Engineering Standard 06 April 2023

SAES-Q-001
Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee

Previous Revision: 05 July 2021 Next Revision: 06 April 2028

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Saudi Aramco: Company General Use © Saudi Arabian Oil Company, 2023
 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

Table of Content
SUMMARY OF CHANGES ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

CONFLICTS AND DEVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 4

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................. 6

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 7

QUALITY CONTROL .......................................................................................................................................................... 8

MATERIALS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8

DESIGN AND EXECUTION ............................................................................................................................................... 9

SULFUR PITS .................................................................................................................................................................... 14

MARINE AND OFFSHORE CONCRETE STRUCTURES ................................................................................................. 15

DOCUMENT HISTORY ............................................................................................................................................................ 19

Table of Tables

Table 1.A - Sulfate Exposures Classes ................................................................................................................................ 16

Table 2 - Requirements for Reinforced Concrete by Exposures Class ............................................................................... 17
Table 3 - Minimum Concrete Cover ................................................................................................................................... 18

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

Scope
This standard covers the minimum mandatory requirements governing the design, specifications,
and construction of all onshore structural, offshore structural, and non-structural concrete.
1.1 This standard does not cover the design, manufacturing, specification, casting, and erection
of precast and prestressed concrete products. Refer to SAES-Q-012 for Precast and Prestressed
Concrete Structures.
1.2 Special concrete mixes such as self-consolidating concrete (SCC), roller compacted concrete,
pervious concrete, heavy weight concrete, light weight concrete, foam concrete, polymer
concrete, and marine concrete shall be reviewed by Civil & Building System Engineering
Group/CSD, in addition to the approval and trial test witnessing by BP&CTU/ID.
Conflicts and Deviations
Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed to the EK&RD Manager.
Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302.
References
All referenced specifications, standards, codes, drawings, and similar material are considered
part of this Engineering Standard to the extent specified, applying the latest version, unless
otherwise stated.
Saudi Aramco References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure
SAEP-302 Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-097 Ready-mixed Concrete
09-SAMSS-106 Epoxy Coating of Steel Reinforcing Bars
12-SAMSS-007 Fabrication of Structural and Miscellanies Steel
12-SAMSS-027 Fiber-reinforced Polymer Bar Materials for Concrete Reinforcement

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-113 Geotechnical Engineering Requirements
SAES-B-005 Spacing and Diking for Atmospheric and Low-pressure Tanks
SAES-H-001 Coating Selection and Application Requirements for Industrial Plants and
Equipment
SAES-L-440 Anchor for Buried Pipelines
SAES-P-104 Wiring Methods and Materials
SAES-P-111 Grounding
SAES-Q-005 Concrete Foundations
SAES-Q-012 Criteria for Design and Construction of Precast and Prestressed Concrete
Structures
SAES-S-070 Installation of Utility Piping Systems
SAES-T-911 Telecommunications Conduit System Design

Saudi Aramco Engineering Reports

SAER-5803 Concrete Repair Manual

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

Saudi Aramco Manuals

Saudi Aramco Construction Safety Manual

Other References
American Concrete Institute
ACI 117 Standard Specifications for Tolerances for Concrete Construction and
Materials
ACI 237R Self-Consolidating Concrete
ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete
ACI 304R Guide for Measuring, Mixing, Transporting, and Placing Concrete
ACI 305R Hot Weather Concreting
ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
ACI 350 Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures and
Commentary
ACI 350.1 Specification for Tightness Testing of Environmental Engineering Concrete
Containment Structures
ACI 350.5 Specifications for Environmental Concrete Structures
ACI 440.1R Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars
ACI 440.5 Specification for Construction with Fiber-reinforced Polymer Reinforcing Bars
ACI 562 Code Requirements for Evaluation, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Concrete
Buildings
ACI SP-66 Detailing Manual - Details and Detailing of Concrete Reinforcement
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures

ASTM International
ASTM Specification for Deformed and Plain Carbon-Steel Bars for Concrete
A615/A615M Reinforcement
ASTM Specification for Zinc-coated (Galvanized) Steel Bars for Concrete
A767/767M Reinforcement
ASTM Specification for Epoxy-coated Reinforcing Bars
A775/A775M
ASTM Specification for Epoxy-coated Steel Wire and Welded Wire Fabric for
A884/A884M Reinforcement
ASTM Specification for Carbon-steel Wire and Welded Wire Reinforcement, Plain
A1064/A1064M and Deformed, for Concrete
ASTM Test Methods for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C39/C39M
ASTM C309 Specification for Liquid Membrane-forming Compounds for Curing Concrete
ASTM Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
C979/C979M
ASTM Specifications for Fiber-reinforced Concrete
C1116/1116M
ASTM C1202 Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete’s Ability to Resist
Chloride Ion Penetration

