Concrete cover

Concrete cover, in reinforced concrete, is the least distance between the surface of embedded reinforcement
and the outer surface of the concrete (ACI 130). The
concrete cover depth can be measured with a cover meter.

also reduce the diusion of CO2 in the concrete, protecting it better from carbonatation and maintaining a higher
pH for a longer time period, increasing so the rebar service life.

2 Guidelines
1

Purpose of provision of concrete

cover

National codes also specify minimum cover requirements

based on their respective local exposure conditions.

The concrete cover must have a minimum thickness for

three main reasons:

3 Paradox

to protect the steel reinforcement bars (rebars) from Large cover depths (5075 mm) are required to proenvironmental eects to prevent their corrosion;
tect reinforcement against corrosion in aggressive environments, but thick cover leads to increased crack widths
to provide thermal insulation, which protects the rein exural reinforced concrete members. Large crackinforcement bars from re, and;
widths (greater than 0.3 mm) permit ingress of moisture
to give reinforcing bars sucient embedding to en- and chemical attack to the concrete, resulting in possible
corrosion of reinforcement and deterioration of concrete.
able them to be stressed without slipping.
Therefore, thick covers defeat the very purpose for which
it is provided. There is a need for judicious balance of
The premature failure of corroded steel reinforcements cover depth and crack width requirements.
and the expansion of the iron corrosion products around
the rebars are amongst the main causes of the concrete A possible economical solution for this paradox is the
degradation. The carbon steel of rebars is protected from placing of a second layer of corrosion-resistant reinforceoxidation by atmospheric oxygen by the high pH of con- ment like stainless steel rebars or meshes or FRP rebars
crete interstitial water. Iron bar surface is passivated as in the concrete cover to distribute the cracks.
long as the pH value is higher than 10.5. Fresh cement
water has a pH of about 13.5 while evolved cement water pH ~ 12.5 is controlled by the dissolution of calcium 4 Methods of maintaining cover
hydroxide (portlandite). Carbon dioxide present in the
gallery
air slowly diuses through the concrete cover over the
rebar and progressively reacts with the alkaline hydrox Metal plastic tipped bar chairs supporting rebar to
ides (KOH, NaOH) and with calcium hydroxide leading
give correct cover on a suspended slab with reinto the carbonatation of the hydrated cement paste. As a
forced concrete masonry walls.
result, the pH of the cement drops and when its value is
below 10.5 9.5, steel surface is no longer passivated and
Plastic strip bar chairs supporting heavy rebar on
starts to corrode. A sucient thickness of concrete cover
suspended slab.
is thus required in order to slow down the carbonatation
Tiny distance holders (chairs) of concrete.
process towards the rebar. The minimum concrete cover
will depend on the environmental conditions encountered
Plastic underlayers.
and must be thicker when the concrete is also exposed to
Eects of too little cover poor concrete.
moisture and chloride (proximity to the sea, use of deicing salt for bridges or roads, ...). A high quality concrete
made with a low water-to-cement (w/c) ratio will have a
lower porosity and will be less permeable to water and to 5 See also
the ingress of corrosive species (dissolved oxygen, chlo Corrosion of reinforcement bars
ride, ...). A thicker cover or a more compact concrete will
1

5 SEE ALSO
Cover meter
Formwork
Rebar
Reinforced concrete
Steel xer

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Concrete cover Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_cover?oldid=688118134 Contributors: BDD, Vegaswikian, Kvnramesh,

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