ENGINEERING OFFICE

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS DIVISION 3 - CONCRETE

SECTION 03490 - GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE OF SECTION

A. Provide labour, equipment and services and perform operations required for the Design,
fabrication, delivery and installation of glass fibre reinforced precast concrete (GRC)
fabrications, including integrated supports.

B. Work Includes:

1. Decorative screens, strips and corbels

2. Decorative panels
3. Miscellaneous Fabrications
4. Decorative suspended ceiling

1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Design Responsibility: Design GRC fabrications by registered professional Engineer

employed or retained by panel manufacturer, using property data generated from
manufacturer's actual production. Comply with procedures in Prestressed Concrete Institute
(PCI) MNL 128 'Recommended Practice for Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete 'and MNL-130-
91 'Quality Control for GRC'.

B. Manufacturer Qualifications: Firm with a demonstrated capability to produce GRC products

of quality and scope required for this project and actively involved in GRC production for at
least 2 years. Manufacturer must have sufficient production capacity to produce, transport,
and deliver required units without causing delay in the work.

C. Job Mock-Up: After samples are accepted for colour, pattern and texture, produce full scale
units for both screens meeting design requirements for each type of fabrication.

1. Retain job mock up on site as standard of quality for GRC work, when accepted by
Owner.
2. Incorporate mock up into work in location acceptable to Owner.
3. Distress an area and then patch mock up to display variations in colour and texture to
be expected in fieldwork.

1.3 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. Structural performance: Provide GFRC panels and panel frames capable of withstanding
gravity, wind, seismic and erection design loads as well as the effects of thermal and
moisture-induced volume changes, according to load factors and combinations established in
PCI MNL 128, “recommended practice for glass fibre reinforced concrete panel”

1. Wind loads: Wind load shall be as per BS 6399-2 corresponding to basic wind speed
160 km/hr.
2. Seismic loads: As per Uniform Building Code (UBC), 1997. Provide glass-fibre-
reinforced precast concrete, including anchorage, capable of withstanding the effects
of earthquake motions calculated according to requirements.
3. Seismic loads: uniform building code (UBC), 1997 edition; zone two A(2A)
4. Dead load: Provide glass-fibre-reinforced precast concrete system that does not
exceed the amount permissible for supporting structure by design code when carrying
full dead load.
5. Live load: Provide glass-fibre-reinforced precast concrete systems, including
anchorage that accommodates supporting structures deflection from uniformly
distributed and concentrated live loads indicated without failure of materials or
permanent deformation.

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6. Impact loads: Provide glass-fibre-reinforced precast concrete panels and systems that
withstand the impact load resulting from the window maintenance and cleaning
equipment.
7. Design framing systems to withstand design loads with lateral deflections no greater
than 1/360 of the wall height.

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Samples representative of finished exposed face showing typical range of colour and
texture and of appropriate thickness.

B. Product Data: For each type of product indicated, include GFRC design mixes.

C. Shop drawings detailing fabrication and installation of GRC panels, including the following:

1. Unit shapes (elevations and sections), patterns and dimensions

2. Thickness of facing and GRC backing
3. Finishes
4. Joint and connection details
5. Steel support frame system
6. Relationship to adjacent materials

D. Backup test data on which GRC design is based and data on GRC insert and anchor tests.

1.5 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING

A. Delivery and Handling: Handle and transport units in a position consistent with their shape
and design in order to avoid excessive stresses or damage.

1. Lift or support units only at points indicated on shop drawings.

2. Place non-staining resilient spacers of even thickness between units.
3. Support units on non-staining shock absorbing material.
4. Protect units from dirt and damage during handling and transport.

B. Job Site Storage: Store units to protect from contact with soil, staining, and physical damage.

1. Store units with non-staining resilient supports at same positions as when transported.
2. Store units on firm, level, and smooth surfaces.
3. Place stored units so that identification marks are readily accessible.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 ACCEPTABLE MANUFACTURERS / SUPPLIERS

2.2 GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED PRECAST CONCRETE

A. General: Produce GRC fabrications consisting of the following materials.

B. Portland Cement: BS 12, ASTM C 150, Type I, white or natural colour as required and
selected.

1. For surfaces exposed to view in finished structure, use same brand, type, and source
of supply throughout GRC production.

C. Sand: Washed and dried silica or other acceptable material with successful use in GRC
production meeting compositional requirements of ASTM C 144; all passing through No. 16
sieve.

D. Facing Aggregate: ASTM C 33, except maximum size not to exceed 1/2 inch; clean, hard,
strong, durable, inert, and free of staining or deleterious materials.

1 Match facing aggregate samples on file with Owner.

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E. Water: Potable, free from deleterious material that may affect colour stability, settings or
strength of GFRC and complying with chemical limits of PCI MNL 130

F. Admixtures

1. ASTM C 260 for air entrainment, ASTM C 494 for chemical admixtures, or ASTM C
618 for fly ash or natural pozzolana admixtures; at manufacturer's option. Do not use
admixtures that contain more than 0.1 percent chloride ions.
2. Use thermoplastic co-polymer where fabricator recommends it for required
characteristics.

G. Colouring Agent: ASTM C 979; ultraviolet and alkali resistant; high temperature stable;
harmless to concrete set or strength.