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Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

ASTM C1218 Standard Test Method for Water-soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete
ASTM C1240 Standard Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures
ASTM C1580 Test Method for Water-soluble Sulfate in Soil
ASTM Standard Test Method for Slump Flow of
C1611/C1611M Self-consolidating Concrete
ASTM D516 Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Water
ASTM D1751 Standard Specification for Preformed Expansion Joint Filler for Concrete
Paving and Structural Construction
ASTM D1752 Specification for Preformed Sponge Rubber Cork and Recycled PVC
Expansion Joint Fillers for Concrete Paving and Structural Construction
ASTM D4130 Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
ASTM Standard Specification for Solid Round Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars
D7957/D7957M for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM E1745 Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact
with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs

British Standard
BS 1881-122 Testing Concrete - Part 122: Method for Determination of Water Absorption
(2011)

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI)

Manual of Standard Practice

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Organization

AASHTO T277 Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete’s Ability to Resist
Chloride Ion Penetration
AASHTO T291 Standard Method of Test for Determining Water Soluble Chloride Ion
Content in Soil
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Terminology
Acronyms
NP Natural Pozzolan
FRP Fiber-reinforced polymer
ACI The American Concrete Institute
EK&RD Saudi Aramco Engineering Knowledge and Resources Department
MSAER Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements
SAEP Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures
SAES Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

SBC Saudi Building Code

APCS Approved Protective Coating Systems
SCC Self-compacting concrete
SCM supplementary cementitious materials
ECR Epoxy coated Reinforcing steel

Definitions
Hot Weather Can be defined as job-site conditions that accelerate the rate of
Concrete moisture loss or rate of cement hydration of freshly mixed concrete,
including an ambient temperature of 29°C or higher, and an
evaporation rate that exceeds 1 kg/m²/h.
Mass Concrete Any volume of structural concrete in which a combination of
dimensions of the member being cast, the boundary conditions, the
characteristics of the concrete mixture, and the ambient conditions can
lead to undesirable thermal stresses, cracking, deleterious chemical
reactions, or reduction in the long-term strength as a result of elevated
concrete temperature due to heat from hydration.
Self-consolidating Fresh concrete that can flow around and encapsulate reinforcement
Concrete and consolidate within formwork under its own weight without any
mechanical consolidation and vibration.
Environmental Concrete structures intended for conveying, storing, or treating water,
Engineering wastewater, or other non-hazardous liquids, and for secondary
Concrete Structures
containment of hazardous materials
Marine Structure Any facility that is in contact with sea water
Offshore Concrete Fixed reinforced concrete, for service in deeper waters far from the
Structure shoreline.
Subkha Is a saline (generally coastal) deposit consisting of saturated, loose silty
sand, and possibly clay
General Requirements
Concrete construction shall be in accordance with all requirements of ACI 301-16, except as
modified or supplemented in this standard or by contract documents.
Any placement of concrete designated in the contract documents as mass concrete or any
placement of structural concrete with a minimum dimension equal to or greater than 1,200 mm
should be considered mass concrete unless otherwise specified in contract documents and shall
comply with ACI 301-16, Section 8.
Construction of environmental engineering concrete structures shall comply with ACI 350.5.
Environmental engineering concrete structures designed to store liquids shall be leak tested in
accordance with ACI 350.1 “Specification for Tightness Testing of Environmental Engineering
Concrete Containment Structures”.
Cast-in-place structural concrete reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars shall
comply with ACI 440.5 “Specification for Construction with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Reinforcing Bars”.
Architectural concrete shall comply with ACI 301 Section 6.

