QUALITY SCHEME

FOR THE

PRODUCTION AND

SUPPLY OF CONCRETE

(QSPSC™)

PARTS ONE & TWO

Administrative Regulations
Technical Regulations

2014

HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY

Licensed to Mr Shing Fan Wong. Single user licence only, copying and networking prohibited.
 Terms and Conditions

1. Important Notice
1.1 These Conditions set out the agreed terms upon which a Purchaser agrees to purchase and HKQAA agrees to sell the Documentation. By purchasing the
Documentation and/or by using the Documentation the Purchaser agrees to these Conditions.
1.2 These Conditions shall apply to all contracts for the sale of the Documentation by HKQAA to the Purchaser to the exclusion of all other terms and conditions,
including any terms or conditions which the Purchaser may purport to apply under any purchase order or similar document.
2. Definitions
2.1 In these Conditions;
“Conditions” means the terms and conditions of sale and use set out in this document and any special terms and conditions agreed in writing by
HKQAA.

“Documentation” means one set of administrative and technical regulations against which certification bodies under the Scheme assess and certify concrete
producers.

“HKQAA” means the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency.

“HKSAR” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

“Purchaser” means a certification body accredited by the Hong Kong Accreditation Service of the Government of HKSAR to administer the Scheme,
and who wishes to purchase the Documentation.

“Scheme” means the Quality Scheme for the Production and Supply of Concrete under which ready-mix concrete suppliers must be certified to supply
concrete in respect of all Government contracts.
3. Purchase of Documentation
3.1 Any orders placed for Documentation shall be deemed to be an offer by a Purchaser to purchase the Documentation pursuant to these Conditions.
3.2 Payment and collection or acceptance of delivery of the Documentation shall be deemed conclusive evidence of a Purchaser’s acceptance of these Conditions.
3.3 All orders for Documentation placed by a Purchaser are subject to acceptance by HKQAA.
3.4 The price of one set of Documentation shall be HKD50 for electronic copy and HKD100 for hardcopy. This price includes basic packaging but is exclusive of
any charges incurred by HKQAA in respect of delivering the Documentation to a Purchaser.
3.5 HKQAA may increase the price of the Documentation at any time by providing notice of the same on its website at www.hkqaa.org.
4. Payment and Collection
4.1 A Purchaser must pay for the number of sets of Documentation ordered at the time of placing its order for the same. Payment shall be made by cheque
payable to “Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency”.
4.2 Following receipt and acceptance of an order HKQAA shall notify the Purchaser when it can receive the ordered Documentation. For hardcopy, it may collect
the ordered Documentation from HKQAA’s address at 19/F, K. Wah Centre, 191 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Alternatively, the Purchaser may
request HKQAA to deliver the Documentation to an agreed address in Hong Kong, however, delivery charges may then apply. Time of delivery or collection
shall not be of the essence.
5. Assistance
5.1 Without prejudice to these Conditions, a Purchaser may contact HKQAA for assistance as to the meaning of the Documentation, how to interpret the
Documentation or how to put the Documentation into practice by reference to good quality certification services.
5.2 On receiving such a request for assistance HKQAA, at its sole discretion, may assist the Purchaser either on a courtesy basis or by reference to any fees to be
paid by the Purchaser to HKQAA, as the parties may agree to be appropriate in the circumstances.
6. Risk
6.1 Risk and liability in respect of the Documentation shall pass to the Buyer on collection or delivery unless otherwise agreed that risk shall pass earlier.
7. Intellectual Property Rights
7.1 The Purchaser acknowledges that HKQAA is the owner of all copyright, trade marks and other intellectual property rights in the Documentation.
8. Warranties
8.1 The Purchaser warrants that it will not:-
(A) copy the whole or any part of the Documentation;
(B) merge or combine the whole or any part of the Documentation with any other documents;
(C) use the trade marks or name of HKQAA including the registered mark “QSPSC” in providing certification services under the Scheme and will not hold
itself out as being connected to or associated with HKQAA in any form or manner.
8.2 The Purchaser acknowledges that it must not copy the Documentation and must purchase sufficient quantities of original Documentation from HKQAA for its
purposes.
8.3 The Purchaser warrants that it will take all reasonable steps to protect the intellectual property rights of HKQAA in the Documentation and ensure that the
Documentation is only used for the purposes of certification under the Scheme.
9. Exclusion of Liability
9.1 Subject to the Control of Exemption Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 71), Laws of Hong Kong, HKQAA shall not be liable to the Purchaser for any loss or damage
whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with these Conditions, the use of the Documentation, any errors or defects in
respect of the information in the Documentation, any intentional or unintentional amendments to the Documentation by a Purchaser, or otherwise and
notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, HKQAA expressly excludes liability for consequential loss or damage suffered by the Purchaser, or for loss of
profit, business, revenue, goodwill, reputation or accreditation.
9.2 The Documentation is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. All conditions and warranties on the party of HKQAA implied by statute, common law or otherwise are
expressly excluded.
9.3 Nothing contained in this Condition 8 shall take effect or be construed so as to limit HKQAA’s liability under Section 14 of the Sale of Goods Ordinance,
Chapter 26 Laws of Hong Kong or its liability for death or personal injury resulting from HKQAA’s negligence.
10. Disclaimer
10.1 The Purchaser further acknowledges that HKQAA is not responsible for and shall have no liability in respect of:-
(A) the quality of the certification services provided by the Purchaser under the Scheme whether by reference to its use of the Documentation or otherwise;
(B) the manner in which and how the Purchaser interprets the Documentation or how the Purchaser puts into practice its certification service under the
Scheme by reference to the Documentation, and regardless of whether the Purchaser has secured assistance under clause 5;
(C) the certification of or the refusal to certify suppliers of concrete by the Purchaser;
(D) the quality or otherwise of suppliers of concrete certified by the Purchaser; or
(E) the quality of the actual concrete of companies which have been certified to the standards of the Scheme by the Purchaser.
11. Indemnity
11.1 The Purchaser shall indemnify on demand and hold harmless HKQAA and its employees, directors, agents and officers from and against any and all costs,
damages, expenses, losses, claims or liability incurred by it (including all legal fees incurred as well as costs and expenses which HKQAA may incur in
defending any proceedings) arising out of or in connection with (directly or indirectly) these Conditions, including but not limited to:
(A) any material breach of any terms of these Conditions by the Purchaser;
(B) any negligent or wrongful act or omission of the Purchaser or its employees, directors, agents or officers;
(C) the use of the Documentation to certify concrete suppliers under the Scheme.
12. Governing Law
12.1 The Agreement is governed by the laws of Hong Kong and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the HKSAR.
13. Entire Agreement
13.1 These Conditions are the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the parties which supersedes any proposal or prior agreement, oral or
written, and any other communications between the parties relating to the subject matter of these Conditions.

*** i

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 QUALITY SCHEME FOR THE PRODUCTION & SUPPLY OF CONCRETE

(QSPSC™ )

The scheme has been developed since 1990 by Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency to provide a
framework for the production and supply of concrete which can be uniformly applied by all concrete
suppliers while maintaining conformance with all technical requirements applicable to Hong Kong as
well as with the systematic requirements laid down by the ISO9000 series Standards.