1. Colour shall be as approved by the Engineer.

H. Glass Fibre: Specifically designed for compatibility with aggressive alkaline environment of
Portland cement based composites, complying with PCI MNL 128.

2.3 ANCHORS AND SUBSYSTEMS

A. Steel Shapes, Plates, Bars: ASTM C 36.

B. Cold Drawn Wire: ASTM A 580, Type 304, Condition A.

C. Stainless Steel: ASTM A 666, Type 304, Grade as required.

D. Anchor Bolts: ASTM A 307 or ASTM A 325.

E. Threaded Anchors Finish: Electrodeposited zinc, ASTM B 633, or cadmium coated, ASTM B
766.

2.4 MIXES

A. General: Combine Portland cement, glass fibres, sand, and selected admixtures in proper
proportions to meet design requirements. Provide nominal glass content of not less than 5
percent, average yield strength of 6 MPa, and ultimate strength not less than 17 MPa.

B. Colouring Agent: Not to exceed 10 percent of cement weight.

2.5 FABRICATION

A. Forms: Construct of rigid materials that will result in finished product's conforming to profiles,
dimensions, and tolerances indicated. Use form release agent compatible with Engineering
finish and joint sealants.

B. Facing Materials: Place facing materials into forms so that there will not be displacement
during GRC application.

C. Proportioning and Mixing: Carefully measure amounts of mix constituents to achieve desired
mix proportions.

1. Meter glass fibre and cement slurry to spray head at rates to achieve desired mix
proportion and glass content. Check in accordance with standard procedures
recommended by PCI MNL 128.

D. Hand Spray Application:

1. Spray mist coat consisting of matrix without fibres onto forms, if required. Do not exceed
1/16 inch thickness to prevent an un-reinforced surface.

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2. Proceed with spray up of main body before mist coat has set, using procedures that
produce a uniform thickness and distribution of glass fibres and matrix.

3. Consolidate applied materials by rolling or other technique to achieve complete

encapsulation of fibres and compaction.

4. Control thickness by using pin gauge or other acceptable method.

E. Perform hand forming of intricate details, incorporation of formers or infill materials, and over
spraying before material has taken initial set to ensure complete bonding.

F. Inserts and Embedment: Properly embed inserts in built up homogenous GRC bosses or
bonding pads to develop their strength.

G. Dimensional Tolerances: Manufacture units so that each panel complies with following
dimensional tolerances. For dimensional tolerances not listed below, comply with PCI MNL
117 "Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Engineering Precast Concrete
Products."

1. Skin Thickness: Plus 6mm, minus 0m.

2. Engineering Facing Thickness: Plus 3mm, minus 0m.

H. Finishes: Exposed face of panels to match Owner's samples. Joint marks, ‘grain’, or other
obvious defects on panel faces are not acceptable.

I. Curing: Employ initial curing method that will ensure sufficient strength for removing units
from form.

1. After initial curing, remove panel from form and place in a controlled curing
environment. Keep panels continuously moist for minimum 7 days in accordance with
manufacturer's standard curing practice. Maintain temperature between 16º C and 42º
C during this period.
2. An acrylic thermoplastic copolymer dispersant may be used as curing admixture in lieu
of moist curing. Use only copolymers shown to eliminate need for moist curing through
published independent laboratory test data.

J. Panel Identification: Mark each GRC panel to correspond to identification mark on shop
drawings for panel identification. Mark each panel with casting date.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 EXAMINATION

A. Prior to installation of units, check job site dimensions affecting installation of GRC units.
Bring to Engineer’s attention any discrepancy between design dimensions and field
dimensions that could adversely affect installation. If discrepancies do exist, do not proceed
until corrected or until installation requirements are modified as acceptable to Engineer.

3.2 INSTALLATION

A. Supports and Bracing: Provide temporary supports and bracing as required to maintain
position, stability, and alignment as units are being permanently connected.

B. Fastening: Fasten GRC units in place by bolting or welding, as indicated on shop drawings.

3.3 PATCHING

A. General: Patching will be permitted provided structural adequacy of unit and appearance are
not impaired, as acceptable to Owner and as demonstrated on job mock up.

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B. Patching Mix: Match colour and texture of GRC unit. Blend and mix materials so that cured
patching blends with adjacent surfaces and is not evident when viewed from a distance of
1.8M.

3.4 CLEANING

A. General: Perform cleaning procedures as recommended by GRC unit manufacturer.

1. Clean soiled GRC surfaces with detergent and water, using soft fibre brushes and
sponges, and thoroughly rinse with clean water.

2. Use care to prevent damage to GRC surfaces and to adjacent materials.

3.5 REPAIRS
A. Repairs will be permitted provided structural adequacy of GFRC unit and appearance are not
impaired, as approved by engineer.

B. Blend and mix patching materials and repair GFRC so cured patches match colour, texture,
and uniformity of adjacent surfaces.

C. Prepare and repair damaged galvanized coatings on metal framing, anchors, and subsystems
with galvanizing repair paint according to ASTM A 780.

D. Wire brush, clean and paint accessible scarred areas, welds and rust spots on prime-painted
metal framing, anchors and subsystems. Paint with same type of shop paint used on adjacent
surfaces.

E. Remove and replace damaged GFRC units when repairs do not comply with requirements.

END OF SECTION-03490

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