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
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Concrete that is not covered by this standard shall comply with applicable ACI documents.
Quality Control
The contractor shall employ an independent Saudi Aramco approved testing agency to perform
field and laboratory testing which shall include compressive strength tests of molded concrete
cylinders, test for slump, unit weight, air content (where air-entrainment is required), fresh
concrete temperature, and tests for self-consolidating concrete. All testing shall be in accordance
with 09-SAMSS-097, “Ready-Mixed Concrete.”
Materials
The concrete materials shall be in accordance with 09-SAMSS-097, “Ready-Mixed Concrete” and
as follows:
Cementitious Materials
7.1.1 Portland cement shall be in accordance with ASTM C150/C150M, Type I or Type V.
7.1.2 Fly ash shall be in accordance with ASTM C618, Class F
7.1.3 Ground Granular Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) shall be in accordance with ASTM C989/C989M.
7.1.4 Natural Pozzolan shall be in accordance with ASTM C618.
7.1.5 Silica fume shall be in accordance with ASTM C1240.
7.1.6 Cementitious materials used for mass concrete applications shall be in accordance with ACI 301
/ ACI 301M Section [Link]. For environmental engineering concrete structures, cementitious
materials used for mass concrete applications shall also be in accordance with ACI 350.5 / ACI
350.5M Section [Link]
7.1.7 Cementitious materials shall be tested prior to use on a monthly basis or when changing the
source of the materials.
Reinforcement
7.2.1 Reinforcing bars shall be deformed steel in accordance with ASTM A615/A615M, Grade 420;
unless otherwise permitted by below paragraphs 7.2.2 through 7.2.9.
7.2.2 When used as ductile steel elements to resist earthquake effects, deformed reinforcing bar shall
be limited to ASTM A706 Grade 420, or ASTM A615 Grades 280 and 420 satisfying the
requirements of ACI 318-14.
7.2.3 Coated reinforcements shall be Fusion Bonded Epoxy in accordance with 09-SAMSS-106.
Commentary Note:
Care should be taken to avoid any damage to the coated rebars during shipment, handling,
fabrication and placement of the coated rebars. The extent of the damage and repair of the coating
shall be in accordance with 09-SAMSS-106.
7.2.4 Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement shall conform to the requirements of 12-SAMSS-
027 and ASTM D7957/D7957M.
7.2.5 Welded wire reinforcement shall be plain wire in accordance with ASTM A1064/A1064M. Rolls
of welded wire reinforcement shall not be used.
7.2.6 Galvanized welded wire fabric shall conform to ASTM A1060/A1060M.
7.2.7 Tie wire shall be black annealed wire, 16 gage (1.29 mm) minimum. Fasten epoxy-coated
reinforcement with tie wires coated with epoxy.
7.2.8 Manufacturing, fabrication, handling, placement and storage of steel reinforcement shall be in
accordance with ACI 318.
7.2.9 High strength steel reinforcement shall conform with ASTM A706/A706M

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Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
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Masonry Units
For Masonry structures refer to SAES-Q-305.
Fiber-reinforced Concrete (FRC)
FRC shall be in accordance with ASTM C1116/1116M, Type II or III.
Joints
Joint filler strips for expansion joints shall conform to ASTM D1751 or
ASTM D1752. Type shall be as noted on the design drawings.
Accessories
Accessories shall meet the requirements of ACI 301-16.
Vapor Barrier
Below floor vapor barrier shall be in accordance with ASTM E1745, Class A, and minimum 10 mil
(250 μm) thickness unless otherwise specified in contract documents.
Design and Execution
SAES-L-440, “Anchor for Buried Pipelines,” shall be used for the design of anchor blocks.
Thrust blocks for utility piping system shall be structural concrete and designed in accordance
with the requirements of SAES-S-070 and this standard.
ACI 318-14, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete,” shall be used for the design
of structural concrete.
ACI 350, “Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures,” shall be used
for the design of reinforced environmental engineering concrete structures.
TMS 402/602 “Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures” shall be
used for the design of masonry structures.
AASHTO, “LRFD Bridge Design Specifications,” shall be used for the structural design of
reinforced concrete bridges, culverts, and pipeline crossing. Unless otherwise specified, the
design shall be based on HS20 truck. Maintenance and construction crane loads shall also be
considered.
ACI 440.1R, “Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars,” shall
be used for the design of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Bars (GFRP).
Execution for self-consolidating concrete shall follow the methods and means outlined in ACI
237R.
Concrete paving shall be in accordance with the following:
Areas subject to spills, wash water, fire water and sidewalk shall be
paved with a minimum thickness of 100 mm of reinforced concrete.
Paving slabs subject to vehicular traffic shall be a minimum thickness of 150 mm of
reinforced concrete. The design load shall be as specified in paragraph 8.6 of this standard.
Concrete paving slope to the catch basins or trenches shall not be less than 1:65 (1.5%).
The maximum drop to catch basins from high point of paving shall be 200 mm.
Commentary Note:
Ensure that slope will not jeopardize the movement of traffic.
Where foundations protrude through the paving, 12 mm diameter reinforcing bars, 800
mm long, shall be placed diagonally in the paving at all interior corners.
Exposures
Structural concrete members shall be assigned an exposure class in accordance with the severity
of the anticipated exposure of members in tables 1.A and 1.B.

