Classification of environmental exposure of building elements by tests

Title: Classification of environmental exposure of building elements by tests
Author(s): H. W. Pang, Bosco L.K. Au and W. B Chan
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Conference on Advances in Construction Materials Through Science and Engineering
Editor(s): Christopher Leung and K.T. WAN
ISBN: 978-2-35158-116-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-117-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 610 - 616
Total Pages: 7
Nb references: 11
Language: English

Abstract: Codes of Practices and Standards normally provide classifications of exposure conditions related to environmental actions for various parts of common structures, and recommend design requirements related to each class of exposure. Engineers should be aware that these classifications are broad ones and there could be particular conditions in the structures being designed or looked after by him/her. A case in point is the small toilets of Housing Authority’s public rental flats. Seawater is used for toilet flushing. The numerous daily flushes produce aerosols laden with chloride ions. The toilet is also the bathroom. There is no bath tub and the toilet floor is subject to frequent wetting and drying. During the life time of the toilet, there could be period of leaking of seawater from the cistern to the floor as normal wear and tear has its toad on the closet furniture. In earlier designs, pipes piercing through the concrete toilet slab produce weak points for ingress of contaminated water to the aged concrete. These particular conditions call for a study of the actual exposure class of these toilets. This paper describes the tests performed to determine the rate of deposition of air-borne chloride ions from the aerosol effects of toilet flushing and the corrosion rate of the reinforcement bars in the toilet slabs, as well as other related tests. Based on the test results and comparing European data on corrosion rates for different exposure classes according to Euro-code EN206, this paper suggests that the toilet in question is in an exposure condition similar to Exposure Class S3 of EN206.

Online publication: 2011-10-31
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00