Concrete quality is determined before the truck arrives and verified after it leaves. The sequence that protects both.
Concrete is ordered by strength grade and assumed to arrive as specified. What actually determines the concrete in your structure is the mix design, the transport time, what happens at the site and how it is cured, and each of those is controllable.
Before stage one
Before the first order, the mix design should be approved, the supplier assessed and the testing arrangement in place, because verification after the pour is not possible.
- Approved mix design matching the specified strength and exposure.
- Supplier assessed for capacity, plant condition and delivery reliability.
- Testing laboratory appointed with a defined sampling regime.
- Site prepared for the pour, including access and placement method.
Stage 1: Specify and approve the mix
Confirm the mix design against the structural specification, including strength, workability and any exposure requirements.
- Deliverable: An approved mix design with supporting data.
- Owner: Structural engineer with the supplier.
- Approval gate: No ordering against an unapproved mix.
Stage 2: Assess the supplier
Review the plant, batching controls, fleet capacity and the supplier's record for consistency.
- Deliverable: A supplier assessment.
- Owner: Contractor with the engineer.
- Approval gate: Supplier capable of delivering the required volume within the pour window.
Stage 3: Plan the pour
Determine volume, truck sequence, placement method and the time each load can be in transit.
- Deliverable: A pour plan with delivery intervals.
- Owner: Contractor.
- Approval gate: Plan accounts for transit time, since concrete has a limited working life.
Stage 4: Verify on delivery
Check delivery notes against the order, confirm batching time and test workability before placement.
- Deliverable: Delivery records with checks recorded.
- Owner: Site supervision.
- Approval gate: Loads outside specification rejected rather than placed.
Stage 5: Sample and test
Take samples at the point of placement in accordance with the specification.
- Deliverable: Samples linked to the specific pour and location.
- Owner: Testing laboratory.
- Approval gate: Sampling recorded at the time, tied to the element being poured.
Stage 6: Place, compact and cure
Place and compact properly, then cure for the specified period, which matters more in high temperatures.
- Deliverable: Placement and curing records.
- Owner: Contractor.
- Approval gate: Curing confirmed for the full period, including weekends.
Stage 7: Review results
Receive and review test results against the specified strength before proceeding with covering work.
- Deliverable: Laboratory certificates tied to locations.
- Owner: Engineer.
- Approval gate: Results accepted before the related payment is certified.
Handovers between stages
The point of greatest risk is between batching and placement, where transit time, additions of water on site and delays all degrade the concrete. Recording batching time on the delivery note and checking it at the gate addresses most of it.
How you know it is finished
The supply is controlled when every load is traceable to an approved mix, delivery records exist, samples were taken at placement, curing was completed and results have been reviewed against the specification.
If you are procuring materials for a project, Domira can specify, source and verify them against the standards your drawings actually require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can water be added to concrete on site?
Adding water to improve workability changes the mix and reduces strength, which is why it should not happen without the supplier's and engineer's agreement and a record. It is one of the most common causes of concrete that fails to reach its specified strength.
How long can concrete remain in transit?
There is a limited working period that shortens in high temperatures, and it should be specified rather than assumed. Recording batching time on the delivery note allows the site to check it before accepting a load.
What if test results come back below specification?
The structural engineer assesses the element and decides the response, which may include further testing of the in-place concrete, strengthening or removal. This is why results should be reviewed before covering work proceeds.
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