Aggregates Generally: The Contractor's attention is particularly drawn to the importance of

ensuring that all naturally occurring aggregates are free from all traces of chloride. All aggregates
shall be thoroughly washed water in accordance with BS 2148 or any other equally approved
standard and from an approved source.
b. Fine Aggregate: The fine aggregate shall comply in all respects with BS 882 or any equally
approved standard and shall consist of well graded course sand, mainly passing a 4.75 mm BS
test sieve as defined therein.
c. Coarse Aggregate: The coarse aggregate shall comply in all respects with BS 882 and shall be
retained at 4.75 mm BS test sieve, and shall be well and evenly graded.
d. Cement: Ordinary Portland cement shall conform to Jordanian Standards. Sulfate resisting
Portland cement shall conform to Jordanian Standards.
e. Waterproofing Agents: Water proofing liquid shall be Vandex or equivalent.
f. Lightweight Aggregates: The coarse and fine lightweight aggregates shall comply in all
respects with BS 3797. The coarse aggregate shall be 20 mm nominal size graded aggregate.
g. Water: All water to be used in the works shall be clean and free from all harmful matter in
suspension or solution. The Contractor shall at his own cost have the water analyzed by a
laboratory approved by the Engineer, and obtain a certificate for each source of water that it
contains no chemical or organic impurities in suspension or solution harmful to concrete, steel,
finishing and all other parts of the works. If a water supply cannot be found which is free from
such impurities the Contractor shall, at his own expense, treat the water to remove all such
impurities. In either case, analyses of the water shall be carried out during the construction of the
works upon the instructions of the Engineer.
h. Steel Bar and Fabric Reinforcement: All reinforcement shown on the drawings unless
otherwise specifically mentioned shall be hot rolled or cold worked high yield deformed bars
with a minimum characteristic yield strength of 414 N/mm2 complying with Jordanian Standards.
Bar diameter 10mm or less shall have a characteristic yield strength of 276 N/mm. Steel fabric
reinforcement shall be square mesh fabric complying with BS 4483.
i. Binding Wire: Binding wire where used for connecting reinforcement shall be No. 16 gauge
soft annealed iron wire.
j. Concrete strength shall be as follows:
1. B-200 for blinding beds- Class D. (20 N/mm2).
2. B-300 for reinforced concrete- Class A. (30 N/mm2).
3. B-250 for reinforced concrete- Class B. (25 N/mm2).
k. PVC Water-Stop: The PVC for PVC water-stops shall be high grade virgin polyvinyl chloride
containing no filler nor reclaimed or scrap material. It shall comply with the requirements of BS
2571 for type A3 Class 1 but shall have improved tensile qualities. The minimum tensile strength
shall be 2,000 p.s.i. (140 kg/cm) and the minimum elongation at break shall be 300 per cent. The
BS softness shall be 45 degrees. They shall be obtained from a manufacturer approved by the
Engineer, and stored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
l. Cellular Polystyrene:
1. Cellular polystyrene shall have a density greater than 24 kg/m, a minimum compressive
strength at 5%, deformation of 0.2 N/cm and maximum water absorption of 2% by volume and
shall be approved by the Engineer before fixing. It shall be pre-cut to the requisite sizes and
carefully placed to ensure conformity with the drawings. It shall be properly fastened, braced and
anchored to reinforcement to prevent displacement of floatation during placing of concrete.
2. Polystyrene sheets for forming expansion joints between beam faces and between walls, and
for forming cavities in concrete walls shall be an approved material. Thickness of sheets shall be
comparable with the requirements shown on the drawings.
m. Releasing Agents: Only chemical release agents, mould creams or mould oils which contain a
minimum amount of surfactant will be permitted. Water Soluble emulsions and oils without
surfactant additive must not be used. When concrete surfaces are to receive an applied finish the
Contractor shall ensure that release agent used will not affect the finish of bonding to the

