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BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS WITH READY-MIXED CONCRETE THAT MEETS STANDARD REQUIREMENTS
(Kaieteur News) – Every lasting structure is built on a foundation of quality, precision, and care. To meet these specifications, it is important that the construction materials used in the foundation meet the requirements of national standards. One of those materials is the ready-mixed concrete made from cement, aggregates, water, and sometimes admixtures, which is delivered to a site and poured to build the foundation of structures.
At the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), there is the National Standard “GYS 227 – Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete.” It specifies the conditions under which ready-mixed concrete shall be made and delivered, the methods by which the purchaser can specify his/her enquiry or order, and the properties of the concrete required.
The document gives guidance on the data to be provided by the purchaser when ordering ready-mixed concrete, the inspection facilities to be provided by the supplier and the appropriate tests. Routine tests which must be carried out by the supplier and those which are the responsibilities of the purchaser are also included.
GYS 227 covers central mixed concrete which is mixed in a stationary mixer before being transported to the point of delivery, and truck-mixed concrete which is mixed completely in a truck mixer.
Notably, the standard does not cover the placing, compaction, curing or protection of the concrete after delivery, nor does it apply to materials for lean concrete or similar road base materials.
In addition to the standard, the GNBS qualified Laboratory Technicians offer testing of concrete mixtures in the form of concrete cubes, to ensure the mixture produces strong, quality structures. Recognising that buyers are not witnesses to the mixing stage of this product and may have doubts about its strength, the GNBS’ Industrial Metrology and Testing (IMT) Department offers testing to both suppliers and builders.
Interested clients are required to submit three cubes for testing to GNBS’ Georgetown location. These can be submitted after curing for 24 hours, seven days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days. Once submitted to the GNBS, the cubes are measured and weighed before they are tested for compressive strength using a compression testing machine. A test certificate is provided at the end of the process.
These tests are offered in accordance with international standards. In this case, the standard used is the European Standard – “BS EN 12390-3 Testing hardened concrete – Compressive strength of test specimens.”
Contractors and homebuilders looking to test the strength of their structures which were already built can also do so, using the GNBS’ Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) service. This is done with the use of a Rebound/Schmidt Hammer to ascertain the quality of concrete foundations, floors, walls, posts, fences, bridges, etc. The equipment can also determine the compressive strength of concrete used to make concrete electrical poles, and columns, foundations, etc. with a range from 0 – 8400 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) or 0 – 58 Megapascals (MPa). Using the rebound method, this test provides a convenient and rapid indication of the compressive strength of the concrete structure, and a certificate is prepared and provided by the GNBS to clients, which can be used as a firm basis for the acceptance or rejection of a structure.
Further, the GNBS provides testing for concrete cylinders and concrete hollow blocks (size three, four or six inches). Meanwhile, calibration is also provided for compression testing machines to promote accurate reading. This calibration exercise is done on the site. Interested clients can schedule this service through the GNBS website – https://gnbsgy.com/metrology/industrial-metrology/.
To learn more, visit the GNBS booth at this year’s international Building Expo set for June 25-28 at the National Stadium, Providence, which is being hosted under the theme Guyana at 60: Building strong foundation for a sustainable future.
For further information on how to access this and other services, contact GNBS at 219-0064-66, via WhatsApp at 692-4627 or email info@gnbsgy.org
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