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Based on the exposure classes assigned from tables 1.A and 1.B, concrete mixtures and
reinforcement type shall comply with the most onerous requirements in table 2.
8.10.1 The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) indicated in table 2 is mandatory to
structural concrete members.
8.10.2 Underground exposure category is based on performance of geotechnical investigation as
required by SAES-A-113 or availability of prior reports showing soil chemical composition. In
the absence of geotechnical reports, chemical analysis of soil and groundwater shall be
conducted.
8.10.3 Testing of soil shall be for the natural soil and the capillary rise phenomenon shall be
considered if the soil is imported.
8.10.4 Environmental concrete structures, shall have a minimum 28-day design compressive strength
of 35 MPa (5,000 psi).
8.10.5 Unreinforced concrete of no significant structural value such as lean concrete for sub-slabs shall
have a minimum 28 day design compressive strength (ASTM C39) of 14 MPa (2,000 psi).
FRP Reinforcement
FRP reinforcement shall be used to replace steel reinforcement for non-critical structural
elements in all exposures except S4, including but not limited to; slab on grade, sidewalks,
surface drainage channels, concrete paving, pipe sleepers.
Other applications where FRP reinforcement may add value such as Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) room in hospitals, electrical equipment foundations, sewage treatment plant, and
structures in contact with sea water shall be investigated.
Commentary Note:
Where FRP reinforcement is the only reinforcement in the concrete members, concrete mix design,
concrete cover, and concrete durability protection measures can be revised to consider the benefits
of specifying FRP reinforcement.
Steel Reinforcement
8.12.1 Reinforcement placing drawings and bending schedules shall be prepared in accordance with
ACI SP-66 and CRSI Manual of Standard Practice.
8.12.2 Reinforcement placing drawings and bending schedules shall show number, grade, size, length,
mark, location, and bending diagrams for reinforcing bars.
8.12.3 Splices in reinforcement shall be detailed, fabricated, and located only as shown on the design
drawings.
8.12.4 Fabrication drawings shall indicate the related PO number, release number, and design drawing
number.
8.12.5 Reinforcement shall be tagged with weather-resistant metal tags.
8.12.6 Each bundle of fabricated bars shall be tagged. The tags shall indicate reinforcement placing
drawing number, release number, mark number, grade, bar quantity, and bar size.
8.12.7 Each bundle of stock-length straight bars shall be tagged to indicate bar quantity, grade, bar
size, and bar length.
8.12.8 Fabrication tolerance shall conform to ACI 117.
8.12.9 Table 3 defines the minimum concrete cover measured from outer most rebar (tie bar), that
shall be provided for reinforcement of cast-in-place concrete structures.
Formwork
8.13.1 The design and construction of the formwork shall be in accordance with ACI 347, Saudi
Aramco Construction Safety Manual, and shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

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8.13.2 Unless otherwise specified in the contract documents 20-millimeter (¾-inch) chamfer strips
shall be provided at all corners on permanently exposed surfaces.
8.13.3 Form-release agents shall not be applied if concrete surfaces shall receive special finishes (e.g.,
Architectural Finishes) or where the agent may affect applied coverings. Alternately, inside
surfaces of untreated formwork shall be soaked with clean water and kept moist before placing
concrete.
8.13.4 Form removal shall be in accordance with ACI 301-16 and the following:
For structures for which forms do not provide vertical support (e.g., footings, piers,
columns, walls, or sides of beams), the forms may be removed 24 hours after completion of
placement if concrete is sufficiently hard to prevent damage by form removal, and if curing
starts immediately.
Unless otherwise specified in the contract documents, forms for self-supporting members
may be removed if strength of concrete reaches specified in-place strength. Refer to ACI
301, Section 2.3.4, for determining compressive strength of concrete for removal of
formwork.
Unless otherwise approved by the purchaser, forms shall not be left permanently in place.
8.13.5 Formed concrete surfaces shall be constructed in accordance with the tolerances shown in ACI
117.
8.13.6 Formwork for column and wall shall be provided with adequate cleanout openings to permit
inspection and easy cleaning after reinforcement has been placed.
8.13.7 All side and bottom surfaces of structures that will be exposed shall be formed.
8.13.8 Formwork for self-consolidating concrete (SCC) shall be designed in accordance with Eq. (2.1a)
and (2.1b) of ACI 347 and ACI 237R until the effect on formwork pressure is understood by
measurement. Formwork should be watertight and grout-tight when placing SCC.
Joints
8.14.1 Isolation joints shall be placed where pavement adjoins vertical surfaces (e.g., walls, columns,
catch basins, manholes, and equipment foundations). Isolation joints shall be located in
accordance with contract documents.
8.14.2 Dowels at expansion joints shall be properly aligned to prevent any restraint on expansion
movement at the joint. FRP dowels reinforcement in pavements and slab on grade shall be
utilized.
8.14.3 The surface of joints shall be cleaned of scale and laitance and thoroughly wetted, but free of
standing water, before placing adjoining concrete.
8.14.4 Concrete paving shall have control or construction joints located at a maximum spacing of 6
meters on centers in both directions.
8.14.5 Expansion joints shall be used in paving adjacent to all poured in place concrete members.
8.14.6 Paving or slab construction joints not specified on the drawings shall be located at column
centerlines and intermediate intervals.
8.14.7 Waterstops shall be provided in joints where watertight construction is required in accordance
with ACI 350.5. Waterstop type shall be specified and shown on the drawings and shall satisfy
the function and operation of the structure and shall be installed as per the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
8.14.8 Joints in atmospheric and low-pressure tank dikes shall comply with SAES-B-005.