concrete. Details of the releasing agent proposed by the Contractor shall be submitted to the
Engineer for approval, at least 14 days before it is required for use.
2.2 Storage Of Materials
a. Aggregates: The aggregates shall be stored in approved containers or on a concrete slab in
such a way that contamination from other materials and intermixing of the various gradings will
be prevented. The aggregate shall be deposited in a way that will prevent segregation through
dropping on to the peak of a high heap.
b. Cement: The cement shall be stored in a weatherproof shed exclusively for this purpose. The
shed shall be large enough to allow proper aeration and effective separation of the various
consignments and separate stacking of different types. Cement shall be stored on site for not more
than 21 days, after this it must be removed from site at the Contractor's expense. Alternatively,
the cement be stored in silos of approved design.
c. Reinforcement: The reinforcement should be clear of the ground without distortion and should
be protected from contamination by other materials.
d. Releasing Agents: All releasing agents must be stored strictly in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
e. Formwork: When formwork is not used it shall be protected against damage and the effects of
weather.
2.3 Testing Equipment
a. The Contractor shall provide on site the following equipment:
1. Sufficient 150 mm cast iron test cube moulds to enable the Engineer to carry out the test
requirements of this specification.
2. Slump cone, baseplate and tamping rod.
3. Maximum and minimum thermometers and aggregate thermometers.
The following items shall also be provided if and when specifically requested by the Engineer.
Suitable graduated measuring tubes for measuring the moisture content of fine aggregate.
4. A set of British Standard grading sieves.
5. Suitable weighing scales.
6. Compacting Factor Test equipment.
7. Aggregate drying oven.

2.4 Concrete Mixes

a. Generally: The Contractor shall use his own specially designed mix to comply with the
requirements of this specification in respect of the strength and of the finish qualities of concrete.
b. Mix Design for Special Concrete Mixes:
1. Mix proportions shall be designed by the Contractor for each special concrete mix except
where, in factory work it can be shown that over a period of time the specified works cube
strength of the concrete has been consistently attained.
2. The mix shall be designed generally in accordance with the requirements of the Jordanian
Standards.
3. The mixes shall be designed to have sufficient workability to allow concrete to be placed and
properly compacted by the methods to be used on site.
4. Complete calculations for the mix proportions and the information and assumptions on which
they are based, shall be submitted to the Engineer before any preliminary strength cubes are
made.
5. When the mix has been approved by the Engineer no variations shall be made in the
proportions, the original source of the cement and aggregate or in the type, size and grading zone
of the latter without the consent of the Engineer.
a. All mixes to contain 20mm aggregate unless otherwise noted on the drawings.
b. All mixes shall be vibrated.
c. Batching:
1. Aggregate and cement shall be batched by weight. The moisture content of the coarse and fine
aggregate shall be determined daily when concreting is in progress and appropriate allowance
made to the quantity of water delivered to the mixer.
2. All weight batching plant shall be to the Engineer's approval. If bulk storage of cement is used
it shall be supplied to the mixer by weighed delivery from an approved storage hopper. For
bagged cement, the aggregate used in each batch shall be so arranged that one or more whole
bags of cement are used in each batch.
d. Mixing on site if applicable:
1. All mixing shall be carried out in a power driven machine fitted with a water supply device
capable of being controlled so that the correct measured quantity of water is delivered to each
batch. The accuracy and calibration of this device shall be rigidly maintained, within the
tolerances described in BS 1305. The quantity of water used shall be varied to suit the moisture
content of the fine aggregate. The water/cement ratio shall be approved by the Engineer before
using.
2. The materials shall be mixed well and uniformly distributed. The mass shall be of uniform
consistency and color, but in no case shall the mixing time be less than two minutes after all the
materials have been added to the drum. The drum of all mixers shall revolve at the speeds
recommended by the manufacturer. Hand mixing will only be permitted in an emergency and if
written permission has been given by the Engineer. A 50% increase in cement weight for a
particular mix will also be required. Before changing one mix for another using a different type of
cement and after each day's work, all mixers, plant, tools, etc., are to be thoroughly washed and
cleaned to remove all traces of cement.
2.5 Concrete Tests
a. Concrete Strength Test: 150 mm concrete test cubes shall be made, cured and tested in
accordance with BS 1881 from samples of concrete taken from the point of deposition of works
Cubes and from samples of materials for Preliminary Cubes.
b. Concrete Slump Tests:
1. A slump test shall be carried out on every pour of concrete and a record kept on site of all
slump tests taken, which shall be submitted to the Engineer at weekly intervals.

