Bruce Suprenant, P.E.

Suprenantbruce1206 10364169
http://www.bsuprenant.com
Phone:(303) 499-0264

Bruce A. Suprenant, PhD, PE, FACI, is a concrete consultant and technical direcator at the American Society of Concrete Contractors. Reach him at bsuprenant@bsuprenant.com.

More from Bruce Suprenant, P.E.
Table 1: Suggested Support Spacing for WWR from the Wire Reinforcement Institute
The Contractor’s Welded Wire Reinforcement (WWR) Dilemma
There needs to be an alternative to removal and replacement for WWR.
December 7, 2017
Ideally, a cambered cast-in-place slab deflects just enough to take out the camber and result in a uniform-thickness slab with the surface at the design elevation. That rarely happens.
Approach Form Camber Specifications with Caution
Cast-in-place reinforced concrete structural members deflect under load. Whatever the cause of the problem, engineers have sometimes tried to control deflection effects by requiring cambered form soffits.
August 14, 2017
Challenging the System image ASCC 14 Anchor Bolt Location 58e3ab694fae0
A Tolerance Compatibility Success
ASCC, ACI and AISC anchor bolt placement tolerances are now identical.
April 10, 2017
Table 1
Concrete Slump Should Not Be Specified
The concrete producer and contractor should determine slump requirements.
March 14, 2017
Challenging the System Figure 1 588901b32cc84
MOE Specifications on a Project Near You!
Seek to understand before committing to modulus of elasticity requirements.
February 9, 2017
challenging the system 1 582a62e5c657c
Having Tolerance Compatibility Problems?
ACI 117.1R-14 can help.
December 6, 2016
Contractors Make Recommendations Based on Experience
Contractors citing previous experience should make their recommendations with the understanding the final decision will be made by the designer and owner.
August 16, 2016
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One…Anecdotes Masquerading as Data
June 13, 2016
When slabs on ground are polished, non-uniform exposure of aggregate is a result of high spots cause by slab curling. Deflection of many suspended slabs exceeds the upward movement at curled slabs, so polishing may result in even larger areas that exhibit such non-uniform aggregate exposure.
Why Polishing Suspended Concrete Slabs is More Likely to Disappoint Customers
Polished-concrete specifications are based on experience with slabs-on-grade, so contractors must help project owners understand how results will likely vary when polishing suspended slabs
March 4, 2016
Whatever Happened to Engineering Judgment?
When a test result falls outside of the specified limits or other specification requirements aren’t met, engineers typically have three options for dealing with such noncompliance issues.
December 30, 2015
In this view, beams, girders and slabs (floors) are the horizontal structural members, while columns and walls are the vertical members.
Understanding ACI 117 Tolerance Language
“I have a beam and a column, what ACI 117 tolerances apply where?” To make it easier to discuss, we developed a graphical approach using an elevation and plan view of a beam and column similar to what callers see on the construction drawings.
December 1, 2015
CONC0815 Challenging Chart 55cccb7473a88
Why is the Acceptance of Concrete Test Results Still a Struggle?
August 13, 2015
Innocent Until Proven Guilty: Unless You’re a Contractor
June 11, 2015
How to Make an Irrational Inspector Rational
Learn about five ways a contractor can challenge an inspector.
April 13, 2015
Some Specifications Just Aren’t Fair
March 5, 2015
Where are the obstruction-free vertical runs of 4' x 6' minimum cross section to permit vibrator insertion?
Define Constructibility!
December 22, 2014
Figure 1 Fins and offsets can be the result of form leakage. But fins and offsets have tolerances as described in ACI 117 and ACI 301. Fins and offsets are allowed but the height of each is controlled by the tolerances. If form leakage were prevented, there should be no tolerances. The fact that the tolerances are included in both ACI 117 and ACI 347 means that form leakage is acceptable but is limited by these ACI documents.
Formwork Mortar Leakage
A concrete contractor recently had a close-out meeting with the Owner and Construction Manager, and was be surprised by the demand for a reduction in payment based on form leakage.
May 30, 2014
Challenging The System Photo 1 11305289
Challenging the System: Need Help With A Business Question?
February 25, 2014
New ACI Code Requirements for Anchor Installation
The new ACI code requirements for concrete adhesive anchor installation will cost contractors time and money to certify personnel.
August 21, 2013
Construction schedules and contractor economics typically require concrete placements of 10,000 to 20,000 square feet or from 30,000 to 50,000 square feet when a Laser Screed is used. This figure shows a 300,000 square foot pour that was completed within 24 hours in a single concrete placement.
Specification Limits on Slab-on-Grade Placement Size
May 13, 2013
The penetrations required in this depressed area in an elevated floor slab make it difficult to use 10-foot straightedges and riding power trowels. Specifiers should consider these multiple obstructions to finishing operations when determining F-number values. In this case, the specifier required F-numbers in the small depressed floated area that was to receive ceramic tile for bathrooms.
The Limitations of F-Number Specifications
Contractors need to be cognizant of certain situations that make it difficult to achieve routine FF and FL requirements and know how to get those specifications changed to more reasonable requirements.
January 16, 2013
Reinforcing steel is so congested in the shear wall boundary element (right side of photo) that concrete must be placed in the less heavily reinforced shear wall section (left side of photo) and vibrated at that point to move it laterally into the boundary element.
Show Us the Data
Authoritative statements in ACI documents are often unaccompanied by any reference to published data that validate the statements. That’s a problem.
December 12, 2012
Beware of Risk Transfer: Part 2
Making contractors responsible for building code requirements.
August 24, 2012
How to Successfully Use RFIs
In the construction industry, successful requests for information require an understanding of administrative procedures plus the need for specificity and documentation.
June 25, 2012