Concrete Testing and

Inspections
Update on Requirements and
Department Initiatives
A Presentation to:
Structural Engineers Association of NY
February 24, 2010
March 19, 2010

Concrete Testing Requirements

1968 Building Code & 2008 Building Code

DOB Licensed Lab

Required to:

Perform Mix Designs

Sample Concrete at
Construction Sites
Perform Field Tests
Perform Laboratory Tests

Concrete Testing Requirements

Sampling and testing required once per 50

cubic yards, or once per 5,000 ft2 of slab or
wall

Minimum once per day of concrete placement

2008 Building Code: Engineer of Record can
reduce to once per 150 cubic yards.

Minimum 5 strength tests per class of concrete

Strength Test:
2008

Building Code - Average of TWO cylinders

1968 Building Code - Average of THREE cylinders

Concrete Testing Requirements

Field Sampling and Testing

Field Sampling and Testing

Requirements ASTM C 172

Temperature ASTM C 1064

Slump ASTM C 143
Unit Weight ASTM C 138
Air Content: two acceptable methods

Pressure Method ASTM C 231

Not

applicable for concrete with light weight aggregates

Volumetric Method ASTM C 173

Acceptable

method for light weight aggregates

Making Cylinders ASTM C 31

Pressure Meter
ASTM C 231 Type B
RolloMeter ASTM C 173
Volumetric Method

Chase Air Indicator

7

Field Sampling and Testing

Making Cylinders ASTM C 31

6x12 or 4x8 cylinders are acceptable

Testing based on Standard Curing in
Laboratory

Initial Curing cylinders stored in curing box at

construction site
Final Curing cylinders stored in laboratory
conditions

Field Sampling and Testing

Making Cylinders ASTM C 31

Initial Curing cylinders stored in curing box

at construction site

Maximum of 48 hours
fc < 6,000 psi: Temperature must be between 60
and 80F
fc 6,000 psi: Temperature must be between 68
and 78F
Shield specimens from direct sunlight, moisture
loss, and freezing
Cannot be transported until 8 hours after final set

Field Sampling and Testing

Making Cylinders ASTM C 31

Final Curing - cylinders stored in laboratory

conditions

Moisture rooms or curing tanks (ASTM C 511)

Temperature maintained at 73 3F
Free moisture maintained on the cylinder surfaces
at all times

Compressive Strength Testing

Compressive Strength Test ASTM C 39

Evaluation of compressive strength test results
per ACI 318 & 2008 Building Code:

Average of any 3 consecutive strength tests fc;

and
No individual strength test result < fc by greater of:
500

psi; or
10% fc

Note: strength test is average of two cylinders

Concrete Mix Designs

1968 Code and 2008 Code

Concrete Mix Proportions based on one of

two methods:

Trial Mixtures
Field Experience

Both based on testing performed by a DOB

licensed laboratory
Nonstructural Concrete Can be based on
other experience or information, subject to the
approval of the engineer of record

Concrete Mix Designs

Trial Mixtures

Trial Mixtures ACI 318 Section 5.3.3.2

Laboratory batches
Materials used shall be those for the proposed
construction
At least 3 different mixtures at varying
water/cementitious material ratios must be tested

Compressive strength is the average of 3 cylinders for

each mixture tested

1968 Building Code 4 different trial mixtures

1968 Building Code- 4 cylinders

Acceptable for one year provided no change in

materials

Concrete Mix Designs

Field Experience

Field Experience ACI 318 Section 5.3

Based on strength testing from field sampling
of previous construction projects
Requires 15 30 consecutive strength tests
Can require smaller overdesign based on
quality of past performance
ACI 214 Evaluation of Strength Test Results
of Concrete

Concrete Testing Requirements

TR1, TR2, TR3
Beginning October 1, 2009 the Department
began accepting only the new 10/09 version of
the TR1, TR2, and TR3.
Changes to Concrete Design Mix and Concrete
Test Cylinder Required Items

Identification of Responsibilities and Certification of Completion

have been removed from the TR1

Concrete Testing Labs

New TR2
TR2 Technical Report: Concrete Sampling
and Testing

Submitted Prior to Permit Identifying Lab Responsible for

Testing
Laboratory Statement and signature
Design Applicant statement and signature
Building Owner statement and signature
Submitted Prior to Sign-off Certifying Completion
Laboratory Statement and signature
Design Applicant statement and signature
Concrete Producers statement and signature & NRMCA Expiration
Date

Concrete Testing Requirements

New TR3
TR3 Technical Report Concrete Mix Design

Required prior to Permit

Up to 3 mixes can be filed on one form
Additional mixes can be filed subsequently as needed
on additional TR3 forms
Mix Designs can be based on one of two methods
Trial