2. The respective slumps to be used for various of the structure shall be subject to the approval of
the Engineer and shall normally have a value of 50 mm with a tolerance of 12 mm for 75% of
tests with a maximum tolerance of 25 mm for all tests.
3. Test specimens shall be formed in a mould 300 mm high, 100 mm diameter at the top and 200
mm diameter at the bottom. The inside of the mould shall be cleaned before each test and the
mould placed on a hard flat impervious surface. The concrete mould shall be formed in four
layers with 25 strokes of a 16 mm diameter, 600 mm long rod. After filling and tamping the
surface of the concrete shall be struck off level with the top of the mould, leakage cleaned from
around the base of the mould, and the mould then lifted vertically from the concrete.
4. The slump shall be measured as the difference between the height of the concrete before and
the greatest height after the removal of the mould. All tests to be carried out within a period of
two minutes of sampling.
c. Preliminary Cube Test Procedure:
1. Except where in controlled conditions it can be shown over a period of time that the specified
works cube strength of the concrete has been consistently attained, preliminary strength cube tests
shall be carried out at least four weeks before the commencement of concreting on site.
2. Preliminary cubes shall be made for each mix from three samples of aggregate and from each
sample of aggregate six cubes shall be made, three for testing seven days after casting and three
for testing twenty-eight days after casting.
3. Each set of three cubes tested twenty-eight days after casting shall be accepted as satisfactory if
the average strength of the three cubes is not less than the preliminary design strength and the
difference between the greatest and the least strength is not less than 20% of the average.
4. Results of all preliminary tested cubes shall be sent to the Engineer as soon as they are
available and before mixing concrete for placing on site or in moulds.
d. Work Cubes Test Procedure:
1. A sample of concrete shall be taken on two separate occasions during each of the mixes is used
on site. The Engineer/ his representative will direct to select the samples at site. Subsequently,
samples shall be taken for every 50 cu.m of concrete placed with a minimum of one sample taken
every second day on which the mix is used.
2. From each sample four cubes shall be made, one for testing seven days after casting, two are
for testing twenty-eight days after casting and one to be kept on site and only disposed of on the
Engineer's written instruction.
3. This procedure also applies to the manufacturer of precast concrete.
4. The results of the first forty cubes tested shall be analyzed as set in CP 114, Clause 209 C, an
example of the method to be adopted being given CP 116, Appendix B. The mix proportions shall
be modified if any of the conditions set out in CP 114, Clause 209 C are not satisfied.
5. Subsequently, all cubes tested shall be analyzed as above and the standard deviation calculated
monthly for all results up to that date.
6. All cubes shall be clearly marked with the date of casting and accurate records shall be
supplied to the Engineer, stating the dates of taking and testing samples, together with the results
of tests and the exact position from which the samples were taken.
e. Cost of Tests:
1. The cost of taking and testing of concrete samples under this specification, including transport
to a testing station where required, shall be met by the Contractor, whether the test results are
satisfactory or not.
2. All preparation and testing of concrete samples shall be carried out in accordance with BS 1881
at a testing station approved by the Engineer and under his direct technical supervision, who shall
receive certified copies of the results of all tests.

