Standard on mixes’ electrical resistance spells critical quality control data

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

The proposed ASTM WK50586, Practice for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fresh Concrete standard will show how to sample a load, prepare a mix specimen for evaluation and conduct measurements—the latter yielding information on water-cement ratio, initial setting time, compressive strength, and overall concrete quality.

“These metrics are critical to scheduling construction projects such as finishing and form work removal, as well as verifying consistency of ready-mix concrete,” says ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates member Dale Bentz, a chemical engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

An ASTM C09 task group is preparing the new standard for balloting, and invites participation from interested parties. The standard will be included on the ASTM C09 agenda for December 6-9 Committee Week in Tampa, Fla. Contacts: technical, Dale Bentz, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md., 301/975.5865, [email protected]; staff liaison, Scott Orthey, 610/832.9730, [email protected].