ACI 302.1R-15 PDF Download

The ACI 302.1R-15 standard provides recommendations for achieving high-quality concrete floors and slabs. The standard emphasizes the importance of achieving a hard and durable surface that is flat, relatively crack-free, and at the proper grade and elevation. It highlights that the timing of concreting operations, such as finishing, jointing, and curing, is critical to ensure desirable characteristics in the wearing surface and to prevent issues like cracking, low wear resistance, dusting, scaling, high or low spots, poor drainage, and curling.

The guide acknowledges that concrete floor slabs undergo volume reduction due to the release of water and heat as soon as they are placed. This volume change can result in random cracking and edge curling. While the guide provides recommendations for controlling and reducing these issues, it states that complete elimination of cracking and curling is not achievable with current technology. It emphasizes the importance of informing owners that some amount of cracking and curling is normal and does not reflect adversely on the floor's design or construction quality.

The ACI 302.1R-15 standard covers various aspects of construction, including site preparation, concrete materials, mixture proportions, workmanship, joint construction, load transfer across joints, form stripping procedures, finishing methods, and curing. It also outlines flatness/levelness requirements and measurements. The standard highlights the significance of a thorough preconstruction meeting to facilitate communication and establish expectations and procedures. Adequate supervision and inspection, particularly during finishing operations, are also emphasized for ensuring the desired floor qualities as specified in the project requirements.