Part 3 - Execution
3.1 Workmanship
a. Transporting and Placing:
1. The concrete shall be handled and transported form the mixer to its final position in the work
as quickly as possible and in such a manner as to avoid segregation, loss of any of the ingredients
of evaporation of water.
2. All concrete shall be placed in a manner as to avoid segregation. The Contractor shall submit
details of his proposed method of placing for the Engineer's approval.
3. Concrete shall be deposited in layers not exceeding 300 mm compacted thickness and no
concrete shall be placed round any reinforcement until the latter has been approved by the
Engineer.
4. Where concrete is transported by non-agitating equipment, discharge shall be completed within
thirty minutes after mixing.
5. In no case shall more than thirty minutes elapse between the completion of discharge final
placing and after period the concrete shall not be further disturbed.
b. Compaction:
1. The concrete shall be thoroughly compacted by means of suitable tools approved by the
Engineer, both during and immediately after placing.
2. The concrete shall be worked round reinforcement and against the forms avoiding all
occurrences of voids or honeycombing.
3. Where compaction by mechanical vibration is used the formwork shall be suitably
strengthened and precautions taken to avoid leakage of grout through the joints.
4. Vibrating Methods: Vibration shall be carried out in accordance with the following:
- For the poker type of vibrator, move the poker frequently and avoid leaving the poker in one
place for any length of time.
- The vibrator must not be used to move concrete into place.
- The poker must be withdrawn slowly to avoid forming a hole in the concrete.
4. The poker must not be allowed to the sides of the formwork.
5. The poker must not be allowed to touch reinforcement which is already cast in immature
concrete (i.e. Concrete less than 48 hours old).
6. The poker should not be used to compact layers greater than 600 mm.
7. Formwork vibrators shall not be used unless expressly approved by the Engineer in writing.
External vibrators shall only be allowed. In no circumstances where the use of a poker vibrator is
not possible such as thin sections and where metal shutters are used.
8. Surface vibrators may be used for thin slabs such as floors and roads. The surface vibrator shall
not be used for slabs exceeding 150 mm thickness.
9. Vibrators generally shall not be used after a decrease in volume of concrete is no longer
apparent and in no circumstances shall they be allowed to cause segregation.
10. At all times sufficient vibrators shall be used to adequately consolidate the concrete whilst
still fresh and a spare vibrator of the similar type to the ones being used shall be immediately
available in case of breakdown.
d. Curing:
1. All concrete during and after depositing is to be so protected that there will be no avoidable
loss of moisture from the surface for a minimum period of seven days. Longer periods may be
specified for special work. The Contractor shall submit for the written approval of the Engineer
the methods he proposes to use.
2. Approved methods of curing:
a. Spraying with an approved sealing compound.
b. Keeping constantly wet.

d. Covering with a waterproof membrane laid or wrapped around so as to be contact with the
surface. The membrane must not allow a free air flow over the surface of the concrete.
3. Protection shall also be provided to prevent damage to freshly placed concrete due to inclement
weather, i.e. heavy rain or frost.
4. Before concreting commences the Engineer must be satisfied that the necessary materials for
curing and protection are immediately available close to the area of concreting.
e. Concreting During Cold Weather:
1. Before the onset of cold weather Contractor shall inform the Engineer of the precautions he
proposes to take for concreting in cold weather. Below an air temperature of 5 C no concreting
shall take place without prior approval by the Engineer of the precautions to be taken.
2. The Contractor will inform the Engineer, in advance, of his proposals for concreting in cold
weather for precautions to be taken when the air temperature falls below 5 C within three days
after placing the concrete. The concrete temperature should not fall below 5 C from the time of
mixing until three days after placing.
f. Concreting During Hot Weather:
1. The Contractor shall take special measures in hot weather to ensure that the temperature of the
concrete when deposited does not exceed 32C. This also applies to the manufacturer of precast
concrete elements.
2. Such measures are to be approved by the Engineer and shall include some of, or if necessary
all of the following:
a. Aggregates:
1. Aggregates stock-piles sited in shade even if this has to be provided temporarily.
2. Aggregate regularly sprinkled with water to encourage cooling by evaporation. Whenever
possible successive layers watered during stock piling.
b. Water
1. Water for mixing obtained from the coolest possible economic source.
2. Water storage tanks sited in shade, permanent or temporary.
3. Water storage tanks insulated or buried below ground where site conditions permit.
4. All distribution pipes, or water trucks insulated or painted white.
5. Sufficient fog sprays shall be available at all times during concreting operations.
c. Cement: The cement store should preferably be sited in the shade.
d. Mixing and Placing Concrete:
1. The mixing plant and delivery equipment sited in shade wherever possible and organized in
such a way that the interval between mixing and placing is the absolute minimum.
2. Where shade is impossible to provide, equipment painted white.
Immediately before concrete placing, formwork, reinforcement, cable ducts, etc., sprinkled with
cool water.
Curing and Protection: Proper curing with adequate protection from sunlight maintained without
interruption. Windbreak shall also be provided.
Exposed surfaces always and, where practicable, shuttering protected from direct sunlight.
e. Cutting Away: The Contractor shall not cut away any concrete work without the written
authority of the Engineer, and the Contractor will be held responsible for the safety of any work
damaged due to authorized cutting either by himself of his sub-Contractors.