The scheme is the outcome of co-operation between representatives of concrete producers,

contractors, government bodies, educational institutes and users to develop a quality assurance
scheme for concrete, under auspices of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency.

Council of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency wishes to thank all members of the HKQAA
technical committee which is responsible for the preparation of the QSPSC™. Without their dedicated
help, the scheme could not have been produced.

MEMBERS OF THE QSPSC™ TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

OF THE HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY

Chairman

Ir C S HO Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency

Members

Mr Ping-chuen CHEUNG Buildings Department

Mr Greg LEUNG Civil Engineering and Development Department

Dr Tommy Y LO City University of Hong Kong

Mr Joseph Y W MAK Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency

Mr Baile SIAW Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency

Mr Alan WU The Concrete Producers Association of Hong Kong Limited

Remarks: The member names are listed in alphabetical order

This document is not controlled. Enquiries about status and issue of amendments should be directed
to Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY:

HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY

19/F K. WAH CENTRE
191 JAVA ROAD
NORTH POINT HONG KONG

Telephone: 2202 9111 Fax: 2202 9222

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 QUALITY SCHEME FOR THE PRODUCTION & SUPPLY OF CONCRETE

(QSPSC™)

PREAMBLE

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION OF AUDITORS

Auditors who are eligible for auditing QSPSC™ must have the following training, experience and
qualifications:
- Qualified IRCA or CCAA QMS auditor when performing audit in Hong Kong and Macau;
- Qualified CCAA QMS auditor when performing audit in China;
- With minimum one year concrete industry experience, or minimum one year quality management
system audit experience for concrete industry;
- With relevant Higher Diploma in architecture, building, structural and civil engineering, or other related
construction field.

iii
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QSPSC™ Amendment Record

Section Clause Description

Part One 1.5 Introduction

Part One 2.1 Audit Testing

Part One 3.1 Prerequisites for Participation

Part One 5.9 Obligations of Participants

Part One 6.2.1 Frequency and Purpose of Surveillance Visit

Part One 6.4 Recertification Audit

Part Two 4.1 Quantity

Part Two 4.6.1 Source

Part Two 5.3.2.2 Mix Proportions

Part Two 5.3.3.1 Batch Cards

Part Two 5.4.4.3 Strength to Cementitious Content or Strength to
Water/Cement Ratio Relationship

Part Two 5.4.5.2 Mixes for Special Requirements

Part Two 6.3.2 Measurements of Materials

Part Two 6.4 Mixing and Transporting

Part Two 7.1.1 Control of Purchased Materials Quality

Part Two 7.2.2 Production Control
Part Two 8.2.9 Product Quality Control

Part Two 11.3 b Batching Records

Part Two Appendix C The Performance of Mixer Requirements

Part Two Appendix D1 List of Testing Requirements - Cement

Part Two Appendix D2 List of Testing Requirements - Aggregate

Remarks:
QSPSC Issue 7 Part Two Clause 2.3, Item B3.2 c in Appendix B, Appendix C “Method for Determination of Density of Semi-
compacted Semi-dry Fresh Concrete” and Appendix D4 have been removed as they are no longer applicable.

iv

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 QUALITY SCHEME

FOR THE

PRODUCTION AND

SUPPLY OF CONCRETE

(QSPSC™)

PART ONE

Administrative Regulations

2014

HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY

Licensed to Mr Shing Fan Wong. Single user licence only, copying and networking prohibited.
 Quality Scheme

for the

Production and Supply of Concrete

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure that all concrete provided by Participants
meets Purchasers' specified requirements. This is a product certification scheme
that requires participants to operate a system which complies with ISO9001 and
these Regulations.

1.2 These Administrative Regulations set out the rules for the operation of the
Scheme and the rights and obligations of Participants in relation to the Scheme.

1.3 Technical Regulations set out technical requirements for the Scheme.

1.4 This product certification scheme includes audit testing of a product and
assessment of Participants’ quality system, followed by surveillance visit that
takes into account the Participants’ quality system and the testing of samples.

1.5 A certification body that uses this scheme for product certification shall be
accredited by Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) or United Kingdom
Accreditation Service (UKAS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 and this
scheme. The certification body shall comply with corresponding accreditation
requirements and IAF Guidance.

2. GENERAL DEFINITIONS

2.1 The following definitions are applied to the Regulations:

Administrative Regulations: The regulations which set out basic administrative

requirements for the Scheme.

Applicant: An individual, firm or company who has formally applied to be a

participant.

Areas for improvement: Areas for improvement are not nonconformities and
corrective actions are not mandatory. However, the
Auditor judges by his experience that these are potential
problem areas which may deserve more attention.

Assessment: An in-depth appraisal of an Applicant's or a Participant's procedures

at a Plant or a Quality Records Centre to gauge compliance with the
Regulations.

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 Audit Testing: Sampling and testing of concrete or constituent materials which
are ordered by an Auditor during audit. In Certification Audit,
concrete shall be sampled and tested for audit testing. The testing
standards and compliance standards shall be confirmed by the
Auditor in considering customer’s specification and this scheme’s
requirement. Certification body shall, prior to testing, agree with
the Participant the HOKLAS laboratory to be engaged and closely
monitor the test.

Auditor: A nominee of the Certification Body appointed to carry out Assessments.

Board: The governing board of the certification body.

Certificate of Registration: The certificate issued by the Board to confirm

Certification of an Applicant or a participant in
respect of a particular Plant.

Certification: Acceptance by the Board, on the basis of Assessment, that the

Applicant or the Participant complies with the Regulations at a
particular Plant.

Certification Mark: The Certification Body logo which Participants are licensed to
use should be in accordance with the Regulations.

Council: The governing council for the time being of the QSPSC™.

Major Non-conformity: Deviation of product from specified requirements, or the

absence of, or failure to implement and maintain, one or
more required management system elements, or a
situation which would, on the basis of available objective
evidence raise significant doubt as to the conformity of
what the Participant is supplying.

Minor Non-conformity: Failure to meet one requirement of a clause of ISO9001

and/or QSPSC™ product certification scheme or other
reference documents, and which is considered NOT to
constitute a risk to the quality of what the Participant
(organization) is supplying (ready mixed concrete).

Order Processing records: The records of orders are required to be kept by

Participants to show compliance with the Purchasers'
requirements.

Participant: An Applicant who has achieved Certification.

Plant: Plant for the production and supply of concrete.

Plant Register: The register of Plants, maintained by the Board, of all Plants which
have attained Certification and are currently certified.

Purchaser: An individual, firm or company entering into a contract with a

Participant to buy concrete.

Quality Assurance: All the activities and functions concerned with the attainment
of the quality of concrete.

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 Quality Control: The operational techniques and activities that sustain the quality
of concrete as set out in a specification agreed between the
Purchaser and the Participant and in accordance with the
Regulations.

Quality Manual: The document describing the Applicant's or Participant's structure,

resources, procedures and methods which together ensure that
the Applicant or Participant can meet the Quality Assurance
requirements of the Scheme.

Quality Records: The records required by the Participant’s Quality Manual to be

kept by the Participant to meet the requirements of the
Regulations.

Quality Records Centre: A location at which a Participant's Quality records are

maintained.