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Concrete Repair
8.15.1 Evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, and strengthening of reinforced concrete structures should
follow ACI 562 “Code Requirements for Evaluation, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Concrete
Buildings” and SAER-5803, “Concrete Repair Manual.”
8.15.2 Strengthening of concrete structures using FRP materials shall follow the guidelines of ACI
440.2R “Guide for the Design and Construction of Externally Bonded FRP Systems for
Strengthening Concrete Structures.”
8.15.3 Repair of Surface Defects
Tie holes, honeycombs, and other concrete surface defects shall be repaired promptly after
form removal at a time and in a manner that shall not delay, interfere with, or impair the
proper curing of the fresh concrete unless otherwise specified or permitted by Saudi
Aramco.
Saudi Aramco shall be notified before proceeding with repair if the defect is any of the
following:
Depth is greater than 75 mm at the maximum point and surface area is greater than
(100,000 mm²).
Depth is greater than ¼ the thickness of the member and greater than 150 mm in any
other direction.
Reinforcing steel is exposed.
Prepackaged grouts and patching compounds or a patching mortar similar to the concrete
mix without coarse aggregate may be used with approval from Saudi Aramco.
Out-of-tolerance slabs shall be repaired by grinding down high points and/or raising low
points by using an approved self-leveling compound or repair topping if the areas are
exposed.
Critical slab areas, identified in the contract documents shall be replaced if out-of-
tolerance. A demolition and replacement plan for the slab areas shall be submitted to
Saudi Aramco for review and approval before proceeding.
Embedded Items
8.16.1 All sleeves, inserts, anchor bolts, waterstops, and other embedded items shall be installed in
accordance with the design drawings and supported against displacement. Welding of these
items to the reinforcing bars shall not be permitted.
8.16.2 The design and installation of anchor bolts shall be in accordance to SAES-Q-005 and the
materials selection of anchor bolts shall be in accordance to 12-SAMSS-007.
8.16.3 Projecting steel items (such as grating angles, slide plates, unistrut, steel plates, etc.) which are
attached to the formwork and cast at the concrete surface shall be hot dip galvanized in
accordance with ASTM A123/A123M or coated with the zinc rich epoxy primer in APCS-1C of
SAES-H-001. Additionally, the steel attachment, which anchors these items to the concrete,
shall be similarly galvanized or coated.
8.16.4 Reinforcing steel bars, anchor bolts or other steel embedments shall not be connected to the
electrical grounding system. Connection of the structure reinforcing or imbedded steel to the
lightning protection system shall be as required by SAES-P-111.
8.16.5 Conduits, pipes and other items made from aluminum shall not be embedded in structural
concrete unless effectively coated to prevent aluminum-concrete reaction.
Placing Concrete
8.17.1 Concrete shall be placed in accordance with ACI 301-16, ACI 304R and this standard. For hot
weather concreting requirements, see Section 7.27.
8.17.2 Equipment made of aluminum alloys shall not be used for pump lines, tremies, or chutes used
to discharge concrete from a truck mixer.

