Concrete protection

Despite the high quality and special qualities of concrete, damage can occur that requires maintenance, repair and protection. A distinction must be made between environmental influences and production faults with respect to concrete damage. Environmental influences can include exhaust fumes, acid rain, frost and de-icing salts. Here, the chemical properties are changed so that the steel reinforcements in the concrete start to rust. Shrinkage cracks, pipes, gravel pockets and insufficient concrete cover are typical production faults that also promote corrosion of the reinforcements.

Due to the wide range of potential causes of the damage and the damage profiles on reinforced concrete structures, different repair principles have been practised for many years. These are documented in the guidelines ‘Protection and repair of concrete parts (repair guide lines’ by the German Committee for Reinforced Concrete (DAfStb) and the Euro norm series EN 1504 (in Germany DIN EN 1504) ‘Products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures’.

The correct planning (structure design and details) and also the selection of building materials and careful construction all have a huge impact on the durability of a construction work.