Case 2
- 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. Spalling was observed at the middle of soffit. The reinforced concrete slab was observed to be carbonated. In addition, a lack of sufficient concrete cover was identified near the spalled area.
Reinforced concrete may be a durable material under tropical conditions since 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 life span, reducing its alkaline nature and hence corrosion of reinforcement may inevitable. This process can be accompanied by cracking and spalling.
