Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-097

19 December 2010

Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents
I

Scope............................................................. 2

II

Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2

III References..................................................... 2
IV Modifications to ASTM C94 - 09..................... 4

Previous Issue: 24 March 2009 Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

Revised paragraphs are marked in the right margin
Primary contact: Mehthel, Mohammed Heshan on 966-3-8760154
CopyrightSaudi Aramco 2010. All rights reserved.

Page 1 of 1

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Scope
This Specification covers ready-mixed structural and non-structural concrete
manufactured and delivered to Purchaser in a freshly mixed and unhardened state from
Saudi Aramco approved suppliers. Requirements for quality of concrete shall be either
as hereinafter specified or as specified in the Purchase Order. This Specification does
not cover the placement, consolidation, curing or protection of the concrete after
delivery to the Purchaser.

II

III

Conflicts and Deviations

A.

Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

B.

Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

References
The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this specification shall comply with the
latest edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.
A.

Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures
SAEP-302

Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a

Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement

SAEP-1152

Approval Procedure for Ready-Mixed Concrete

Mix Design

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-088

Aggregates for Concrete

Page 2 of 2

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

B.

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Industry Codes and Standards

American Concrete Institute
ACI 207.3R

Practices for Evaluation of Concrete in existing

Massive Structures for Service Conditions

ACI 211.1

Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for

Normal, Heavy weight, and Mass Concrete

ACI 318M

Building Code Requirements for Structural

Concrete and Commentary

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM C39

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of

Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

ASTM C94 - 09

Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete

ASTM C150

Standard Specification for Portland Cement

ASTM C494

Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures

for Concrete

ASTM C618

Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw

or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in
Concrete

ASTM C1152

Standard Test Method for Acid-Soluble Chloride

in Mortar and Concrete

ASTM C1240

Standard Specification for Silica Fume Used in

Cementitious Mixtures

ASTM C1218

Standard Test Method Water-Soluble Chloride in

Mortar and Concrete

ASTM C618

Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or

Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete

British Standard

C.

BS 1881 - 124

Methods for Analysis of Hardened Concrete

BS EN 450 - 1

Fly Ash for Concrete

Saudi Arabian Standards Organization

SASO SSA 143

Portland Cement, Ordinary and Rapid-Hardening

Page 3 of 3

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

IV

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Modifications to ASTM C94 - 09

The following paragraph numbers refer to ASTM C94 - 09, which is part of this
specification. The text in each paragraph below is an addition, exception, modification,
or deletion to ASTM C94 - 09 as noted. Paragraph numbers not appearing in
ASTM C94 - 09 are new paragraphs to be inserted in numerical order.
5

(Addition) Purchaser reserves the right to obtain samples of the delivered

product and its constituent components, which Purchaser deems necessary to
verify full compliance with the quality requirements stated in this
Specification.

5.2.1,
(Deletion) Delete these paragraphs in its entirety.
5.2.2 & 5.2.3
5.2.1

(Addition) The type of cement used shall be specified in the Purchase Order
and shall be a Purchaser-approved brand.
Ordinary Portland Cement (Type I) shall be in accordance with SSA 143 and
the optional chemical requirements of ASTM C150, Table 2.
Type V sulfate resistant Portland cement shall be in accordance with
ASTM C150, including the optional chemical requirements of Table 2 and
the optional physical requirements of Table 4.
Silica fume shall be in accordance with ASTM C1240. Silica fume, when
used as a mineral additive, it shall not be less than 7% by weight of cement
as replacement and it shall not exceed 10% by weight of cement.
Natural Pozzolans can be used as partial replacement of cement. The amount
of the Natural Pozzolan (ASTM C618) used as cement replacement shall be
established based on the compressive strength requirements but shall not
exceed 50% replacement for the cement.
Mill test certificates shall be provided for each shipment of cement.
Under no circumstances shall the source of cement be changed without prior
written approval of Purchaser.

5.3

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

5.3

(Addition) Aggregate shall conform to 09-SAMSS-088 Aggregates for

Concrete.

5.4

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

Page 4 of 4

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

5.4

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

(Addition) Mixing water shall be free from oils, acids, organic matter or
other deleterious substances and shall satisfy the requirements listed in
Table B of this standard. No changes in water source shall be permitted
without prior approval by Purchaser.
Table B Acceptance Criteria for Mixing Water

5.6

Test

Frequency of Test

Max.