3.2 Ready Mixed Concrete

a. The Contractor shall be permitted to use "Ready Mixed Concrete" subject to the following
additional requirements, and only with the written agreement of the Engineer.
b. The name and the address of the works of the supplier is to be submitted to the Engineer, and
his acceptance of the use of such supplier shall be obtained prior to placing the order.
Notwithstanding any such authorization by the Engineer, the Contractor shall take full
responsibility that the ready mixed concrete complies with the requirements of the Specification.
c. The concreting materials shall comply with the requirements of the specification and shall be
tested in accordance with the Engineer's instructions. The cost of such testing will be the
responsibility of the Contractor. Works set cubes shall be taken on site be the Contractor, in
accordance with the Engineer's instruction and as described in this Section of the specification.
d. The Contractor is to ensure that a record is at the supplier's works of the exact time when the
concreting materials are mixed.
e. In the case of plant mixed concrete, the concrete shall be carried in purpose made agitators,
operating continuously. When truck mixed concrete in used, water shall be added under
supervision either at the site or at the central batching plant as agreed by the Engineer but in no
circumstances shall water be added in transit. In no case shall more than 45 minutes elapse
between the addition of water to the mix and the placing of the concrete.
f. Delivery notes shall record the following information. The Contractor shall keep all such
delivery notes for inspection by the Engineer :
1. Date and time of arrival of truck.
2. Time and Place of mixing of concreting materials.
3. Registration number of truck and name of depot.
4. Time and Place of adding water to material.
5. Time when concrete is placed in position and left undisturbed.
6. Mix type.
7. Position in the structure where the concrete is placed.
8. Whether test cubes were taken from this delivery.
9. Slump
10. Details of additives, where the use has been approved.
3.3 Bending And Fixing Of Reinforcement
a. Bar Bending Schedules: The Contractor shall prepare bar bending schedules for fixing which
show location, diameter, length, spacing, beds and laps for all reinforcement. The schedules shall
be approved by the Engineer before any concrete work is commenced.
b. Bending and Cutting:
1. All dimensions on bending schedules are to be read in conjunction with BS 4466, ACI Code
(ACI-315) or any equally approved standards. Bars are to be bent to the shapes and radius shown
on the drawings and bar schedules and, except at bends and cranks, shall be perfectly straight.
Any bar showing signs of cracks, or brittleness shall be rejected.
2. Bars are to be cropped to length and flame cutting will not be allowed.
3. Bending and re-bending bars on site as a temporary expedient will only be permitted if the
operation is carried out using the correct equipment. The latter must be adequate to limit radius of
the bend or re-bend at 12 times the bar diameter.
4. The use of heat to facilitate bending shall not be permitted with cold worked bars without the
approval of the Engineer.
c. Fixing:
1. The Contractor shall assemble all reinforcement in accordance with the drawings, by wiring.
Welding will be permitted only where shown on the drawings or with approval of the Engineer.
Cover shall be maintained by the proper use of chairs, spacers or nonporous concrete blocks,

