Correct placement of concrete in a building site

The placement of concrete in a work, is a process that must be done with a special care to not affect the homogeneity reached during the mixing.

The stages in which the placement is divided are:
Transport:
Concrete must be transported from the mixer to its location as quickly as possible to prevent segregation or loss of materials and to ensure the desired quality of the concrete. The method used to transport concrete, depends on what is the lowest cost and the easiest for the size of the work.

Emptying:
During emptying, all factors that can separate the aggregates from the mixture must be controlled. To avoid segregation we recommend:
• Place the concrete as close to its final position as possible.
• Start by placing the concrete from the corners of the frame or, in the case of a sloping site, from the lowest level.
• Take care not to damage or move the formwork, formwork and / or reinforcing steel. These must withstand the pressure of the concrete being emptied.

Vibrate:
During mixing and emptying, the concrete traps large amounts of air forming void spaces or anthills, which detract from the concrete. In this way, they leave it exposed to the attack of external agents that can deteriorate it and affect its appearance or finish; Therefore, it is essential to eliminate trapped air with an appropriate consolidation, compaction or vibration operation.
When placing concrete, you should avoid:
• Delays
• Segregation
• Waste

Remember that, to avoid these drawbacks, you must plan this process in advance and check that the personnel, tools and items to be emptied are ready.