ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - July 2010
THE FIRE SEASON HAS OPENED
The fires that occur in our province and across the country bring great sadness. The destruction of cultivated lands, forests, and the death of hundreds, even thousands, of different species is unacceptable, no matter the cause—whether negligence, irresponsibility, or intentional. This issue is not just an environmental or ecological problem, but a human problem. Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, is responsible for their surroundings. There is much to be written about this topic, but I couldn’t pass by discussing it before moving on to our own area of focus.
The fire season has started, but it’s not just on the ground—it's also the "fire season" for concrete. Extremely hot weather creates unfavorable conditions for concrete. When fresh concrete is poured into molds, it hardens by releasing heat. This heat comes from the chemical reactions that occur within the concrete. It is accepted that concrete reaches its final strength (maximum durability) in 28 days. To prevent the heat from evaporating the water inside the concrete, samples are placed in a curing (water) tank for 28 days. Imagine, while the samples are kept in water for 28 days, we can’t keep the entire building submerged in water. That’s why building concrete needs to be constantly watered and kept moist.
As I’ve mentioned in previous writings, I pointed out that proper care in curing concrete during construction is often neglected in Elazığ. I’ve not made this claim based on rumors, but on direct observations I’ve made on-site. One might think, "What harm does it do if the concrete isn't watered?" The answer is simple: The strength of the concrete will decrease by at least 40%. This means that buildings we believe are solid may not cause casualties in a severe earthquake, but significant damage will occur.
The use of ready-mixed concrete today is a great advantage. It’s hard to even compare it with on-site poured concrete. However, one must not forget that no matter how well the concrete mix is prepared, and no matter how strong the materials used are, without proper maintenance, the desired quality of concrete cannot be achieved. The most important maintenance for concrete is continuous watering. The time values provided in standards and regulations are just minimum requirements. Concrete continues to gain strength as long as it is watered.
There are also those who believe they’ve watered the concrete. While a large field is burning, some simply throw a bucket of water on it and walk away. In construction, this misunderstanding leads to serious deficiencies in how concrete should be watered. Since it’s a complex issue, I plan to elaborate on it in detail next week. However, it’s important to say that simply explaining how to do it is not enough to solve the problem. Concrete maintenance is an essential obligation—it is a non-negotiable task. Therefore, it should not be left to people’s consciences. Authorities must take responsibility for this. The first institutions that come to mind are, of course, municipalities. However, it is important to note that construction is not just limited to residential buildings. Concrete maintenance for structures such as schools, hospitals, and mass housing projects must be monitored by the responsible authorities. Below are a few suggestions for how such supervision can be conducted:
- If the monitoring institution has a permanent presence on the construction site, the staff should be tasked with inspecting concrete maintenance.
- The pressure strength of samples taken during concrete pouring should be compared with the pressure strength of core samples taken from the concrete after 28 days. This practice will help draw clear conclusions regarding concrete maintenance. Institutions should also prepare specifications on this matter.
- Given the large number of residential constructions, it may be difficult to take core samples and make comparisons. In such cases, municipalities can check the concrete's watering process via the water meters used on the construction sites. The amount of water used must be checked in accordance with the progress of the construction. If there is still doubt, core samples can be taken for confirmation.
- Individuals or organizations that neglect concrete maintenance should be subjected to penalties. It is clear that rules without penalties will not be followed.
Every piece of concrete that was properly prepared and poured but failed to reach its true strength due to lack of watering is a loss of national wealth.