Register: The register of participants maintained by the Board.

Regulations: These combined Administrative Regulations and the Technical

Regulations.

Scheme: The quality scheme for the production and supply of concrete which is
administered by the Council.

Technical Regulations: Regulations set out the technical requirements of the

Scheme.

3. PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATION

3.1 Any legal entities engaged in the production and supply of concrete shall be
eligible to apply to be a Participant.

3.2 The Applicant will be required to demonstrate the ability to comply with the
Regulations and shall confirm agreement to comply with the Regulations.

3.3 The Applicant shall nominate a head office, or a site on which the Applicant has
Plant, to be responsible for the overall management of the concrete production
and supply activities of all Plants of the Applicant.

3.4 The Applicant shall establish and maintain a documented quality system in
accordance with Clause 4 and 5 of the Administrative Regulations. The same
quality system shall apply to the production and supply of concrete in all Plants of
the Applicant within the Scheme.

3.5 The Applicant shall obtain relevant permits for the plant operation to fulfil the
statutory and regulatory requirements and establish a Quality Records Centre to
maintain Quality Records for three months before Certification is granted.

4. PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION

4.1 Application

4.1.1 For consideration as a Participant, an Applicant shall:

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 1. complete and submit the application form;

2. pay the appropriate fee;

3. provide the Quality Manual for Assessment;

4. nominate at least one Plant for initial Assessment;

5. nominate a person to be the management representative and the Applicant's

formal contact with the Certification Body.

4.2 Certification Audit

4.2.1 On receipt of an application, an assessment team, consisting of one or more

Auditors, will assess the Quality Manual for compliance with the Regulations and
arrange to visit the Quality Records Centre and each nominated Plant.

4.2.2 Certification Audit shall comprise the followings:

1. Overall assessment of the quality management system.

2. Plant. The Auditor will assess plant and equipment including the calibration
of such plant and equipment and the operation of the relevant sections of the
Participant's Quality Manual conforming to the Technical Regulations.

3. Quality Records Centre. The Auditor will assess the quality system relating
to each Plant by an audit of the Order Processing Records and the Quality
Records.

4. Audit Testing. The Auditor will assess Quality Control results by carrying out
an Audit Testing. The Auditor will also examine relevant Quality records to
confirm the output of control systems and hence authenticate the conformity
of the concrete to the specified criteria.

5. Control of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete. The Auditor shall assess

the control system of alkali-silica reaction of the concrete mixes produced in
the plant in accordance with Appendix E and F.

4.2.3 On completion of the Assessment, the Auditor will report the type of
nonconformities found and obtain the Applicant's acknowledgement of these.
The Auditor will indicate orally with written recommendation for Certification or
otherwise.

4.2.4 There are four possible recommendations:

1. No nonconformity. Certification will be recommended to the Board.

2. A number of minor nonconformities which do not cumulatively indicate a

major failure of the quality management system and product quality.
Certification will be recommended after receipt of a letter which gives
satisfactory details of correction and corrective action which will be
implemented to remove the nonconformities from the system. The time limit
for the receipt of the letter will be two weeks.

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 Note that correction and corrective action do not have to be implemented
before the receipt of the letter by the Certification Body. Correction and
corrective action shall be implemented within an acceptable time which will
be a maximum of four weeks or such lesser time as the Auditor may decide.

Minor nonconformities will be audited on the first subsequent surveillance

visit.

3. A major nonconformity or a number of systematic minor nonconformities

which accumulate to indicate a major failure of the quality management
system and product quality. The Applicant will be required to submit a letter
which gives satisfactory details of correction and corrective action which will
be implemented to remove the nonconformities from the system. The time
limit for the receipt of the letter will be two weeks.

Correction and corrective action shall be implemented within an acceptable

time which will usually be between four to twelve weeks.

Certification will not be recommended until the nonconformities have been

removed from the system and a satisfactory partial re-assessment has been
carried out.

If the Applicant is not ready for the partial re-assessment within six months,
the application will be lapsed. A new application may then be made.

4. A major nonconformity or a number of systematic minor nonconformities

which accumulate to indicate a major failure of the quality management
system and product quality. The extent of the systems failure is considered
by the Auditor to require more than six months for correction. The Application
will be required to re-apply for Certification after a period of at least six
months following the date of Assessment.

4.3 Assessment of Additional Plants

4.3.1 For consideration of additional Plants for Certification, a Participant shall:

1. complete and submit the application form

2. pay the appropriate fee

4.3.2 On receipt of an application, the Certification Body will carry out an Assessment
of each Plant in a similar manner to the procedure described in Clause 4.2
above. Possible recommendations of the Auditor will be the same as described
in Clause 4.2.

4.3.3 Provided that the Certification Body is given a notice of new Plants, as required
by Clause 5.7 below, a new Plant will be deemed to have Certification and may
operate as such for a period of not more than 8 weeks or such lesser time as is
required for Assessment and Certification subject to the following conditions:

(a) The Participant should have a Certification history of not less than three
years;
(b) The Participant should have no major nonconformity in the quality system
and process operation or a breach in terms of conduct in relation to their
Certification in the past three years.

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 4.3.4 If a certified Plant is closed, relocated and recommissioned within a period of
three months, it shall be deemed to be a new Plant and dealt with as described in
Clause 4.3.3.

4.4 Certification

4.4.1 On receipt of the Auditor's recommendation, the Board will agree Certification or
otherwise.

4.4.2 Applicant shall sign an agreement to be abode by the Regulations and the
regulations of the Certification Body.

4.4.3 Where the Quality Manual and the first Plant and its associated Quality Records
Centre are agreed for Certification by the Board, a Certificate of Registration will
be issued to the Applicant for that Plant.

4.4.4 Where a Certification of further Plant or Plants is agreed by the Board, a

Certificate of Registration will be issued to the Participant for each such Plant.

4.4.5 Details of the Participant will be included on the Register and locations and
details of each certified Plant will be included on the Plant Register.

4.4.6 Where an application for participation is rejected or Certification is refused, the

Applicant shall have the right of representation to an appeals committee in
accordance with the Certification Body regulations.

4.5 Certification Mark

4.5.1 Upon Certification, the Participant shall be entitled to use the Certification Body
logo as a Certification Mark in accordance with the Certification Body regulations.

4.5.2 A participant may use the Certification Mark on quotations and delivery notes for
Plants which have achieved Certification and may use the Certification Mark on
stationery, brochures and other advertising media. Plants which have not been
awarded a Certificate of Registration shall not use the Certification Mark.

5. OBLIGATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS

5.1 The Participant shall operate a Quality Management System in accordance with
ISO9001. The Participant shall comply with the Regulations.

5.2 The Participant's Quality Manual shall be applied to all his Plants producing and
supplying concrete within the scheme.

5.3 The Participant shall pay an annual fee to Certification Body for each Certification
and the administration of the Scheme. The Participant shall also pay an initial
Assessment fee and all subsequent fees to Certification Body for Assessment and
re-assessment. The amount of all fees will be determined by the Board from time to
time. The Participant shall bear the cost of any Audit Testing which may be directed.

