KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – Two weeks after concrete field testing training and certification, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District Kunsan Resident Office began to employ the knowledge gained from the American Concrete Institute, which hosted the course at District headquarters in October.
Blocks of the ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I instruction covered various concrete tests through hands-on practice, demonstration, and performance certification testing. The certification lasts five years and best serves those who are required to check or inspect the concrete quality on construction sites.
Glenn Sacro, a Kunsan Resident Office FED quality assurance representative, quickly applied his training to project HAS 4-6 (2019UMMA031), a host-nation funded project that will construct 18 new Hardened Aircraft Shelters along with taxi lanes and hangar access aprons.
“I was able to use my training about two weeks after I receive my certification, it was good timing for me,” said Sacro. “In the past, we would have to schedule all our testing through our materials testing lab guys in advance, due to their busy schedule. That chips in our budget, since this is a host-nation funded project.”
Sacro explained how he conducted field testing and compared his results to the contractor’s.
“I take a fresh sample of concrete in the middle discharge of a concrete truck, I then test the temperature, slump test and air entrainment test, using the field contractor equipment, that have been certified by our Materials Testing Lab specialist prior,” said Sacro. “I also take two cylinder tests for my seven and 28-day strength test, comparing the same to the contractor test results.”
The results taken from testing are vital to ensure contractors and FED meet contract specifications. Future coordination for contractors to pour concrete, and quality assurance representatives concrete testing will save money and time, contributing to projects being completed ahead of time.
“It is looking good so far and we have more of this coming,” said Sacro. “This is only the beginning.”