STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

d.

Installation of Precast Tile Blocks.

1.

Precast tile blocks shall be installed, where quarry tiles cross service reservations
and ducts are not provided, to the lines and grades determined by adjacent
quarry tiles.

2.

Levelling of natural ground surface shall be done according to the proposed

grades and slopes.
Objectionable material and unsuitable soil shall be removed from the Site and
disposed of in compliance with Clause 205.05, Disposal of Excavated Materials
and Surplus Materials, of these Standard Specifications.
The Contractor shall furnish borrow material (load bearing) complying with the
requirements of Section II-2, Materials for Earthwork. All borrow materials shall
be placed and compacted in compliance with Section II-6, Placement of Borrow
Materials, Backfilling and Filling, of these Standard Specifications.

3.

506.06
a.

A layer of clean coarse sand, 100 percent passing a 1/4 inch sieve, 0-35 percent
passing a No. 50 sieve, 0-10 percent passing a No.100 sieve, and 0-3% passing
the No. 200 sieve, shall be spread 5cm thick, water added and compacted in
order to obtain the required grades before placing the precast concrete blocks.

Interlocking Concrete Paving Blocks

General. Interlocking concrete paving blocks shall comply with the requirements
specified herein.
Interlocking concrete paving blocks shall be coloured precast paving blocks from
approved manufacturers. Their thickness shall be 6cm for sidewalks and footpaths and
8cm for vehicular areas.
The project contractor shall provide a 10-year performance guarantee for the paving
blocks against de-lamination and colour fading in the Abu Dhabi environment. The 10
year guarantee shall be back-to-back from the concrete paving block manufacturer.

b.

Constituent Materials Specifications. The constituent materials shall comply with the
following requirements.

Version 2.0

1.

Cement. The cement to be used in the manufacture of paving blocks shall be

sulphate resisting Portland cement Type-V in accordance with ASTM C150.

2.

Aggregates. The aggregates to be used in the manufacture of the paving blocks

shall be from crushed rocks and from approved sources, conforming to the
requirements of BS EN 12620 or ASTM C33. The sand shall be washed and free
from deleterious substances.
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STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

The aggregate shall not contain harmful material such as coal, mica, shale or
similar laminated materials which cause strength deterioration. In addition, the
aggregates shall meet the following requirements.
a)

Coarse Aggregate
Properties

b)

Permissible Limit

Particle Size Distribution

BS 933-1

BS 12620

Clay Silt & Dust

BS 933-1

Max 1%

Organic Matter Content

BS 1377-3

Nil

Water absorption

BS 1097-6

Max 1.5%

Relative Density

BS 1097-6

Min 2.6

Shell Content

BS 933-7

Nil

Flakiness Index

BS 933-3

Max 25%

Elongation Index

BS 812-105.2

Max 25%

Soundness (Mg SO4) 5 cycles

ASTM C88

Max 5%

Sulphate Content (SO3)

BS 1744-1

Max 0.3%

Chloride Content (C1)

BS 1744-1

Max 0.20%

Aggregate Crushing Value

BS 812-110

Max 25%

Los Angles Abrasion

AASHTO T 96

Max 25%

Fine Aggregate
Properties

Version 2.0

Test Method

Test Method

Permissible Limit

Particle Size Distribution

BS 933-1

BS 12620

Clay Silt & Dust

BS 933-1

Max 3%

Organic Matter Content

BS 1377-3

Nil

Water absorption

BS 1097-6

Max 2%

Relative Density (Apparent)

BS 1097-6

Min 2.6

Shell Content

BS 933-7

Max 1%

Soundness (Mg SO4) 5 cycles

ASTM C88

Max 5%

Acid Soluble Materials

BS 1744-1

Max 25%

Sulphate Content (SO3)

BS 1744-1

Max 0.3%

Chloride Content (Cl)

BS 1744-1

Max 0.1%

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STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

c.

3.

Water. The water to be used in mixing and curing the precast concrete blocks
shall be of drinking quality, clean and free from injurious substances of sewage,
oil, acids, strong alkalis, vegetable matter, clay and other such substances
harmful to the finished product.

4.

Pigment. Pigment to be used in manufacturing of precast concrete interlocking

blocks shall be in the form of dry, soft powder of mineral oxides and shall not
contain chemical compounds capable of affecting adversely the setting and
development of strength of the cement and other properties of the finished
products and shall be compatible with other admixtures used in the same mix.

Design Mix. The design mix shall comply with the following requirements.
1.

Combined Aggregate Grading. The combined grading shall satisfy the following
limits.
Diameter
(mm)

* Notes

d.

Limit *
(% Passing)

8.00

100

4.75

72 - 82

2.36

41 - 61

1.18

25 - 46

0.60

16 - 31

0.30

8 - 17

0.15

3-8

0.075

0-3

a) Smooth, non-gap graded curve is expected.

b) Central tendency should be attempted.

2.

Cement Content. The cement content shall be 430 kg/m.

3.

Water Cement (W/C) Ratio. The water cement ratio shall not exceed 0.40.

4.

Pigment Content. Only mineral oxide type from reputable source with test
certificates. The pigment content shall not exceed 10% by mass of cement.

Physical and Mechanical Properties. The physical and mechanical properties of the
interlocking concrete blocks shall conform to the following requirements.
1.

Version 2.0

Average Bulk Density (T/m): > 2.375 (min. 48 hrs. immersion)

Minimum Bulk Density (T/m) = 2.330 (min. 48 hrs. immersion)
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STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

2.

Average Bulk/Apparent Density Ratio > 0.88 (min. 48 hrs. immersion)

Minimum Bulk/Apparent Density Ratio = 0.87 (min. 48 hrs. immersion)

3.

Maximum Water Absorption (%) < 4% (min. 48 hrs. immersion)

Tested in accordance with BS 6717:1993

4.

Average Compressive Strength > 52 N/mm (min. 48 hrs. immersion)

Minimum Compressive Strength = 47 N/mm (min. 48 hrs. immersion)
Tested in accordance with BS 6717:1993

5.

Abrasion Resistance Test. The abrasion resistance of the interlocking precast

concrete blocks, when tested as per ASTM C418, shall not have volume loss
greater than 15 cm per 50 cm and the average thickness loss shall not exceed
3mm.

6.

Flexural Strength. The interlocking precast concrete blocks shall comply with the
following flexural strength requirements when tested in accordance with ASTM
C293.
a) Average Flexural Strength > 5 N/mm (Dry)
b) Minimum Flexural Strength = 4.5 N/mm (Dry)

7.

At least 4 out of 5 of all tested specimens shall meet the average criteria for all
physical and mechanical properties specified.

e.

Dimensional Tolerance. The length or width of each unit shall not differ by more than
1.6mm from the designated dimensions. The height of each unit shall not differ by more
than 3.2mm from the specified standard dimensions.

f.

Curing and Handling. The freshly produced blocks shall be cured for a minimum of 72
hours in a wet condition or steam cured for at least 24 hours. Consignments shall not be
transported to respective sites sooner than one week after completion of the curing
process.

g.

Quality Control Assurance. The Quality Control Assurance Program shall comply with
these Particular Specifications.

506.07

Installation of Interlocking Concrete Paving Blocks

Laying of interlocking concrete paving blocks shall be in accordance with the following steps
unless otherwise directed by the Engineer:
a.

The Contractor shall take samples of the existing subgrade area in accordance with
Clause 200.03, Soil Information, of these Standard Specifications. If the existing

Version 2.0

Section V-6
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