Performance-based Specifications for Concrete

1
Performance-based Specifications for Concrete

• A focus on innovation, quality, and customer
  satisfaction

2
What is the P2P Initiative?

• Prescription-to-Performance
• An alternative to current prescriptive
  specifications
• An initiative of the concrete industry
• Spearheaded by the NRMCA

3
P2P GOALS

• Allow performance specifications as an
  alternative to current prescriptive
  specifications
• Leverage expertise of all parties to improve
  quality and reliability of concrete construction
• Assist architects/engineers to address concrete
  specifications in terms of functional
  requirements
• Allow flexibility on the details of concrete
  mixtures and construction means and methods
• Better establish roles and responsibilities based
  on expertise
• Elevate the performance level and quality of
  ready mixed concrete
• Foster innovation and advance new technology at a
  faster pace

4
What is a prescriptive Specification?

• Do not always cover intended performance
• May conflict with intended performance
• Limits competitive bidding
• No incentive for quality control
• Not in the owners best interest

5
Prescriptive Specification

• Intended Performance
• Placing/Finishing
• Strength
• Max Shrinkage
• Resistance To
• Freeze-Thaw
• Deicer scaling
• Corrosion
• Sulfate attack
• ASR
• Cracking
• Abrasion

• Typical Criteria
• Slump
• Max w/cm ratio
• Min cement content
• Min/max air
• Min/Max pozzolans/slag
• Blended cements
• Aggregate grading
• Source Limitations
• Chloride Limits

6
Water-cement Ratio
Air
Air
Water
Water
Paste
Cement
Cement
7
Does w/c alone control strength?
8
Does w/c alone control permeability?
9
What is a Performance Specification?

• Focus on performance and function
• Flexibility to adjust mixture ingredients and
  proportions to achieve consistent performance
• Measurable and enforceable

10
Benefits to the Owner

• Improved quality
• Improved performance
• Reduced construction time
• Reduced cost
• Higher confidence in concrete construction

11
Benefits to the Engineer/Architect

• Focus on function rather than composition
• Strength, Durability, Shrinkage, etc.
• Simplified submittal review
• Improved product consistency
• Reduced conflict with contractor/producer
• Reduced risk contractor and producer are
  responsible for performance

12
Benefits to the Contractor

• Improved communication/coordination
• Constructability requirements addressed
• Predictable performance
• Innovate on construction means and methods

13
Benefits to the Producer

• Eliminates conflicts and improves clarity in
  specifications
• Encourages innovation and rewards investment in
  quality control
• Allows optimization of mixtures for performance
• Allows adjustment of materials/proportions to
  compensate for material or ambient conditions
  variations

14
Learn More and Earn Professional Development
Hours by Taking an Online Seminar from NRMCA

• Visit www.nrmca.org/P2P