Min.

TDS

Weekly

500 ppm

N/A

pH

Weekly

8.0

6.0

(Addition) High range water reducers (Superplasticizers) type F or G only,

conforming to ASTM C494, can be used, when necessary to achieve and
maintain the desired workability.
Calcium chloride or admixtures containing chloride salts are not permitted
and shall not be used.
Admixture manufacturers technical data sheet, including dosage range for
slump/temperature range, and storage requirements shall be submitted to the
Purchaser with proposed mix designs.

6.1

(Addition) The maximum water soluble chloride ions in concrete shall not
exceed 0.15% for reinforced concrete and 0.06% for prestressed concrete by
weight of cement. The maximum Sulfate ions as SO3 shall not exceed 4%.
Tests shall be in accordance with ASTM C1218, BS 1881 124 or
equivalent.

6.1.4

(Exception) Option C shall be used as a basis for determining the

proportions of the concrete to produce the required quality.

6.4.1

(Addition) The proportions of ingredients shall be selected in accordance

with provisions of ACI 211.1. The cement content and the water cement
ratio (W/C) for structural & non-structural concrete shall be as indicated in
Table A of this standard.

Page 5 of 5

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Table A Cement Content and W/C Ratio for Concrete

Item
Cement Content
Kilogram/Cubic Meter
(Kg/M3)
W/C Ratio
28-Days Design
Compressive Strength
(ASTM C39)

Cement Content
Kilogram/Cubic Meter
(Kg/M3)
W/C Ratio
28-Days Design
Compressive Strength
(ASTM C39)

Structural Concrete
Max.
Min.
370
350
0.4
-

4000 psi
(28 MPA)

Non-structural Concrete
Max.
Min.
250
0.6
-

2000 psi
(14 MPA)

Precast & Prestressed

Concrete & Water
Retaining Structures
No Max.
Min.
370
0.4
-

5000 psi
(35 MPa)

Silica Fume shall be tested prior to use and on monthly basis or when changing the source of
the materials to confirm its compliance to ASTM C1240.
Ultra fine fly ash (type S in accordance with BS EN 450 - 1) can be used in lieu of Silica
Fume provided that:

The minimum cement replacement is 10% and the maximum is 15% (in lieu of 7 and
10% for silica fume)

The maximum water /cement ratio is 0.35 in lieu of 0.4

Amount retained when wet-sieved on sieve no. 325 (0.045 micron meter) is less than
3.5% Maximum particle size is less than 5 microns

Ultra fine fly ash shall be tested prior to use and on monthly basis or when changing the
source of the materials to confirm its compliance to BS EN 450 - 1.

Commentary Note:
This table covers cast in place and prestressed/precast concrete. However,
for water retaining structure, precast/prestressed concrete, cement content
more than 370 Kg/M3 of concrete can be used in the mix, and the minimum
28-Days Design Compressive Strength shall be 5000 psi (35 MPa).

6.4.2

(Addition) Complete concrete mix design data shall be submitted to the

Purchaser for approval at least 30 days prior to proposed use. Concrete mix
design shall be reviewed and approved by each project Inspection Section as
per the procedures specified in SAEP-1152.

Page 6 of 6

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

7.1

(Addition) Concrete slump shall be based on project specifications.

Tolerances in slump stated in ASTM C94 - 09 are based on normal mixes,
without superplasticizing admixture. Concrete shall have a maximum slump
of 200 mm at the point of delivery after the admixture is added unless
otherwise specified. The slump variation within the 90 minutes after
introduction of the mixing water to the cement shall be within 50 mm from the
slump measured for the full-scale plant trial result of the specified concrete
mix design.

7.2

(Addition) When concrete pumps are used, the slump shall be determined at
the discharge point of the concrete placement hose.

(Exception) Volume batching shall not be allowed.

9.3

(Exception) Wash water shall not be used as mixing water.

10.3

(Addition) Plant scales shall be calibrated no less than three times a year
and shall be certified as conforming to ASTM C94 - 09 by Saudi Aramco
approved calibration agency.

