preliminary and General Clauses of this Specification and is to be
read in conjunction with all other trade sections.

1.3.2. Related Documents

Attention is drawn to the following New Zealand Standards, the relevant

clauses of which, including Amendments, shall be deemed to be part of
this Specification unless otherwise specified herein.

NZS 3109:1987 Specification for Concrete Construction

NZS 3402:1989 Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
NZS 3421:1975 Hard Drawn Mild Steel Wire for Concrete
Reinforcement
NZS 3422:1975 Welded Reinforcing Fabric

Read this section in conjunction with the Concrete Work Section of this
Specification.
1.3.3. Materials

Provide all supports, hangers, spacers and ties to approval where not
shown.

Plain and deformed bars shall comply with NZS 3402 and be of mild
steel and shall have a guaranteed minimum yield point of 300 MPa for
mid steel, and 430 MPa for high yield steel.

1.3.4. Designation

Steel is designated on the drawings with bar diameters prefixed by D or

R. D means deformed mild steel, R means plain round mild steel, and
R6 means hard drawn mild steel wire to NZS 3421. H preceding the bar
designation indicates high yield steel (grade 430) eg HD20.

1.3.5. Origin and Specification

Before delivery, provide certificates stating origin, manufacturer's name,

steel specification and also test certificates to prove steel delivered to
the site shall be clearly marked for identification with the relevant test
certificate.

1.3.6. Protection

Store steel and mesh immediately upon delivery to the site, clear of the
ground and on approved racks under cover.

Steel reinforcement shall be protected at all times from damage.

Adequately brace all reinforcement projecting more than 3m from

concrete, cut out defects around bars caused by movement as directed
before resuming concreting.

1.3.7. Fabrication

Fit ties and stirrups tightly around main reinforcement.

Reinforcement shall be carefully bent, by approved means, to the exact

shapes and dimensions shown on the drawings and all bends shall be
made cold..

Bend deformed bars around rollers, not fixed pins.

Rods with kinks or bends not shown on the drawings shall not be used.
All reinforcement must be kept straight between the bends shown.

Bend deformed bars once only. Any deformed bars requiring rebending
must be removed and replaced.
1.3.8. Tolerances

Tolerances shall be as set out in NZS 3109:1987.

1.3.9. Placing and Fastening

Support top steel on high chairs or by other approved means, precast

blocks are not permitted.

Unless otherwise detailed, support slab reinforcement at a maximum

spacing of 1 metre centres, except that reinforcement 10 mm in
diameter and smaller shall be supported at a maximum of 600 mm
centres.

Tie reinforcement with not less than 1.25 mm diameter soft black iron
wire sufficiently to maintain correct relative positions.

1.3.10. Laps

Where lengths of laps are not shown, minimum lap lengths shall be as
specified for tensile splices in NZS 3109:1987.

Laps shall be staggered where practicable.

1.3.11. Welding

Welding of reinforcement shall comply with 'Standard Arc Welding

(Minor Works)' unless otherwise stated.

Excepting as shown no welding of reinforcement is permitted without

written approval and under no circumstances shall high tensile steel be
welded or used as an earth for welding other rods, without written
approval from the Engineer.

Identify rods or bars to be welded with tags or branding.

1.3.12. Inspection Before Concreting

Before concreting, reinforcement must be inspected by the Engineer.

Allow at least twenty-four hours for inspection before approval, work
done without this approval will be rejected.

Remove all formwork preventing proper inspection.

Prior approval of cleaning, fabrication and securing reinforcement is

subject to the reinforcement being satisfactory at time of concreting.

1.3.13. Cleaning Reinforcement

Steel reinforcement, at the time concrete is placed, shall be free from

loose flaky rust, mud, oil or other coatings that will destroy or reduce the
bond of metal to concrete.