×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement
2

Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

(OP)
All-

I am designing a reinforced concrete retaining wall for a community pool. I am trying to understand the effects of chlorinated water on concrete and concrete reinforcement.

A few questions:
Is chlorine infiltration synonymous with chloride infiltration?
Does chlorinated water have a serious corrosive effect on uncoated reinforcement? Is it on par with exposure to deicing salts?
Is there a standard for swimming pool design?

I am sure this topic must have been covered before, so any links to past discussions would be helpful.

Thanks,

MJB

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." -WSC

RE: Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

(OP)
All-

While on the topic of pools-- any suggestions on / war stories about joint sealant products would be welcomed.

I am looking at WR Grace's "DECK-O-SEAL" product for my floor / wall joints since it is resistant to chlorined water. Any comments?

-MJB

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." -WSC

RE: Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

2
We design water and wastewater treatment plants. They use more chlorine than you can imagine and in high concentrations.
If you use a good mix with a low water cement ratio (<.45) and adequate cover, the chlorinated water shouldn't ever get to your bars, much less corrode them. Plus all pools have plaster or pebble tek coatings that are water resistant. I would not advise coating the reinforcing. it's way more trouble than it's worth.
When we design a chlorine contact basin we use our regular design procedures. As a matter of fact, we have places that are much more aggressive than chlorine environments.
De-icing salts are much more aggressive.

RE: Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

Good advice from Jed.  Concrete pools rarely have chloride attack problems.  If they do, it is because the original construction procedures were inadequate.  In addition to the mix design which he mentioned, consolidation and curing are essential.

RE: Chlorinated Water and its Effects on Concrete Reinforcement

(OP)
Thanks-- your input was helpful! (read: reassuring)

MJB

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." -WSC

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources