Tired of jewelry stuff? Here’s a checklist I wrote for your next post-tension slab and foundation. The pour section is
best used at 4:45 AM with a Schwing pump truck ka-chunking in the background - enjoy.
Concrete
Slab Checklist
Pre-pour
• Are there any discrepancies between Architectural and Post-Tension Engineer plans? Check all dimensions
and features. If so, RFIs must be obtained to proceed, meanwhile,
• Check site layout for building orientation - is it mirrored or flipped from Architectural drawings?
• Was sub-grade properly compacted? Did lab perform field test?
• Call surveyor to stake envelope and finished floor or other reference elevation
• Envelope placement - four corners and reference other site benchmarks - verify
• Safety - rebar caps, barricades around open excavations and forms, safety rails where necessary, trenches
for access to elevator pit. Continuous check
• Electricity available for form carpenters or do they have generator?
• Is slab elevation per plans - verify with surveyors stake
• Verify all sleeves and proper placement for any special uses or utilities under slab.
• Elevator pit layout - verify
• Elevator pit may require sleeves for sump pump pipes, etc. Verify size and placement.
• Elevator base may have sump pit - verify location and dimensions
• Does elevator base have water stop flange or membrane? Does sub have on site? Does sub have proper iron
to make watertight joint on site?
• Trenches proper depth
• Beams and footing proper dimension and shape
• Are there special footings for stairs, chimneys, steel columns - where, shape, how deep and wide, etc.
• Slab forms proper depth
• Forms checked per Architectural drawings
• Forms properly braced to withstand hydrostatic pressure
• Are two-sided forms properly braced and tied off - inside and outside?
• Is insulation in required and on site? Installed properly?
• Recessed areas for tile floors, marble thresholds, ADA showers properly formed
• Release (plastic, oil, silicone, diesel, etc) on brick ledge forms on flat areas so they can be removed without
damaging, chipping , finished slab. Convenient but not required.
• Brick ledges continuous around columns and returns
• Slope floor in rooms with floor drains - formed or marked with stake for hand finishing
• No slope of approach to exceed 2% ADA (per plans or half of entries)
• Control joint and forms properly set - strip form on proper side
• Tub box placement, ballast, depth, properly installed - cavity for p-trap on chase on wall side
• Vapor barrier properly installed - no base or substrate uncovered
• Proper size of rebar per plans
• Post-tension cable anchors installed facing the proper direction
• Post-tension cables and rebar properly chaired and tied per plans and mfg specs
• Corners, beams, walls and footings properly reinforced with rebar
• Proper tie-in of chairs to post tension cables at intersections and chairs under rebar in beams and footings
• Plan placement of concrete pump at least one day ahead and ensure access through site to pour. Are any
power lines adjacent to pour?
• Order light tower(s) to be delivered the afternoon before an early morning pour
• Verify sub has sufficient crew to properly finish slab in workable time
• Are power trowels on site?
• Have these phone numbers already entered in your cell phone and PDA - 911 or local emergency direct
number if using out-of-state cell phone (call county they will give you direct number), concrete foreman, lab, pump,
plumber, concrete sales rep, back-up staff, this is for weather changes, emergencies and extra labor needed
• plan clean-out area if not on site plans. Low dumpster with liner can be ordered from waste company. Plan
delivery one day ahead and clearly mark off limits for construction trash until after pours are completed
• Pipe risers, drains, clean outs capped, plugged or taped to prevent dirt and concrete contamination, tops and
covers set at right height relative to finished floor surface - level with finished surface VCT, carpet, slab, etc
• Low temperature pours require blankets. Be sure there are enough on site to cover the pour and you have
materials (weights) to hold the blankets on the slab.
• Call lab for pour inspection, slump and test cylinders
• Are there any city noise ordinances restricting construction noise to specific times? Will this affect early
morning pours?
Pour
• Plumber on duty ready to work - mud boots, pvc saw, cleaner and glue, markers, tub boxes, sand , pvc fittings
and pipe, spare clean outs, etc
• Anchors for sill plates per spec (bolts, depth, type, spacing )
• Anchors properly spaced in shear walls
• Steel footings or j-bolts for steel column/post placement - with template
• Verify designed batch mix and strength with plant and truck documents
• All door thresholds recheck for level
• No added water unless specifically allowed in batch design and required number of revolutions of mixer
reached
Post pour/finishing
• No slope or broom on thresholds
• Broom entries perpendicular to slope not parallel with slope
• Sealers, hardeners, pump sprayer, etc ready for application per manufacturer's instructions and plans
• Observe power trowel operators - are they hitting pipes?
etc...
