Consideration should be…

Consideration should be given to implementing a flatwork certification program as is already implemented in OPSS.MUNI 350, 351 and 353 (Nov. '21)

More specifically implementing the Municipal Exterior Flatwork Certification for the Contractor’s representative of the placing crew who shall be on site.

351.05.01 Concrete

a) The minimum specified 28-Day compressive strength shall be 30 MPa, or as specified in the Contract Documents.

This requirement does not meet the requirements of CSA A23.1 Tables 1 and 2 and should be 32MPa Class C-2. In addition, making this change would provide consistency with all current OPSS.MUNI specs.

351.06.02 Hand Finishing Equipment and Joint Tools

Floats and joint tools shall be made of magnesium or wood.

Wood floats are known to tear the surface of air entrained concrete. Magnesium or Aluminum should be considered here. This is also consistent with OPSS.MUNI 351.

351.07.09 Placing of Concrete

When there is an interruption in placing concrete greater than 20 minutes, the surface of the concrete shall be covered with wet burlap.

Since sidewalks are typically cured with curing compound, is the wet burlap being applied on top of the curing compound? If the concrete sidewalk is already cured using curing compound, is there even a need to put wet burlap on top? In addition, the burlap needs to be presoaked for 24 hours, meaning it would have to be available at all times on site in case there is an interruption. Recommendation is to include alternative protection methods such as curing compound, poly and wet burlap as options for this clause or remove the requirement all together.

351.07.13.03 Contraction Joints
Contraction joints shall be placed at every third dummy joint and shall be sawcut or formed to a depth that is one quarter the thickness of the sidewalk.

Dummy joints are slowly being phased out on the Municipal side due to AODA requirements. Recommendation is to remove dummy joints and promote sawcuts exclusively.