ASTM C823-00
(Practice)Standard Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened Concrete in Constructions
Standard Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened Concrete in Constructions
SCOPE
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for visual examination and sampling of hardened concrete in constructions. Reference is made to the examination and sampling of concrete in prefabricated building units, precast products, and laboratory specimens.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:C823–00
Standard Practice for
Examination and Sampling of Hardened
Concrete in Constructions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 823; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* E 141 Practice for Acceptance of Evidence Based on the
Results of Probability Sampling
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for visual examination
and sampling of hardened concrete in constructions. Reference
3. Terminology
is made to the examination and sampling of concrete in
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
prefabricated building units, precast products, and laboratory
tice, refer to Terminology C 125.
specimens.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.1 concrete constructions, n—any object, unit, or struc-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ture that has been built of hydraulic cement concrete.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.2 category of concrete, n—a specified level of quality in
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
concretethatisobservedtobeinadefinablerangeofcondition
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
as a result of service or test exposure, as distinguished from
2. Referenced Documents concrete in the same or related constructions that is either of
differing specified quality or of the same specified quality but
2.1 ASTM Standards:
in observably different condition at the time of examination. It
C 42/C 42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
is also used to refer to concrete having a certain attribute or
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
attributes. (see the Sampling Plan Section).
C 125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete
Aggregates
4. Significance and Use
C 215 Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitu-
2 4.1 The examination may provide a basis for laying out in
dinal, and Torsional Frequencies of Concrete Specimens
situ testing of the concrete.
C 295 Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates
2 4.2 The sampling can provide materials for petrographic
for Concrete
examination, in accordance with Practice C 856, chemical or
C 457 Test Method for Microscopical Determination of
2 physical analytical procedures, or any of a wide variety of
Parameters of theAir-Void System in Hardened Concrete
2 destructive or nondestructive tests to determine physical,
C 597 Test Method for Pulse Velocity Through Concrete
mechanical, or structural properties of the concrete.
C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
2 4.3 The results of examination and sampling carried out in
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
accordance with this practice may be used for a variety of
C 856 Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened
2 purposes and to serve a variety of objectives, some of which
Concrete
are discussed in the Procedural Plan Section.
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
5. Qualifications and Instruction of Personnel
Measure of Quality for a Lot or Process
5.1 Qualifications—The examination, formulation of sam-
pling plan, and the sampling procedures shall be performed by
1 personsqualifiedbyeducationandexperiencetocarryoutsuch
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete
work, to operate equipment employed, to record and interpret
and ConcreteAggregates , and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.65
on Petrography.
observations, and to report upon the sampling plan and its
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Originally
execution. Technicians and workmen may be required to assist
published as C 823 – 75. Last previous edition C 823 – 95.
2 in the operations but appropriate training and supervision are
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. mandatory.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact ASTM
International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C823–00
5.2 Instruction of Personnel—This practice may be used by manager of the investigation will begin with one or more
personnel employed directly by those for whom the examina- working hypotheses, derived from information received or
tion and sampling program are conducted. The employer gathered, that are intended to explain the reasons for the
should tell the personnel in as much detail as necessary, the condition or conditions of the concrete, and that will be
purposes and objectives of the examination, the kind of continuously revised and refined as more information is
information sought, and the extent of examination and sam- received. It is intended that at the end of the investigation, an
pling desired. Pertinent background information should be explanation will have been produced which is the best obtain-
made available. If the person to perform the work is highly able from the investigation of the available evidence concern-
experienced, the employer should seek his or her advice in ing the mechanisms that operated to produce the condition or
delineatingtheinvestigation.Thenature,extent,andobjectives conditions of the constructions.
of the examination and sampling plan should be recorded, and 6.3 Scope of Investigation—The scope of an investigation
the record may appropriately include the items under Agree- of concrete in service may be limited to only isolated areas
ments with Consultants. displaying deterioration. Or the investigation may be con-
5.3 Agreements with Consultants—This practice may be the cerned with general distress, such as excessive deflection or
basis for establishing arrangements between a purchaser of a collapse of structural members. It may involve study of the
consulting service and the consultant. The purchaser and dislocation of entire structures or large portions of structures.
consultant should jointly determine the nature, extent, and The investigation may be confined chiefly to the study of the
objectives of the examination and sampling program to be concrete, or it may require substantial research into other
made, and should record their agreement in writing. The circumstances, such as foundation conditions, conditions of
agreement may stipulate specific determinations to be made, service, construction practices, and comparisons with other
observations to be reported, numbers and kinds of samples to structures.
be taken, level of reliability required for results of tests,
7. Preliminary Investigations
portions of the constructions to be sampled, funds to be
obligated, a time schedule for the investigation, or a combina-
7.1 Purpose—The purpose of preliminary investigations is
tion of these and other conditions. to establish the general condition of the concrete and the
existenceofanyunsatisfactorycondition,todescribeitsnature,
EXAMINATION OF CONCRETE IN
and to estimate its extent and possible effect upon the perfor-
CONSTRUCTIONS
mance, service life, and safety of the structure. An investiga-
tion of failure or inadequate performance of concrete in
6. Procedural Plan
constructions is predicated upon a conclusion, usually by the
6.1 Objective—The objective of the examination of con-
owner or his representatives, that an unsatisfactory condition
crete is to provide information that can be used to evaluate the
exists or is imminent. Such a conclusion may be in error, either
condition of the concrete and the constructions, and to cor-
because the observed condition is insignificant, or because the
roborate observed satisfactory performance, or to document
full extent of the actual distress or inadequacy has not been
and explain distress or failure. The examination of concrete in
detected.