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8.17.3 Concrete shall not be placed prior to a recorded pre-placement inspection and authorization to
proceed by Saudi Aramco.
8.17.4 Raking shall not be used for movement of concrete after placement.
8.17.5 Vibrators shall not be used to move concrete inside forms.
8.17.6 Re-tempering after concrete is mixed shall not be permitted.
8.17.7 Deposit concrete continuously and as near as practical to the final position.
8.17.8 Placed concrete shall be consolidated by mechanical vibrating equipment according to ACI
301-16, Section [Link].
8.17.9 Concrete shall be placed on a clean surface. Standing water shall be removed prior to
placement of concrete.
8.17.10 Placement of mass concrete shall comply with ACI 301-16, Section 8.
8.17.11 Slabs shall be placed in alternating panels.
8.17.12 The interval between concrete deliveries shall be such that no more than 20 minutes
interruption elapse during placement of a single foundation or slab, unless approved by Saudi
Aramco.
Finishing
8.18.1 The finishing of concrete shall be in accordance with ACI 301-16 and ACI 117 unless otherwise
specified in the construction drawings or job specification.
8.18.2 Equipment bases shall be finished with a floated finish. Stairs, steps, ramps, and walks shall be
finished with a broom finish.
Curing
8.19.1 Structural concrete shall be cured in accordance with recommendations of ACI 301-16 unless
otherwise specified.
8.19.2 Maximum total dissolved solids in water used for curing shall not exceed 1,000 parts per million.
8.19.3 Water curing shall be continuous until the compressive strength has reached 70% of the
specified strength, but not less than 7 days.
8.19.4 The saturated burlaps shall be covered with a plasticized sheet vapor barrier, minimum 0.15 mm
(6 mils) in thickness and shall be kept in contact with the concrete surface at all times.
8.19.5 Curing compound shall be in accordance with ASTM C309 or equivalent. Vendors shall supply
datasheet including third party test reports.
8.19.6 Curing compound shall not be used on surfaces that shall receive bonded treatments, tiles,
paint or other adhered finishes, epoxy toppings, or additional concrete unless otherwise
specified in contract documents.
8.19.7 Curing of concrete for environmental engineering structures shall comply with the following:
The provisions of ACI 350.5
Curing shall occur for a minimum of 14 days.
8.19.8 Curing and protection of mass concrete shall be in accordance with ACI 301-16, Section 8.3.1.
Coating and Protection
8.20.1 A plasticized sheet vapor barrier in accordance with ASTM E1745, Class A, minimum of 0.25 mm
(10 mils) in thickness, shall be placed beneath slabs on grade. Outdoor sidewalks are exempted
from this requirement.
8.20.2 A minimum of 50 mm sub-slab (lean concrete) shall be placed beneath concrete foundations.

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8.20.3 A plasticized sheet vapor barrier in accordance with ASTM E1745, Class A, minimum of 0.25 mm
(10 mils) in thickness shall be placed below and around the sides of concrete that is placed
directly into excavation without the use of formwork, where coal tar or bitumen coating cannot
be applied.
8.20.4 All concrete surfaces in direct contact with earth shall be coated with two coats of coal tar or
bitumen coating that conforms to APCS-3 or APCS-10 of SAES-H-001.
Commentary Notes:
APCS-10 shall not be used where soil is contaminated with hydrocarbons and compatibility test
shall be conducted when concrete surface is cured with acrylic based curing compound.
APCS-3 compatibility test shall be conducted when concrete surface is cured with bitumen based
curing compound.
Unreinforced concrete such as lean concrete, or fence foundations does not require coating.
8.20.5 When hot weather conditions exist, the provisions of ACI 305R shall be met.
Concrete for Underground Ducts
8.21.1 Concrete for underground duct envelopes shall be colored in accordance with SAES-T-911 and
SAES-P-104 for communication and electrical ducts respectively.
8.21.2 Coloring admixtures shall be in accordance with ASTM C979/C979M. Concrete envelopes for
underground ducts and cover slabs for direct-buried cables can be colored by adding 6
kilograms of coloring oxide powder per cubic meter of concrete unless otherwise specified in
contract documents.
Sulfur Pits
The following guidelines shall be followed in the construction, repair and replacement of sulfur
pits:
Pipe rack or heavy structures shall not be supported on the roof, or walls of the sulfur pits.
Minimum concrete cover in sulfur pits shall not be less than 75 mm.
High performance self-consolidating concrete with 65% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
(GGBFS) and 35% Type I cement shall be used for sulfur pit construction or repair. Aggregates
used in the mix shall be non-calcarious. High performance concrete shall meet the following
criteria:
Minimum compressive strength shall be 50 MPa as measured in accordance with ASTM
C39;
Corrected 30 minute absorption of not greater than 1.24%, as measured by BS 1881: Part
122:2011. The absorption test shall be conducted by an independent approved testing
authority on cores taken from cubes or cylinders (or from cast specimens where permitted
by the Principal's Representative), from the trial mixes which shall be conducted prior to the
commencement of the supply of concrete. Actual mix design used for casting concrete
shall also be tested for absorption as described above;
Chloride permeability test shall be carried out in accordance with ASTM C1202 or AASHTO
T277. The total charged passed shall not exceed 1,000 coulombs;
Slump flow shall be 650 ±80 mm in accordance with ASTM C1611.
For existing sulfur pits that are not built with high performance concrete described in paragraph
9.3 above, use internal durability lining system of potassium silicate concrete of 50 mm
minimum in thickness or a 150 – 200 mm thick of high performance concrete as in paragraph
9.4, the durability liner shall satisfy the following:
Vertical installations shall be anchored to the substrate with “T”- type stainless steel anchors
at a maximum distance of 300 mm centerlines in addition to steel mesh to mechanically
secure the Potassium Silicate to concrete substrate. Concrete shall be treated using
chemical resistant high temperature membrane such as urethane-asphalt compound