5.4 The Participant shall afford Auditors full assistance and cooperation during
Assessments, producing documentation, order processing records and Quality
Records when requested, allowing Auditors to have free access to Plants and
Quality Records Centre and assisting with Audit Testing as necessary.

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 5.5 The Participant shall not sub-contract the production and supply of concrete unless
specific prior approval has been obtained from the Certification Body. Such
approval will only be given if the proposed sub-contractor is also a Participant and if
the Purchaser has been informed of the sub-contract arrangement.

5.6 The Participant may use the Certification Mark as described in Clause 4.5 but shall
not use it in a manner that may bring the Scheme or the Certification Body into
disrepute.

5.7 The Participant shall keep the Certification Body informed in writing of changes in his
circumstances which may affect Certification. Such changes include:

1. Changes in ownership or name.

2. The resignation of his management representative or company directors.

3. Changes in the Quality Manual or significant items in his Plant or Plants.

4. Closure of a Plant, closure being defined as the non-operation of the Plant for
28 days consecutively.

5. Forward plans, giving 28 days notice, for the establishment of new Plants, for
the closure of existing Plants, for changes in Plants or for changes in the Quality
Manual.

5.8 The Participant shall inform the Certification Body any significant changes to the
product, manufacturing process or quality system, which affect the conformity of the
product and cannot release the certified products resulting from such changes until
the Certification Body has notified them accordingly.

5.9 If the Participant provides copies of the certification documents to others, the
documents shall be reproduced in their entirety.

6. SURVEILLANCE VISIT AND RECERTIFICATION AUDIT

6.1 After Certification, the Auditor will make Surveillance Visit, from time to time, to each
Plant and associated Quality Records Centre, for re-assessment of the Participant.

6.2 Frequency and Purpose of Surveillance Visit

6.2.1 The frequency of routine Surveillance Visits for the first Three-year Certificate shall
be:

- once in every three months for the first year of certification,

- once in every four months for the second year of certification,

The frequency of routine Surveillance Visits for the second and subsequent Three-
year Certificate shall be:

- once within the month of the issue date of the Three-year Certificate
- once in every six months for the first and second years of certification

The actual Surveillance Visits shall be conducted within three months of the required
date.

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 Surveillance Visits shall comprise the followings:

1. Plant. The Auditor will assess plant and equipment including the calibration of
such plant and equipment and the operation of the relevant sections of the
Participant's Quality Manual against the Technical Regulations.

2. Quality Records Centre. The Auditor will assess the quality system relating to
each Plant by an audit of the Order Processing Records and the Quality
Records.

3. Audit Testing. The Auditor will assess Quality Control results by carrying out
an Audit Testing. The Auditor will also examine relevant Quality records to
confirm the output of control systems and hence authenticate the conformity of
the concrete to the specified criteria.

4. Control of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete. The Auditor shall assess

the control system of alkali-silica reaction of the concrete mixes produced in
the plant in accordance with Appendix E and F.

6.2.2 Other Surveillance Visit will be made for re-assessment purposes following a report
of nonconformities. Such visits may require either:

1. a partial assessment to confirm that nonconformities have been corrected; or

2. a full assessment to confirm compliance with the Regulations.

6.3 Conclusions from Surveillance Visit

6.3.1 On completion of each Surveillance Visit, the Auditor will report the type of
nonconformities found and obtain the Participant's acknowledgement of these. The
Auditor will indicate orally with written recommendation for continued Certification
or otherwise.

6.3.2 There are four possible recommendations:

1. Certification should be confirmed. The Plant and its associated Quality

Records Centre comply with the Regulations with no nonconformity.

2. Certification should be conditionally confirmed. A number of minor

nonconformities exist which do not cumulatively indicate a major failure of the
quality management system and product quality. Certification will be
recommended to be confirmed after receiving a letter from the Participant
stating details of the proposed correction and corrective action which to the
judgment of the Auditor, will remove the nonconformities from the system after
successful implementation. The time limit for the receipt of the letter will be two
weeks. Correction and corrective action shall be implemented within an
acceptable time which will be a maximum of four weeks or such lesser time as
the Auditor may decide.

3. Suspension of Certification is recommended. A major nonconformity or a

number of systematic minor nonconformities exist which accumulate to
indicate a major failure of the quality management system and product quality.
The Participant will be required to submit a letter stating details of the
proposed correction and corrective action which to the judgment of the Auditor,
will remove the nonconformities from the system after successful
implementation. The time limit for the receipt of the letter will be two weeks.
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 Auditor shall assess the correction and corrective action to ensure proposed
action(s) are effectively implemented before the resume of the Certification.

A partial or full re-assessment, as directed by the Auditor, will be required

within twelve weeks before reinstatement of Certification can be
recommended.
4. Withdrawal of Certification is recommended. A major nonconformity or a
number of systematic minor nonconformities have not been removed from the
system following suspension of certification.

6.4 Recertification Audit

6.4.1 Recertification Audit will be carried out at the sixth month every third year of a
Three-year Certificate. The Recertification Audit will be carried out in accordance
with Clause 4.2. The actual Recertification Audit shall be conducted within three
months of the required date.

7. SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF CERTIFICATION

7.1 On receipt of the Auditor's adverse Surveillance Visit report and recommendation on
any Plant or associated Quality Records Centre, the Board will agree or otherwise
that the Certificate of Registration for the relevant Plant will be suspended or
withdrawn.

7.2 If the Participant is, at any time in the opinion of the Board, failing systematically to
comply with the Scheme either by reason of suspension of Certification for the
majority of his Plants or by reason of his failure to comply with his obligations under
the Scheme, then the Board will suspend the Certificate of Registration for all the
Plants of the Participant.

7.3 If the Certificates of Registration are suspended in accordance with Clause 7.2, a
full re-assessment of all the Participant's Plants within the Scheme will be required
within twelve weeks before reinstatement of Certification can be recommended.

7.4 If, on re-assessment following suspension in accordance with Clause 7.3, a major
nonconformity or a number of systematic minor nonconformities have not been
removed from the system or if the Participant is persistently failing to comply with his
obligations under the Scheme, then the Board may, in its absolute discretion,
withdraw all the Certificates of Registration of the Participant.

7.5 In the event that the Board suspends or withdraws the Certificate of Registration of
any Plant of any Participant, the Board may publish such decisions in appropriate
trade journals and newspapers. If the Board has exercised its right to publish such
decisions, then the Board will, at the request of the Participant, publish any decision
reinstating a Certificate of Registration.

7.6 If the Certificate of Registration for a Plant is suspended or withdrawn, the

Participant shall cease to use the Certification Mark in relation to that Plant.

7.7 If the Certificates of Registration of all Plants of a Participant are suspended or

withdrawn, the Participant shall cease absolutely to use the Certification Mark.

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8. INFORMATION ON PARTICIPANTS

8.1 The Certification Body will publish, at least annually, a directory for the information
of the construction industry containing the names of all Participants on the Register
and the Certification status of all Plants on the Plant Register.

8.2 Upon the request of any Purchasers, end users or specifiers of concrete, the
Certification Body will provide verbal and, if requested, written confirmation of the
status of any Participant or Plant.

8.3 Any announcement or confirmation of the suspension or withdrawal of Certification

will state the reasons for such suspension or withdrawal.

9. APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS

9.1 The Applicant or Participant shall have the right of appeal against any decision of the
Board to an appeals committee. Details of the appeals procedure are given in the
Certification Body regulations.

10. CHANGES TO THE REGULATIONS

10.1 The Board will give Participants a twelve-week written notice of any intended change
to the Regulations to allow for clarification between Participants and the Certification
Body.

10.2 Following any changes to the Regulations which the Board may agree, the
Participants shall be allowed twelve weeks to carry out any adjustments to their
Quality Assurance scheme which may be required as a result of such changes.

11. COMPLAINTS

11.1 Participants shall keep a record of all written complaints received from Purchasers,
end-users or specifiers of concrete. These records shall be made available to the
Auditor at the time of Assessment or re-assessment.

11.2 The Certification Body will keep a record of all written complaints, in relation to a
Participant received from Purchasers, end-users or specifiers of concrete. Such
complaints will be investigated at the discretion of Certification Body and reported to
the Board.

11.3 The Certification Body will respond to complainants with a report which is confined to
a statement upon the Certification status of the participant and his Plants.

12. CONFIDENTIALITY

12.1 Participants shall disclose to the Auditor for the purposes of Assessment all
information or records obtained from or pertaining to Purchasers and connected
with the Scheme.

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 12.2 The Auditor and the Certification Body will not disclose information or records
obtained from Participants except as may be permitted by the Certification Body
regulations.

13 REVIEW OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

13.1 The top management of the Participant shall review its quality management
system, at maximum of a six-month interval, to ensure its continuing suitability,
adequacy and effectiveness.

13.2 Records from the review shall be maintained.

____________________________________________________________________________

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 QUALITY SCHEME

FOR THE

PRODUCTION AND

SUPPLY OF CONCRETE

(QSPSC™)

PART TWO

Technical Regulations

2014

HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY

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 Quality Scheme

for the

Production and Supply of Concrete

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
CONTENTS

SECTION Page

1 Introduction 3

2 Quality System 3

3 Participant's Quality Responsibilities 3

4 Technical Definitions 4

5 Planning to Meet Quality Requirements 4

6 Production and Delivery 8

7 Materials and Production Control 14

8 Product Quality Control 16

9 Training 20

10 Review of the Quality Management System 20

11 Quality Records 20

APPENDICES

A. Calculation of Batch Weights 24

B. Maintenance of Plant and Equipment 26
C. The Performance of Mixer Requirements 28
D. List of Testing Requirements 31
E. Framework for Monitoring the Alkaline 32
Reactivity of Aggregates by Accelerated Mortar
Bar Method (Rilem AAR-2)
F. Framework for Monitoring the 34
Total Alkaline Content of Concrete Mixes
During QSPSC Audits by the Certification Bodies

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 Quality Scheme

for the

Production and Supply of Concrete

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 These Technical Regulations set out the technical requirements of the Scheme.

1.2 The Technical Regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Administrative
Regulations.

2. QUALITY SYSTEM

2.1 An effective quality system shall be established, documented and maintained in

accordance with the prevailing ISO9001 standard to ensure and demonstrate that
concrete produced and supplied under the Scheme conforms to the specification
agreed with the Purchaser and with these Regulations.

2.2 The System shall cover, amongst other requirements of ISO9001, the following
Technical Regulations: -

Participant's quality responsibilities 3

Planning to meet quality requirements 5
Production and delivery 6
Materials and production control 7
Product quality control 8
Training 9
Review of the quality system 10
Quality records 11

3. PARTICIPANTS' QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Participant shall nominate a Quality Management Representative who shall
have defined authority and responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of
ISO9001 and the Technical Regulations are met.

3.2 All staff shall be technically competent for the functions that they perform and are
aware of the effects of these functions on quality. A proper training procedure shall
be set up and maintained for the training of technical staff.

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4. TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS

4.1 Quantity

4.1.1 The basis of supply shall be cubic metre of fresh, fully compacted concrete. The
volume of a given batch of concrete shall be calculated from the total weight of the
batch divided by the weight per cubic metre of fresh, fully compacted concrete
determined in accordance with CS1. The total weight of the batch shall either be
calculated as the sum of the weights of all materials used including water, or be
determined from the gross and tare weights of the vehicle on a weighbridge. For
lean concrete and cement-bound material, fully compacted means compacted to
refusal.

4.1.2 For mixes described as semi dry, with a designed workability less than 5mm slump,
and not being lean concrete or cement bound material as defined in this clause, the
density of fresh concrete used in the calculation of yield shall refer to contract’s
specification.

4.2 Designed Mix

4.2.1 A mix described in performance terms and for which strength and workability testing
will form an essential part of the criteria for compliance.

4.3 Prescribed Mix

4.3.1 A mix described in terms of proportions by weight. Strength testing will not form
part of the rules for judging compliance of prescribed mixes.

4.4 Standard Mix

4.4.1 A mix described in terms of proportions by weight. Strength testing will form part of
the rules for judging compliance of standard mixes.

4.5 Cementitious Content

4.5.1 Cementitious content is the combined mass of all cementitious material(s) used per
cubic metre of compacted concrete, where cementitious materials include cement,
Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), Silica Fume, Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag
(GGBS) or other specified hydrating materials used as separate constituents or
blended.

4.6 Source

4.6.1 The source of a material shall be the place of manufacturing of the material or
otherwise specified in relevant standards.

5. PLANNING TO MEET QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Basis of Supply

5.1.1 Participants shall supply concrete which complies with the quality requirements
agreed with the Purchaser and which satisfies the quantity ordered by the
Purchaser.

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 5.1.2 Concrete and its constituent materials shall be supplied in accordance with either
the Purchaser's specification or an alternative to the Purchaser's specification
which has been agreed in writing by the Purchaser.

5.2 Establishing Quality Requirements

5.2.1 Purchaser's specifications and orders shall be reviewed systematically by a

competent person to interpret the specified requirements and relate these to
concrete mix requirements. These specifications and orders, together with any
subsequent agreed modification to the specifications or orders, shall be recorded
formally to ensure that the plant operator is given the correct instructions for
batching.

5.3 Concrete Mixes

5.3.1 Basis of Assessment

5.3.1.1 The basis of Assessment of all concrete mixes and mix designs will be that
described in these Technical Regulations.

5.3.2 Mix Proportions

5.3.2.1 Concrete mix proportions shall be established for every Plant to cover mix types
and quality requirements. These proportions shall be established prior to
production and subsequent to significant changes in materials or concrete
properties.

5.3.2.2 The moisture content of aggregates shall be monitored or tested using suitable
method(s). Changes in moisture content shall be compensated in the mix
proportions during batching process through a computerized batching system by
making necessary changes to the weight of aggregate(s) and water to maintain
the agreed mix design in production.

5.3.2.3 Batch weights of constituent materials for all concrete mixes shall be determined
in accordance with Appendix A to these Technical Regulations.

5.3.2.4 All mixes shall be designed to yield the declared volume of fully compacted fresh
concrete.

5.3.3 Batch Cards

5.3.3.1 Concrete mix details showing the mix proportions by weight of all constituent
materials shall be available to the plant operator at the Plant for all mixes being
supplied from that Plant.