Mixtures
Field Experience

Revised form updated to incorporate more ingredients

Concrete Testing Requirements

New TR3
TR3 Technical Report Concrete Mix Design

Statements Required:
Laboratory Statement and signature
Design Applicant statement and signature
Concrete Producers statement and signature & NRMCA
Expiration Date
Building Owner statement and signature

Buildings Bulletin 2009-026

Clarifies Field Testing

Requirements
Specifies minimum
information to be
provided on laboratory
test reports
Provides exemption from
concrete testing
requirements for small
projects

Field Audits

21

22

23

24

25

Audits of Concrete Testing

Audits of Concrete Testing

Audits of Concrete Testing

Audits of Concrete Testing

Audits of Concrete Testing

Audits of Concrete Testing

High Risk Construction Oversight

HRCO Concrete

33

High Rise Concrete Operations

HRCO High Rise Concrete Site Visits

By Type of Assessment
Based on 181 Total Site Assessments

34

High Rise Concrete Operations

HRCO High Rise Concrete Site Visits

By Proposed Building Height

Based on 181 Total Site Assessments

35

HRCO Concrete
Recommendation Areas

IMPROVING

formwork standards

ENHANCING

inspection and quality of

construction
RAISING

structural design standards

STRENGTHENING

site safety practices

36

Improving Formwork Standards

37

Improving Formwork Standards

Improving Formwork Standards

Critical Design Defects

Recent Incident

Construction Defects

Formwork Design Information

10 Degree Temperature difference = 14%

Increase in Load

Construction Inspection and Quality

Special Inspection

Special Inspections replaced Controlled

Inspections as of July 1, 2008
Proposed Amendment to Special Inspection
Rule sent to professional societies
Focus Groups working on Duties and
Responsibilities

Special Inspection

Special Inspections raises the standard of

inspections

Certification of Individual Inspectors

Registration of Firms that perform Special
Inspections (Special Inspection Agencies)
Accreditation of Firms to National Standards for
Special Inspection Agencies

Special Inspection

July 1, 2008

Special Inspection Agencies attest that their staff meet the

required qualifications

Staff must meet relevant experience, but Certifications

must be obtained by December 31, 2009

Certification - December 31, 2009

All Certifications must be obtained by Special Inspectors

Registration - 2010

Special Inspection Agencies Have to Register with the

Department

Accreditation - January 1, 2011

Special Inspection Agencies must be accredited by a

Nationally Recognized program

Special Inspection Agency Registration

Accreditation

Accreditation of Agency

Based on ASTM E329 / ISO 17020

Review of Agency Quality Control Manual
Review of Inspector Qualifications
On-site assessment of Inspectors
Audit of Inspection Records

Special Inspection Agency Registration

Accreditation

3-Class Registration Proposal

Exceptions to Controlled Inspection not carried over from

1968 Building Code
Not enough providers currently available

3-Class Registration allows for phasing of Accreditation

Initial Requirement: Accreditation for Agencies Inspecting Major
Buildings (Class 1 Registration)
Allow time for other providers to be established while maintaining
requirements on more complex buildings
Future Option Accreditation for other Classes

Cost for small practitioners is high

Expand Small Building Exemption to Alterations (Class 3)
Require Registration with DOB
Exempt Class 3 Registration from Accreditation

Special Inspection Agency Registration

Class 1 Major
Building
Projects
Projects

Insurance

Accreditation

Class 2

Class 3 Small
Projects
Acceptable for:
o All work on 1-,2-, and 3family homes; and
o Alterations:
10,000 sf or less of
work area

All work
Required: 10
stories/125 ft or more in
height
o New Buildings; or
o Demolition; or
o Enlargement
(Vertical or
Horizontal)

All work not requiring

Class 1

Professional Liability
Proof of New York State
Workers Compensation

Professional Liability
Proof of New York State
Workers Compensation

Professional Liability
Proof of New York State Workers
Compensation

Required 1/1/2011

None at this time

None at this time

Must be Class 1 or 2 to
perform
o Underpinning
o Protection of the sides of
excavation within 10 ft
of adjacent properties
o Mechanical Demolition

A/E Focus Groups

Focus Groups

Qualifications, Duties and Responsibilities

Architectural
Mechanical
Fire

Protection Systems
Structural
Geotechnical
Faade Alterations

Accreditation requirements (Future)

Concrete Construction Initiatives

High Risk Construction Oversight (HRCO)

Phase II
Concrete Mix Design Bulletin
Concrete Safety Manager
Special Inspection Agency & Testing Lab
Conflict of Interest
97 ksi Reinforcing Steel Bulletin

Concrete Testing Requirements

Thank You!
For more information please check the Departments Website:
www.nyc.gov/buildings
Questions? Email us at:
Technical: ConstructionCodes@buildings.nyc.gov
Operational/Filing Requirements:
OperationsRedesign@buildings.nyc.gov