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system or equivalent prior to installation of Potassium Silicate.

For slab on grade, castable Potassium Silicate of at least 50 mm thick shall be installed. “T”-
type stainless steel anchors shall be used at a maximum distance of 400 mm centerlines in
addition to steel mesh to mechanically secure the Potassium silicate to concrete substrate.
Concrete shall be treated using chemical resistant high temperature membrane such as
urethane-asphalt compound system or equivalent prior to installation of Potassium Silicate.
Potassium silicate and chemical resistant high temperature membranes shall be applied as
per manufacturer data sheets.
Durability liner made of high-performance concrete shall be anchored to the existing
concrete wall by appropriate anchors at a maximum distance of 400 mm centerlines grid
pattern in addition to 100 x 100 MW25 / MW25 providing lap length of 2 full squares.
Use corrosion resistant epoxy render to protect roof soffit.
Waterproofing systems shall be installed on the external walls of sulfur pits.
All joints shall be filled with fiber glass rope and sealed with chemical resistant high temperature
Viton Caulk joint sealant.
Waterstops for sulfur pit shall be made of 16 gauge stainless steel plate material.
Roof slab may be constructed of precast concrete. Precast concrete roof shall be hooked to
concrete wall to prevent lifting in the event of high pressure or buoyancy load caused by
overfilling of sulfur pit.
Curing compounds shall not be used to cure sulfur pit concrete.
The design of sulfur pits including concrete mix design, lining system, water proofing system
shall be reviewed by the Civil & Building system Engineering Group /CSD.
Marine and Offshore Concrete Structures
A project specific concrete durability study for offshore and marine concrete structures shall be
performed. The study shall include identification of marine organisms including rock boring
mollusks and sponges that would pose a threat to the concrete structure and its integrity.
Specific susceptibility of the concrete structure to attack by boring organisms in the Arabian
Gulf has been associated with the use of calcareous aggregates (where the main constituent of
the aggregate is CaCo3) in the concrete. In addition, the durability study shall include:
Consideration of the micro exposure conditions which apply to the major and/or critical
elements
The measures specified in the design to provide durability
Specified testing and quality control during construction
Specified monitoring, inspection and maintenance in service, developed as a project
maintenance plan
Design life prediction modeling
Opportunities to use FRP reinforcement.
The durability study, and concrete specifications shall be reviewed by the Civil & Building
system Engineering Group/CSD.

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
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Table 1.A - Sulfate Exposures Classes

Exposure Water-soluble Sulfate (SO4) Dissolved Sulfate (SO4)

Class in Soil, Percent by Mass1 in Water, ppm2
S0 SO4 < 0.1 SO4 < 150
S1 0.10 ≤ SO4 < 0.20 150 ≤ SO4 < 1,500
S2 0.2 ≤ SO4 < 2.00 1,500 ≤ SO4 < 10,000
S3 SO4 > 2.0 SO4 ≥ 10,000
S4 Sulfur Pits

