Table 7 DB, Table 8DB and…

Table 7 DB, Table 8DB and Table 9 DB

• Increasing RCP penalties significantly elevates risk for both concrete producers and contractors.
• The magnitude of the penalties introduces disproportionate risk relative to the variability inherent in RCP testing.
• RCP results are known to be sensitive to testing conditions, sample preparation, and curing, which can introduce variability beyond the control of the concrete supplier.
• Elevated penalties may drive risk-avoidance behavior, such as overdesigning mixtures or prioritizing test outcomes over balanced performance.
• There is a potential shift toward relying on early-age or laboratory-prepared samples rather than representative in-place concrete performance.
• The penalties place increased responsibility on the supplier for factors influenced by placement, curing, and site practices.
• This approach emphasizes a single durability indicator (RCP), despite CSA A23.1 recognizing multiple approaches to assessing durability, including resistivity.
• Overall, the increased penalties amplify project risk without clear evidence that stricter RCP thresholds or penalties directly correlate with improved long-term durability in the field.