11.1.2

(Addition) Concrete delivered in trucks not having operable revolution

counters shall be rejected.

12

(Addition) No aluminum parts shall be placed in contact with concrete

during mixing or delivery.

12

(Addition) In remote areas, where, it is proven and verified by SAPMT and

Inspection Department the absence of a batch plant that is in full
compliance with this standard, existing batch plant will be allowed with the
following conditions:
a)

The final product shall satisfy the requirements of this standard.

b)

Quality control shall be maintained at the batch plant and the

construction site. Saudi Aramco Approved Independent laboratory
shall be utilized to perform the required tests when there are no
laboratory facilities at the batch plant.

c)

The batch plant shall be in full Compliance with section 9 of this

standard.

12

(Exception) Addition of water or admixtures (re-tempering) shall not be

allowed..

12.1.2

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

Page 7 of 7

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

12.4

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

12.5

(Addition) Truck-Mixing with operable revolution counters will be

allowed for dry batching (where cement and aggregates are pre batched in a
batch plant, water and liquid admixtures shall be added at site).

12.5.2

Truck mixing is allowed if the discharge of the concrete cannot be achieved

within 90 minutes after introduction of the mixing water to the cement and
aggregates or before the drum of the truck has revolved 300 revolutions,
provided that:
a)

The discharge of the concrete shall be completed within three hours or

before the drum of the truck has revolved 600 revolutions, whichever
comes first after introduction of the cement to the aggregates.

b)

Each truck delivering concrete shall have an operable water system

with an accurate water measuring device of one of the following types:

Automatic cut off siphon type.

Water meter of the automatic shut off type.
Sight gage.

c)

The final concrete shall satisfy the requirements of this standard.

d)

Consistency and uniformity tests are performed as per the requirements

of ASTM C94 - 09. Tests shall be witnessed by representative from
Inspection Department.

e)

Quality control is maintained at both batch plant and at project site.

f)

Inspection Department shall approve mixing procedure to ensure

compliance with Saudi Aramco applicable standard.

12.9

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

12.9

(Addition) Concrete delivered at a temperature in excess of 32C or that

fails to maintain a temperature of 32C until used, shall be rejected and
replaced at the expense of the Manufacturer.
Commentary Note:
Non-structural concrete with compressive strength of 2000 psi is exempted
from the above requirement. The reason for this exemption is due to the fact
that non-structural concrete is unreinforced and thus cracking is not critical.

14.1

(Addition)
a)

Location of Batch Plant

Page 8 of 8

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

b)
c)

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Job Order (JO) Number for Project

Time Leaving Batch Plant

14.1.10

(Deletion) Delete this paragraph in its entirety.

18.2

(Addition) The minimum required number of concrete test cylinders for

strength tests shall be:
Age (Days)
3
7
28

18.3

No. of Cylinders
1
1
2

(Addition) The test report shall include the following data for each test
sample of concrete taken at the placement site:

Name of Project and Job Order (JO) for the Project

Slump in millimeters
Ambient air temperature in C
Concrete temperature in C
% Air, when air entrainment is used.

19.1

(Exception) Delete this paragraph in its entirety

19.1

(Exception) In the event that concrete fails to meet the strength

requirements of this Specification, in-place testing for concrete strength will
be conducted by Purchaser. In-place testing will be conducted in accordance
with ACI 318M, Chapter 5 and ACI 207.3R, Chapter 3, or ACI 318M,
Chapter 20 at the sole option of the Purchaser.
Concrete in the area represented by the in-place tests shall be considered
structurally adequate provided such results conform to the provisions of
ACI 318M.
The results of all in-place testing, as described above, conducted by
Purchaser and observed by the Manufacturer, shall be considered binding
and final upon the Manufacturer.
Tests for Saudi Aramco acceptance purposes shall be performed by a Saudi
Aramco-approved independent laboratory.
Concrete judged structurally inadequate after in-place testing described
above, shall be removed and replaced at the expense of the Manufacturer.

Page 9 of 9

Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Issue Date: 19 December 2010
Next Planned Update: 24 March 2014

24 March 2009
19 December 2010

09-SAMSS-097
Ready-Mixed Portland Cement Concrete

Revision Summary
Major revision.
Minor revision.

Page 10 of 10