5.3.3.2 Where the weighing system records cumulative weights, the computerised
batching system shall automatically adjust for the moisture content for each type
of material and accordingly weigh cumulatively.

5.4 Designed Mixes

5.4.1 All designed mixes shall be designed by a competent person who shall take into
account of the available data relating the strength to cementitious content or w/c
ratio; the relevance and accuracy of such data; the number of test results

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 available from the control system for assessing standard deviations and the
achieved rate of testing that stated in Clause 8.2.1.

5.4.2 Where a designed mix is an extension of or a minor modification to an existing

designed mix, then recognised theoretical procedures which are developed by
Participant, may be used to devise the modified mix proportions.

5.4.3 Target Mean Strength

5.4.3.1 In order to adequately meet the compliance requirements of Purchasers,

designed mixes shall be designed to achieve a target mean strength such that no
more than 2.5% of test results fall below the specified strength unless the
Purchaser's specification or its compliance rules require a more stringent
criterion.

5.4.3.2 A margin between the specified strength and the target mean strength shall be
maintained. This margin, as defined by the difference between target mean
strength and the specified strength, shall be that found from the following
equation:

T = fcu + K.SD

T is the target mean strength;

fcu is the specified strength;
K is a factor which for the compliance rule given above is equal to 2 or such
greater value required by specified compliance rules;
SD is the designed standard deviation which is not less than 3.5MPa or such
greater value determined in accordance with Clause 5.4.7 or 8.2.8.

5.4.4 Strength to Cementitious Content or Strength to Water/Cement Ratio

Relationship

5.4.4.1 The relationship between strength and cementitious content, or strength and w/c
ratio, shall be maintained in accordance with Clause 8.2.10 and shall be
established for the range of basic designed mixes being produced in the Plant.

5.4.4.2 The relationship shall be established separately for each combination of material
sources and types from the results of laboratory trials or production runs.

5.4.4.3 The relationship shall be established for a series of concrete grades or a range of
water/cementitious ratios to cover all concrete grades, aggregate sizes and
combinations of cementitious materials under production. The intercepts shall be
found from the results of at least six strength grades or evenly distributed
throughout the strength range under production for each of the workability level
using the data provided by the control system described in Clause 8.2 by either:

- laboratory trials of each grade selected with 3 cubes from each mix for at
least 3 batches, or:

- at least 16 production results of each grade selected, the results being

corrected for actual slump.

If concrete is required to be supplied at target slumps other than the one chosen
for the above, the relationship shall be similarly established by extrapolation or
interpolation for the omitted target slump(s) in the range of 75, 100 and 175mm.

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 5.4.4.4 For the purpose of this clause, different cement types; different combinations of
cementitious content; different maximum aggregates sizes; different water to
cementitious content ratios and different admixture types and contents, will be
considered as different basic designed mixes. Where combinations of materials
are similar, then a common relationship may be assumed and mix designs for
intermediate grades may be established by the use of recognised theoretical
procedures which are developed by Participant.

5.4.5 Mixes for Special Requirements

5.4.5.1 Where customer requirements cannot be met under the provision of Clause 5.4.4,
the supplier will design a mix suitable for the intended purpose.

Such mix design shall be verified by trial mix in a laboratory and/ or at the Plant to
be used in the manufacture of the concrete.

5.4.5.2 For high strength concrete of grade greater than 60MPa, a quality plan shall be
implemented to include the controls of production. Quality plan for high strength
concrete shall be prepared with the key requirements such as materials and
concrete requirements, special control mechanism and the quality plan shall be
reviewed and approved by concrete technologist.

5.4.6 Cementitious Content and Water/Cement Ratio

5.4.6.1 The cementitious content of designed mixes shall be selected from the strength
to cementitious content or strength to w/c ratio relationship except that specified
minimum or maximum cementitious contents shall be complied with. Where such
specified limits restrict the maximum cementitious content, the water content shall
be adjusted downwards accordingly to maintain the desired w/c ratio. In such
cases, workability may need to be increased by the use of high range water
reducing admixtures and/or other acceptable materials. Specified maximum
water/cementitious content ratios shall not be exceeded.

5.4.7 Initial cementitious Content

5.4.7.1 The procedure of this clause shall be adopted in the following circumstances:

- when a new Plant comes into operation

- when an existing Plant reopens following closure
- when the effect of changes in the sources of materials cannot be predicted

5.4.7.2 The initial value of the design standard deviation, SD, shall be assumed to be
6MPa.

5.4.7.3 The initial cementitious content shall be established as described in Clause 5.4.6
except that the target mean strength shall be determined using the initial value for
the design standard deviation.

5.4.7.4 The initial cementitious content shall be maintained until the control system, in
accordance with Clause 8, becomes effective.

5.4.8 Adjustments to Cementitious Content

5.4.8.1 Cementitious contents shall be adjusted based upon current target mean
strengths and current cementitious content to strength or w/c ratio to strength
relationships. Such adjustments shall not allow the total cementitious content to
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 fall beyond specified limits for cementitious content or water/cementitious content
ratio.

5.5. Prescribed and Standard Mixes

5.5.1 The proportion of fine to coarse aggregate may be adjusted from the normal
specified value to maintain adequate cohesiveness of the plastic concrete,
provided that it is within the range, if any, specified by the Purchaser.

6. PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY

6.1 Plant and Equipment

6.1.1 At each Plant, sufficient equipment shall be provided and maintained to ensure a
capability to produce and deliver a range of concrete mixes to the standards
specified by Purchasers in respect of quality and quantity.

6.1.2 Methods of materials storage and handling, concrete production and supply, shall
ensure that risks for non-compliance, intermingling, contamination, segregation,
errors, loss of materials or concrete, and the influence of weather are minimised.

6.1.3 Materials Storage and Handling

a. Cementitious Materials

Separate weatherproof storage bins, each with efficient dust control and
discharge systems shall be provided for the different types of cementitious
materials. Different load connectors shall be used for container holding
different materials. The loading point of each container shall be clearly
marked to indicate the type of its content. A container shall not be used to
store different types of cementitious material unless such container is fully
emptied before it is reloaded and the correct new load connectors are fitted.

b. Aggregates

Adequately drained and segregated stockpiles or storage bins shall be

provided for each nominal size and type of aggregate so as to avoid
contamination and to prevent intermingling with adjacent material.

The method of filling stockpiles or storage bins shall be such as to prevent

intermingling of different sizes and types.

Handling procedures for loading and unloading aggregates shall be such as

to reduce segregation to a minimum.

c. Admixtures

Tanks or drums containing admixtures shall be clearly labelled for

identification purposes and stored in such a way as to avoid contamination.
Admixtures shall also be stored in accordance with the manufacturer
recommendations and shall not be used after the recommended shelf life
has been exceeded.

Mechanical agitation or pump re-circulation shall be provided for liquid

admixtures which are not stable solutions.
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 The measured dosage shall be discharged into the water prior to mixing or
into the mix at the same time as the water is added or just prior to discharge
of the concrete, or as recommended by the manufacturer. When
admixture(s) are dosed prior to discharge of the concrete, the dosed quantity
shall be recorded.

Dispensers shall have the facility for checking delivery of the measured
quantity and there shall be means of flushing the system.

d. Water
An adequate supply of water complying with the Purchaser’s Specification
shall be provided together with an accurate means of measurement.

