scope:

General

This Standard provides the requirements for materials and methods of construction for cast-in-place concrete and concrete precast in the field.

Notes:

(1) Requirements for the design of concrete structures are provided in CSA A23.3 and CAN/CSA-S6. Design of some specialty concrete products is described in separate CSA Standards.

(2) Methods of test for concrete are provided in CSA A23.2.

(3) Design provisions governing the fire resistance of reinforced concrete structures are set out in the National Building Code of Canada.

Precast concrete

Requirements for the plant production of precast concrete are set out in CAN/CSA-A23.4.

Precasting of concrete in the field

At the option of the owner, precasting of concrete in the field or in a temporary plant is governed by this Standard or by CAN/CSA-A23.4, except as limited by Clauses 1.3.2, 1.3.3, and 1.3.4 of this Standard.

Note: Guidelines for such a choice are provided in CAN/CSA-A23.4.

Precast products that may be produced in accordance with this Standard include conventionally reinforced elements of structures such as tilt-up walls, stair flights, landings, balcony slabs, lintels, and sills. Products requiring prestressing or post-tensioning are produced in accordance with CAN/CSA-A23.4.

Note: For references to tilt-up construction, see PCA PA163 and ACI 551R.

If tolerances equivalent to the requirements of CAN/CSA-A23.4 are desired, then CAN/CSA-A23.4 is specified for all precasting operations.

The requirements of CAN/CSA-A23.4 are applicable to pretensioned concrete and precast concrete used in segmental construction.

In addition to the requirements of this Standard, the requirements of CAN/CSA-A23.4 are applicable to precast concrete.

Parking garages

For parking garages, the additional requirements of CAN/CSA-S413 are applicable.

Residential concrete

For residential concrete, the requirements of CAN/CSA-A438 apply.

Approval for equivalents

This Standard does not specifically cover the use of proprietary materials or methods of construction. They may be permitted by the owner under a separate specification, provided that the quality of the resulting construction meets the minimum requirements of this Standard.

Terminology

In CSA Standards, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.