Quality Control
Quality Control (QC)
- A member of ACI International
- ACI-Certified Concrete Field Testing Technicians in the department
- Regular performance of standard quality tests on raw materials and concrete
- Continuous research & development to optimize affordability, maintain and improve quality, and integrate sustainable options.
Quality is our pride. Long before our official membership into the American Concrete Institute (ACI International), Citicon has fulfilled and promoted compliance with ACI standards.
Committed to pursuing the best use of concrete, we equipped each of our batching plants with its own laboratory. Thus, our QC Department can effectively and diligently monitor our concrete’s quality, guided by our developed Inspection and Test Plan. From our engineers and coordinators to our samplers and transit mixer drivers, our personnel are trained and regularly undergo in-house seminars on the proper design, handling and care of concrete.
Our membership with ACI means we have access to the latest updates on all standards and developments on concrete. Additionally, four of our personnel earned certification as a Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I in 2022. This certification further qualifies them to train the department and uphold our culture of quality.
At Citicon, development never stops. We are are committed to the constant improvement of our concrete. Our designs are under continuous research & development to optimize affordability, further improve quality, and integrate sustainability.
Testing
Our Quality Control team works closely with our Operations to monitor the acceptability of our concrete based on its Slump, Temperature, and Compressive Strength and/or Flexural Strength. In addition to the tests performed on our raw materials, we conduct the following quality tests on our concrete:
- Fresh Concrete (performed by Citicon):
- Slump (ASTM C143): The slump test determines the consistency of concrete – its relative fluidity or mobility.
- Temperature (ASTM C1064): Concrete temperature is an important factor influencing the quality, time of set and strength of concrete. It also determines the type and duration of concrete curing and protection needed.
- Air Content (ASTM C231 [Pressure Method] / C138 [Gravimetric Method]): Typically, high air content corresponds to a reduction in concrete strength, making it an important factor in predicting the performance of concrete.
Hardened Concrete (performed by third party laboratories approved by the client):
- Compressive Strength (ASTM C39)
The compressive strength of concrete indicates its capacity to withstand loads before failure. It is the most widely accepted measure of a concrete mixture’s performance and ability to serve the structure it is used for. Thus, it is crucial that compressive strength test results are accurate.
While third party laboratories deliver official compressive strength test results, Citicon also has its own compression machine. We use this to conduct strength tests for internal monitoring. Such is the premium we place on our concrete’s quality.
- Citicon is in charge of making and curing concrete samples. This is to ensure concrete sampling and curing are performed properly and in accordance with ASTM C31 (Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field). Our responsibility covers only concrete specimens and does not include the curing of the structure itself.
- Flexural Strength (ASTM C78)
Flexural tests indicate the ability of unreinforced concrete beams or slabs to withstand failure in bending. It is used primarily for slabs and pavements, helping to ascertain the concrete’s suitability and predict the structure’s longevity.
