10/7/2017 CONCRETING OF RCC COLUMNS PEDESTALS AND FOOTINGS

CONCRETING OF RCC COLUMNS

PEDESTALS AND FOOTINGS
Proper concreting of RCC Columns, pedestals and footings is needed to ensure desired strength
and durability of these structural members. Improper method of concreting may lead to corrosion
of steel reinforcement due to pores, cracks in concrete and concrete may not achieve its target
strength on setting. This may also lead to failure of columns, pedestals or footings on during
occupancy of the structure.

Things to keep in mind before starting concrete works at site are:

1. Formwork inspection for strength, leakage and surface finish.

2. Reinforcement inspection as per drawing, lap length, correct lapping guidelines as per code,

3. Inspection for concrete cover to reinforcement

4. Inspection for alignment of structural member as per drawing

5. Availability of sufficient construction material at site

6. Availability of concrete vibrators,

7. Proper safety PPEs and safety measures,

8. Proper ratio of concrete mix should be confirmed,

9. Availability of slump testing equipment,

10. Availability of cube casting equipment.

After the above inspection is done and found satisfactory, concreting work should start.

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10/7/2017 CONCRETING OF RCC COLUMNS PEDESTALS AND FOOTINGS

Concreting of RCC columns, pedestals and footings should start from the center of vertical bars
and go towards the ends. After placement of sufficient quantity, concrete should be vibrated at
regular intervals so that the concrete spreads evenly on all sides. Over vibration of concrete
should be avoided. Over vibration of concrete leads to segregation of coarse aggregates which
settles at the bottom making the mix weak.

Proper keys should be provided in the center of column reinforcement and walls. if the concreting
has to be stopped for the day, all upper surfaces of column and walls should be made rough by
wire brush after initial setting of concrete for joints with later pour of concrete. This is required to
provide a proper grip between concrete of stem part with footing and walls and foundations.
Cement and sand slurry of 1:1 mix should be applied on the footing and foundations before
column stem and wall concreting is started, to avoid separation of stem/ wall where a cold joint
may be formed.

After the concreting of footing is complete, immediately in a day or two starters for column and
wall should be casted with proper alignment and again the upper surface of starter should be
made rough. This can be easily achieved simply by spreading and light pressing coarse
aggregates particles when concrete is still green in such a way that part of coarse aggregate is
outside and part goes inside.

This method of making top surface rough is to be adopted along with providing key at all places in
columns, pedestals, vertical walls which are always concreted after concreting of footing and rafts
concreting is over (approximately two or three days letter). These measures provide a proper grip

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