Grade beam with earth form
Grade beam with earth form
(OP)
Aci 301 was referenced in the specifications.We want the grade beam to be formed with metal or wood forms however the contractor plans to use the earth as a form. By referencing ACI 301 can we make the contractor form the sides of the grade beams.
LDG1945
LDG1945





RE: Grade beam with earth form
ACI-301 2.2.2.3 Do not use earth cuts as forms for vertical or sloping surfaces unless required or permitted by Contract Documents.
As long as you have 3" of cover for the rebar in the grade beam why do you care if the contractor uses earth for the forms? The contractor is responsible for means and methods so why are you getting into the actual construction?
As an alternative, you could visit the job for an pre-pour inspection and measure the cover down to the nearest 1/8" and make him "wish" he had used metal or wood forms.
RE: Grade beam with earth form
However if you "choose" to waive the requirement for forms, a compomise could be to use ACI SP-4, Formwork for Concrete, as the authority. On many jobs we allowed an ADDITIONAL three inches of concrete rebar cover (for a total rebar cover of say 5 or 6 inches) to be substituted for forms.
Here is a link for general information
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www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Grade beam with earth form
RE: Grade beam with earth form
RE: Grade beam with earth form
RE: Grade beam with earth form
ACI-301 2.2.2.3 Do not use earth cuts as forms for vertical or sloping surfaces unless required or permitted by Contract Documents.
On one job the specs read that “Formwork shall comply with ACI-301 Chapter 2.” It seems to me that specs don’t get any more clear or specific than that. The contractor wanted to pour a foundation for a cooling tower consisting of 4 spread footings connected by 4 tie beams of which all were in earth cuts. This footing rested in residual soils suitable for support of the design load of 3000psf (which I verified with a hand auger and a DCP on the previous date) and only minor sloughing of the excavation sides was evident. Some soil fall-in material had to be removed, but this was just material kicked in by the rod-busters and the carpenters during placement of the rebar and the templates for dowels, respectively. I wrote up an inspection report that referenced the specs and the relevant line in ACI-301 and noted that the proposed concrete placement did not comply with the contract documents. The concrete placement was held up for an entire DAY while the contractor sorted this out with the EOR. Apparently neither the contractor not the EOR was happy with my mastery of ACI minutia.
I knew the contractor was upset with me and I sensed that he wanted me leave his office-trailer. I got this feeling because he gave me a little hint, a clue, a sort of suggestion; he said, “Get out of my trailer.” I said look I don’t write the specs, I just write reports that note discrepancies between the specs and the work, that’s all. So he was OK after that, but still not very happy.
RE: Grade beam with earth form
RE: Grade beam with earth form