Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?

[ajk1]

What is the general practice for basement slab-on-grade of unheated parking garages with respect to the sawcut control joints: are they left unfilled (i.e they are eventually filled with dirt over the years) , or are they filled with an appropriate material? I am in Ontario, Canada, so I am particularly interested in this geographic area, although responses from other areas would be of interest too. I believe that I have generally specified that they be partially filled with an appropriate flexible material and closed cell backer rod below, but it is an expense and I am not sure that much is achieved by this.

 

[msquared48]

Well, if it is an unheated space and water can get into the area, I would fill the joints.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[manstrom]

I have never asked them to be filled.

I guess it would keep water out, but they are supposed to crack at the control joints.

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.

-R. Buckminster Fuller

 

[msquared48]

Manstrom:

Cracking and spalling are two different things. I would seal the joint to prevent spalling of the joint. The cracking will still occur.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[ajk1]

To manstrom and msquared 48: how have you found the filled and unfilled joints in unheated basement parking level have performed?
Have you found that if they are unfilled, that you get a significant incidence of break-down of the concrete side of the joint?
Have you found that if they are filled that you don't get a significant incidence of break-down of the concrete side of the joint?
And are you both talking about a freeze-thaw environment?

Thanks