Case 1
- Introduction
- Causes of Defects
- Good Practices
- Standards
- Maintenance and Diagnostics
- Remedial
- Similar Cases
- References
Spalling – RC internal Floor Slab
Introduction
Type of Building: Residential
In this case, a reinforced concrete slab in a bathroom of a residential building is damaged as shown. Reinforced concrete may be a durable material under tropical conditions as steel reinforcement is chemically protected from corrosion by the alkaline nature of the good- quality reinforced concrete. However, due to many external factors such as lack of concrete cover, concrete can be carbonated even before reaching its lifespan, reducing its alkaline nature and hence corrosion of reinforcement may inevitable. This process may be accompanied by cracking and spalling.
Spalling and corrosion of reinforcement were observed to be near to the pipe penetration, in this case. Carbonation has taken place around the spalled area. Water seepage was observed through pipe penetration and this might lead to reinforcement corrosion.