6.1.4 Weighing and Batching Equipment

Weighing and batching equipment shall comply with the following requirements
and shall be subject to regular inspection, testing and recording as set out in
Appendix B to these Technical Regulations.

a. Hoppers for batch weighing cementitious materials, aggregates and water (if
measured by weight) shall consist of suitable containers, freely suspended
from a scale or other suitable load-measuring device, and equipped with a
suitable discharging mechanism.

b. The method of controlling of the loading mechanism shall be, such that as
the total quantity required in the weighing hopper is approached. The
materials may be added at a controllable rate and cut off within the weighing
tolerances specified in these Technical Regulations.

c. The weighing hoppers shall be capable of receiving their load without the
weighed material coming into contact with the loading mechanism.
d. The weighing hoppers shall be constructed so as to discharge efficiently and
minimise the build-up of materials. A tare adjustment shall be provided on
the weighing mechanism.

e. Dust seals shall be provided on hoppers used for cementitious materials

between the loading mechanism and weigh hopper or mechanism and shall
be fitted so as to prevent the emission of dust and so as not to affect
weighing accuracy. The hopper or mechanism shall be vented to permit
escape of air without emission of excessive dust.
f. Vibrator and other attachments, where fitted, shall not affect the accuracy of
weighing.
g. There shall be sufficient protection of all weighing hoppers and weighing
mechanisms to prevent interference with weighing accuracy by weather
conditions or external build-up of materials.
h. Where admixtures are used they shall be measured through equipment
capable of measurement within the tolerance indicated in these Technical
Regulations.
i. Each control on the batching console and weigh-dial or display shall be
clearly labelled with its function, and, where concerned with the batching of
materials, the materials type.
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 j. Where the quantity of concrete to be loaded into a vehicle is composed of
more than one batch, precautions shall be taken to ensure that the correct
number of batches is loaded.
k. When more than one type of cementitious material is being used, each
should have its own delivery systems to the weighing hopper.
l. When additions are being used, the weighing device and discharge screw or
other parts of the transfer system shall be emptied when the weighing
system has returned to zero reading or completed the batch.
m. Concrete batching process shall be controlled using a computerised batching
system and a computerised batching record shall be generated for each
batch of concrete produced.

6.2 Maintenance

6.2.1 All plant and equipment shall be maintained in a clean and efficient working
condition and regular routine maintenance checks shall be carried out.

6.2.2 Maintenance routines shall be established as described in Appendix B to these

Technical Regulations.

6.3 Measurement of Materials

6.3.1 The batching equipment shall be calibrated regularly and maintained to the
accuracy required by the Technical Regulations, and which will permit the plant
operative to comply with Clause 6.3.3 below.

6.3.2 The plant operative shall be provided with concrete mix details which clearly
display the quantities of materials to be batched for each mix and batch size, and
with information identifying the display to be selected for each mix to be
produced.

6.3.3 The plant operative shall batch the correct amount of each material for the
required mix and size of batch within the tolerances as defined in the Technical
Regulations.

6.3.4 Methods of Measurement

a. Cementitious material(s) shall be weighed in a hopper or compartment

separated from those used for other materials and on a scale of appropriate
sensitivity, as defined in Clause 6.3.5 below.
Whole bags as delivered by the manufacturer may be used in lieu of weight
measurement.
b. Aggregates shall be measured by weight, allowance being made for free
moisture content of the aggregates. Lightweight aggregate as defined in
Clause D2 of Appendix D may be measured by volume.

c. Liquid or paste admixture shall be measured by volume or by weight and

solid admixture by weight.

d. The added water shall be measured by volume or by weight.

6.3.5 Accuracy of Weight and Volume Indicating Devices

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 a. The accuracy, sensitivity and arrangement of the weighing devices and
volumetric measure shall be such as to enable the materials to be batched
within the following tolerances:

Cement, ground granulated each to within + 2%

blastfurnace slag, pulverised fuel of the weight in the batch
ash, aggregate and water

Silica fume 0% to +5% of the weight

In the batch

Admixtures within +5% of the amount

added to the batch

b. Analogue scales for the weighing of cement, ground granulated blastfurnace

slag, pulverised fuel ash, aggregates and water shall be readily discernible
from the operating position.

c. The scale increments shall not exceed 5kg for cement, ground granulated
blastfurnace slag and pulverised fuel ash, 10kg for aggregate, 5kg for water,
5kg for silica fume and 50g for admixture.

d. For digital readout, the numerals shall be readily discernible from the
operating position.

The digital readout shall have an increment not exceeding 5kg for cement,
ground granulated blastfurnace slag and pulverised fuel ash, 10kg for
aggregate and 5kg for water, 5kg for silica fume and 50g for admixture.

e. Fully automatic production systems shall be fitted with control equipment to

allow the correct operation of the plant to be monitored during weighing and
batching. Automatic control systems on batching plants shall not commence
batching until all hoppers have been emptied and / or tared and the scales
are zeroed.

f. At the time of installation, or re-conditioning, the accuracy of the indicated

weight at any point on the scale shall be within 0.25% of the full scale
reading.

At any other time during operation, the accuracy shall be within 0.50% of the
full scale reading.

g. Devices and meters used to measure the volume of water added to concrete
shall be calibrated in increments not exceeding 5 litres and the accuracy of
the indicated volume shall be within +2% of the volume of water batched.

h. Admixture dispensers shall have scale increments not exceeding:

Range of scale Scale increment

(litres) (litres)
0.5 - 1.0 0.02
1.0 - 10.0 0.2
Greater than 10.0 0.4

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 The accuracy of the indicated volume at any point of the scale shall be within
+5% of the volume of admixture dispensed.

6.3.6 Calibration of equipment

a. The calibration system shall be in accordance with the requirements of

BS5781. All weighing and measuring equipment shall be tested and
calibrated over its full working range at least once every three months by an
independent specialist.

b. In case of batch weighing system, this shall be done by the application of test
loads to the weigh hoppers.

c. Checks on continuous weigh systems shall be based on comparing the

preset quantity with those actually produced.

d. At least two checks of the accuracy of the weighing equipment shall be made
in the interval between the independent specialist check by either:

- reconciliation of materials stocks, deliveries and usage or

- proof loading or verification of total weights.

e. The frequency of calibration of weighing hoppers for plants which use

weighing hoppers fitted with totally enclosed electronic load cells can be
increased to 6 months subject to the following requirements:-

e.1 That two previous 3 monthly calibrations have shown the system to be
stable and that results only show random errors rather than a
systematic drift in performance. Should a 6 monthly calibration show
adjustment is required the calibration period should be reduced to 3
monthly intervals for two successive calibrations to show the system is
stable.

e.2 That the usage of the equipment should not be changed significantly
from that during the sample period for which records were submitted.

e.3 Inspection of the equipment and hoppers should be carried out at

a 3-month interval in order to ensure that any accumulation of dirt and
surplus materials which might influence the accuracy of the equipment
is identified. Records of inspections should be maintained.