service or under test should be undertaken in accordance with
7.2 Test Methods—The preliminary investigation may in-
a scope, an objective, and systematic procedures, all agreed
clude, as appropriate, visual inspection of the structure, review
upon between the responsible parties. The extent of the
of plans and specifications for the work, and examination of
investigation and the procedures that are most appropriate for
available reports of project engineers and inspectors, compila-
the examination depend upon a decision as to the objectives of
tion of available data on service conditions, petrographic
the investigation and the level of reliability required of
examination in accordance with Practice C 856, and testing of
resulting test data. This decision may stipulate an authorized
a few selected samples of concrete and secondary chemical
budget and a time schedule for completion of various stages of
deposits in or on the concrete or both. Deflection or expansion
the investigation. The budget and time schedule can be
(or shrinkage) of typical portions of the structure might
modified following preliminary investigations and adjusted
appropriately be measured. The condition of the concrete in
periodically as information accumulates.
placecanbeestimatedusingnondestructivetestingprocedures,
6.2 Purpose—Investigations of the condition of concrete in
such as impact devices and ultrasonic methods (see Test
service are usually undertaken for the following reasons: (a)to
Method C 597). Selected critical portions of structures may be
determine the ability of the concrete to perform satisfactorily
probed and sampled by drilling (Method C 42/C 42M). The
under anticipated conditions of future service; (b) to identify
cores may be tested in accordance with Test Method C 215.
the processes or materials causing distress or failure; (c)to
Borehole cameras and viewing devices have been found to be
discover conditions in the concrete that caused or contributed
helpful in specific instances (1, 2, 3).
to satisfactory performance or to failure; (d) to establish
7.3 Conclusions—The findings of the preliminary investi-
methodsforrepairorreplacementwithouthazardofrecurrence
gationmayallayallconcernwithrespecttotheconditionofthe
of the distress; (e) to determine conformance with construction
concrete. In certain cases, the findings are adequate for a final
specification requirements; (f) to develop data to aid in fixing
financial and legal responsibility for cases involving failure or
unsatisfactory service; and (g) to evaluate the performance of
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
the components used in the concrete. It is assumed that the this practice.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact ASTM
International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C823–00
conclusion on the significance of observed distress. Otherwise, its on surfaces, in cracks, and in voids; and (f) the presence and
care should be taken to assure that the preliminary investiga- extent of repair work and the quality of its bond to the original
tion provides the information necessary to delineate a plan for concrete.
the further investigations covered in Sections 8-14. 9.3.1 Some of the features listed in this section can be
detected more readily in laboratory examination.
8. Assembly of Records
9.3.2 Some of the other properties of the concrete requiring
8.1 Reports and Legal Documents—The investigation of
observation include: the thoroughness of consolidation;
concrete performance should be preceded or accompanied by
whether the concrete is air-entrained; evidences of segregation
the assembly and critical review of records pertaining to the
and bleeding; indications of extremely high, low, or normal
project specifications, construction contract, construction op-
water content; in the case of reinforced concrete, the condition
erations, concrete-making materials, weather conditions during
of the steel and its location in the section; and the nature and
and after construction, and the actual conditions of service.
condition of other embedded items.
Such records should establish the specified requirements for
9.3.3 Any phenomena indicating distress of the concrete
the materials and the completed work, and may reveal circum-
should be studied in relation to possible causative or contribu-
stances or conditions that caused or contributed to the distress
tory factors, such as varying conditions of exposure over the
of the concrete. Records of operation and maintenance may area of the constructions; the sequence of placing operations;
describe the beginning and progress of unsatisfactory perfor-
conditions prevailing during construction; sources of supply of
mance. concrete and concrete-making materials; identifiable problems
8.2 Interviews—Interviews with contractors, engineers, in-
of handling, placing, and finishing; conditions of curing and
spectors, tradesmen, and suppliers should be conducted to early protection; and the adequacy of the structural design and
obtain pertinent information that is not included in the written
conformance to the plans. Varying conditions of exposure over
record. Owners, occupants, and users of the constructions the area of the constructions during and after construction may
should be queried concerning the onset and progress of evident
include the following:
distress, especially with respect to possible relationship to any
9.3.3.1 Differences in thermal exposure to solar heating.
change of the conditions of use and service.
Shaded portions probably are subjected to the lowest range of
diurnal thermal cycles,
9. Detailed Investigations of Concrete in Constructions
9.3.3.2 Differences in exposure to moisture, which may
9.1 Procedures—A detailed investigation of concrete in
arise by orientation of the construction with respect to prevail-
constructions should include all procedures that are required to
ing winds during times of rainfall or snowfall, and which will
achieve the approved scope and objectives within the autho-
be affected by the diurnal thermal cycles,
rized budget and time schedule. After the preliminary investi-
9.3.3.3 Differences in the mineral composition of the sub-
gationtoestablishthegeneralconditionoftheconcreteandthe
grade so that part of the constructio
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