sufficient to prevent displacement of the bars during concreting. Plastic spacer blocks will not be
permitted on any surfaces exposed to weather or on other damp positions. No steel shall be fixed
or covered by concrete unless it is in the correct position and free from mud, oil, paint, retarders,
loose rust, millscale or other foreign matter.
2. A steel fixer shall be in attendance during concrete to rectify any unavoidable displacement as
the concrete is placed.
3. Unless otherwise shown on the drawings, concrete cover to reinforcement shall not be less than
the following:
a. Columns and beams with externally exposed faces 30 mm.
b. All other columns and beams 30 mm.
c. Suspended slabs with externally exposed faces 30mm.
d. All other suspended slabs -25mm.
e. Foundations - 70 mm
4. Columns starter bars shall be held accurately in position with suitable templates. No bars must
be placed by pushing into the wet concrete. Where welding is required between bars or between
bars and plates, it is to be carried out in accordance with BS 1856 and all welders employed on
the work are to be approved by the Engineer. If required by the Engineer, a welder may be
required to carry out additional test pieces and if there are not satisfactory the Engineer shall be
entitled to ask for particular welder to be replaced.
d. Site Provision: The Contractor shall provide on site bar cutting and bending facilities to cater
for minor variations without incurring avoidable delays.
3.4 Formwork
a. Materials:
1. Temporary formwork shall be constructed of timber, sheet metal, or other approved material.
2. Unless otherwise specified, permanent formwork shall be constructed of slabs or blocks of
precast concrete, natural stone, brickwork, or other approved material. Slabs or blocks shall have
an exposed surface or the specified quality : they shall have positive anchorage to the structure,
and the joints between them shall be made tight with mortar or by such other means as will
prevent the leakage of grout from the concrete.
b. Design:
Formwork shall be so designed and constructed that concrete can be properly placed and
thoroughly compacted.
Formwork shall be capable of adjustment to the lines and dimensions of the finished concrete,
and it shall be sufficiently strong to resist, without excessive distortion, the pressure of concrete
during its placing and compaction, and other loads to which it may be subjected. It shall not be
liable to suffer distortion under the influence of the weather.
c. When concrete is to be vibrated, special care shall be taken to ensure that the formwork will
remain stable and the joints tight.
d. Deflection and Camber: The Contractor shall make allowance for any settlement or
deflection of formwork that is likely to arise during construction, so that the hardened concrete
conforms accurately to specified line and level. The Contractor shall also make allowance on the
formwork for any camber specified by the Engineer to allow for the elastic deflection of
structural members and deflection due to creep of the concrete.
e. Supports:
1. Formwork shall be constructed so that formwork to the sides of members can be removed
without disturbing the soffit formwork or its supports. Props and supports shall be designed to
allow the formwork to be adjusted accurately to line and level and to be erected and removed in
an approved sequence without injury to the concrete.
2. All floor slabs shall remain propped during the construction of the total concrete frame. The
weight of the floor slabs and other incidental loads shall be carried directly through these props to

suitable foundations at ground or basement level. All floor slabs shall be struck at the highest
level first and working progressively down the frame to the lowest level.
3. Props and bracing shall be provided for the temporary support of composite construction were
separately specified.
f. Joints and Edges:
1. All joints in formwork shall be close fitting to prevent leakage of grout from the concrete.
2. At construction joints formwork shall be tightly secured against previously cast or hardened
concrete to prevent the formation of stepping or ridges in the concrete.
3. Formwork shall be constructed to provide straight and through angles, arises, or edges. were
chamfers are shown on the drawings, the fillets shall be accurately cut to size to provide a smooth
and continuous chamfer.
g. Ties: The material and position of any ties passing through the concrete shall be to the
Engineer's approval. Except where corrosion of a metal type is important it shall be possible to
remove a tie so no part of it remaining imbedded in the concrete shall be nearer to the finish
surface of the concrete than the specified thickness of cover to the reinforcement. Any holes left
after the removal of ties shall be filled with concrete or mortar of approved composition, unless
specified otherwise.
h. Sundries:
1. Formwork shall be provided to the top surface of concrete where the slope or the nature of the
work requires it.
2. Provision shall be made for forming holes and chases for services and for building in pipes,
conduits, and all other fixings.
i. Cleaning and Treatment of Formwork: All rubbish, chipping, shavings, sawdust and dirt
shall be removed from the interior of the formwork before concrete is placed. The formwork to be
in contact with the concrete shall be cleaned and treated with a suitable release agent in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Care shall be taken that oil or dirt is kept from
contact with the reinforcement or with concrete at any construction joints. Retarding agents shall
not be used except with the permission of the Engineer. Formwork shall be thoroughly cleaned
after each use. Damaged or distorted formwork shall not be used.

j. Striking or Removal of Formwork:

1. All formwork shall be removed without shock or vibration that damage the concrete. In no
circumstances shall formwork be struck until the concrete reaches a cube strength of at least twice
the stress to which the concrete may be subjected at the time of striking.
2. The formwork to vertical surfaces such as walls, columns and side of beams may be removed
after 12-14 hours in normal weather conditions although care must be taken to avoid damage to
the concrete, especially to arises and features.
3. Where the early concrete strengths are not accurately known, the following minimum times
shall elapse before removal of formwork.
Minimum Period Before
Effective Span
Average Temperature
Removing Formwork
(m)
( Degrees Centigrade)
Concrete Elements
21 and Over
( 10 - 20 )
( 5 - 10 )
5 or Less
Concrete Age in Days
Non load
2
3
5
7
bearing
columns and
walls and
beam soffits.
Walls,
5
6
7
9
Columns,
and vertically
loaded