Table 1.B - Chloride Exposure Classes

Below Ground Exposure Above Ground Exposure
Exposure Class

Water Soluble
Water Soluble
Chloride (cl-) in
Chloride (cl-) in Environmental and Marine Exposure
Ground Water,
Soil, % by Weight
ppm
Non-coastal (more than 5 km from the coastline)
Concrete dry or protected from moisture by damp-
C0 Up to 0.1 Up to 2,000
proof membrane
Members fully enclosed within buildings
Coastal (up to 5 km from the coastline, but excluding
members classified under other exposures)
Concrete subjected to cyclic wet and dry from water
C1 0.1 to 0.5 2,000 to 10,000 other than seawater (e.g., structures subjected to
intermittent brackish wash water)
Concrete permanently submerged in sea water
Sewage Treatment Plant
Concrete in tidal, splash and spray zones in marine
C2 More than 0.5 More than 10,000 environment
Concrete in contact with Subkha

1
Percent sulfate by mass in soil shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C1580.
2
Concentration of dissolved sulfates in water in ppm shall be determined by ASTM D516 or ASTM D4130.

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Table 2 - Requirements for Reinforced Concrete by Exposures Class

Min. f’c Cementitious Min. Cementitious
Exposure Max. w/c Reinforcement type4 Additional Provisions
(MPa) Materials Type3 Content kg/m3
Uncoated Steel or
S0 0.45 30 I + Local NP 320
FRP reinforcement
Uncoated Steel or
S1 0.45 30 I + Local NP 340
FRP reinforcement
Uncoated Steel or
S2 0.40 35 I + Local NP 360
FRP reinforcement
I + Local NP Uncoated Steel or
S3 0.40 40 380
or Slag cement FRP reinforcement
S4 0.35 50 I + Slag cement 400 Uncoated Steel Refer to Section 9
Max. water-soluble
chloride ion (Cl-) in Additional
concrete, % by weight Provisions
of cement 5

Uncoated Steel or
C0 0.45 30 I + Local NP 320 1.00
FRP reinforcement
I + Local NP ECR Steel or
C1 0.40 35 360 0.3
or slag cement FRP reinforcement
Refer to Section 10 for
marine concrete
Concrete foundations
I + Local NP ECR Steel or in subkha shall be
C2 0.40 40 380 0.15
or slag cement FRP reinforcement protected by
appropriate means
such as water proofing
membrane

3
Local NP stand for Local Natural Pozzolan
4
For FRP reinforcement and applications refer to section 8.11. ECR stand for Epoxy coated Reinforcing steel
5
Water-soluble chloride ion content that is contributed from the ingredients including water, aggregates, cementitious materials, and admixtures shall
be determined in the concrete mixture in accordance to ASTM C1218 at age between 28 and 42 days.

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Table 3 - Minimum Concrete Cover

Minimum
Concrete Exposure Members
Cover (mm)
Concrete cast against and All
75
permanently exposed to earth (including foundations over a sub-slab)
Foundations supporting process
equipment such as concrete pedestal
75
Formed concrete exposed to earth supporting pipe rack, pipe sleepers, or
or weather supports for horizontal vessels
Buildings, walkway platforms,
50
stairs, AC pads
Concrete not exposed to weather Beams, columns, and tension ties 50
or in contact with ground Slabs, walls, joists 25
Concrete exposed to sea water,
all 75
raw water, or sewage
Sulfur pits all 75

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 Document Responsibility: Civil Standards Committee SAES-Q-001
Issue Date: 06 April 2023 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures
Next Revision: 06 April 2028

Document History
06 April 2023 Major revision maximize on low carbon concrete, extend the use of FRP
reinforcement for concrete exposures, allowing high strength
steel reinforcement.
5 July 2021 Editorial revision extend the revision cycle from 3 to 4 years to match main
mother document review cycle.
25 April 2019 Editorial revision confirm the content (remove paragraph 9.1 and remove any
reference to SAER-6610)
21 October 2018 Editorial revision
11 September 2018 Major revision address the issue of the thrust anchor block for underground
utility pressure pipes to ensure structural concrete is used.
26 April 2018 Major revision include mandatory requirements for the implementation of
non-metallic (FRP) reinforcement in concrete structures. The
document also underwent general improvement to align with
09-SAMSS-097 and international standards and to build on the
experience gained in sulfur pits and marine concrete.
18 February 2018 Editorial revision modify paragraph (1.4) and (7.17.13)
1 January 2018 Editorial revision modify paragraph 8.2 (3).
7 January 2016 Major revision align it with the latest edition of ACI 301 and ACI 318. It
includes new criteria that will improve the quality of the overall
concrete construction, and improve the cost.

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