6.3.7 Operation of Weighing Equipment

a. The batching operative or preset weighing system shall measure all materials
within a tolerance of +2% of each separate material in the batch or one scale
division whichever is greater, except that for admixtures the tolerance shall
be +5% or one scale division.

b. After measurement, all materials shall be discharged into the mixer without
any loss.

c. When batch weighing materials, any build-up in the hopper during the day
shall be tared out or allowed for in the batch weights.

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 6.4 Mixing and Transporting

6.4.1 The mixer shall comply with the requirements listed in Table 1 of Appendix C.
The mixing time shall not be less than that recommended by the mixer
manufacturer or the mixing time verified by the uniformity test described in
Appendix C.

6.4.2 Mixers shall be emptied before being charged with a new batch of concrete.

6.4.3 To ensure that the concrete materials can be mixed most readily into a
homogeneous mass, wherever possible the cementitious material(s) and
aggregates should be fed into the drum simultaneously and at a uniform rate.
The concrete shall be thoroughly mixed before the truck mixers leave the
batching Plant.

6.4.4 Mixers shall not be loaded in excess of the manufacturers' rated capacity, which
shall be displayed on the mixer in terms of the volume of the mixed concrete.

6.4.5 Where concrete is to be delivered in an agitator, the agitator shall be maintained

with a planned maintenance system as stated in clause B3.2 of the Appendix B
that the properties and quantity of concrete are not adversely affected.

6.4.6 Where agreed by the Purchaser, non-agitating equipment or hoppers may be

used to transport mixed concrete. The container shall be watertight and be
equipped with a suitable discharge mechanism. Suitable covers or other
protection for the concrete shall be provided against inclement weather.

6.5 Delivery Note Information

6.5.1 Immediately before discharging the concrete at the point of delivery, the
Participant shall provide the Purchaser with a preprinted delivery note that
describes the concrete which is about to be delivered. The delivery note shall
include the following information:

- name and location of concrete Plant

- serial number of delivery note
- date
- truck's registration number (if applicable)
- name of Purchaser
- name and location of site
- grade and full description of concrete including any additional items that have
been specified by the Purchaser
- specified workability / consistence in terms of slump, flow, or other specified
parameter
- type of cementitious material (see Clause 6.5.2)
- nominal maximum size of aggregate
- type or name of admixture and/or addition if included (see Clause 6.5.3)
- quantity of concrete in cubic metres

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 - time of introduction of cement to the concrete

NOTE: Space shall be provided for recording any additional items that have
been specified and for the followings to be completed on site.
- arrival and departure time of the truck
- time of completion of discharge
- extra quantity of water added at the request of the Purchaser, or his
representative, together with his signature.

6.5.2 Combinations of cementitious materials shall be declared.

6.5.3 Admixtures and additions shall be declared by word or code which clearly
identifies the type or name of the admixture or addition.

7. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTION CONTROL

7.1 Control of Purchased Materials Quality

7.1.1 A control system shall be operated to provide assurance that all materials
purchased for, and used in, the production of concrete conforming to the
Purchaser's specified requirements.

a. Purchases of constituent materials shall be subject to an appropriate form of

inspection.

b. All materials shall be visually inspected or verified on delivery and, when this
inspection indicates the possibility of non-compliance with the specified
Quality, the Quality Management Representative (see Clause 3.1) shall be
informed.

c. Cement from each source used shall be sampled twice per week and each
sample shall be tested in accordance with the test requirement listed in
Clause D1.1 of Appendix D for physical properties. Chemical composition
test shall be conducted twice per year.

d. Other cementitious materials from each source used such as PFA, silica
fume, GGBS, PPFAC shall be sampled and tested as follows:
PFA
 Physical test – sample and test once per week or for 1000 cu.m.
concrete production using relevant standard
 Chemical test – sample and test once per year using relevant standard
Silica Fume
 Performance certificate from supplier for either every 100MT delivery or
3000 cu.m. concrete production
GGBS
 Physical test – sample and test once per week or for 1000 cu.m.
concrete production using relevant standard
 Chemical test – sample and test twice per year using relevant standard

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 PPFAC
 Same testing frequency as OPC in accordance with relevant standards

e. Aggregates shall be sampled and tested in accordance with the relevant

parts of test requirements listed in Clause D2 of Appendix D for the following
properties.

Grading
At least 1 sample from each size of aggregate and from each source on
each day the material is used.
Silt Content
At least 1 sample from each size of aggregate and from each source on
each day the material is used.
Flakiness and Elongation
At least one sample from each source twice per year.
Relative Density
At least one sample from each source twice per year.

Water Absorption
At least one sample from each source twice per year.

10% Fines
At least one sample from each source per month.

Alkali Aggregate Interaction

For each source of aggregate proposed, the aggregate shall be tested

before use for potential alkali reactivity in accordance with the test
requirement listed in Clause D2.8 of Appendix D or other recognised testing
method(s) and subsequently monitored in accordance with Appendix E.

Documentation of the routine inspection of aggregates delivered to batching

plants (e.g. records of visual checking) should be required and related
records should be maintained.

f. Where water is not from a public supply of potable water, it shall be tested in
accordance with the test requirement listed in Clause D3.1 of Appendix D to
prove suitability for initial acceptance and at a frequency of two months
thereafter. For those projects allowing the use of recycled water, the
relevant specifications requirement shall be observed and the samples shall
be collected and tested as per purchaser requirements.

g. Certificates shall be obtained with manufacturer’s performance and uniformity

of tests on all admixtures. Results of manufacturer's performance and
uniformity tests which relate to current supplies of the admixtures in use shall
be made available on the basis of one uniformity test being carried out for
each product each month, provided always that the manufacturer's
production QC and ISO9001 QS records are available to support the claim of
no change within the specified acceptance specifications tolerances.

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 h. Recycled aggregate shall come from an approved source and product quality
shall be tested by the supplier in accordance with its quality plan. Reference
should be made to CS3:2013, as appropriate.

7.1.2 All external laboratory testing services shall be accredited by the Hong Kong
Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS) for the test(s) employed.

7.2 Production Control

7.2.1 The production of concrete at each Plant shall be systematically controlled so as

to provide assurance that all concrete supplied shall be in accordance with these
Regulations and with the Purchaser's specification.

7.2.2 The following control procedures shall be adopted:

a. Moisture Content of Aggregates

Moisture content of aggregates shall be determined at least twice on each

day by a suitable method or through automated in-line moisture measuring
device.. When an in-line automated moisture measuring device is used
for determining the moisture content of aggregates, the Participant shall
implement a calibration procedure with stated acceptance tolerance and
moisture measuring device accuracy checking procedure that is
technically based.

b. Wash-out Water

Before loading any concrete mixer or delivery vehicle with a fresh batch of
concrete or materials, any water retained in the mixer or delivery vehicle
shall be discharged.

c. Batching

All materials shall be batched strictly in accordance with the concrete mix
details and within the adjustment allowed, if any, in the Purchaser’s
specification. The adjustment made, if any, shall be recorded.

7.3 Inspection of Concrete

7.3.1 Each load of mixed concrete shall be inspected by a competent person following
mixing before despatch.

7.4 Water/Cementitious Content Ratio Control

7.4.1 The water/cementitious content ratio shall be controlled during production and
corrective action shall be taken to maintain specified limits.

7.5 Additional Water

7.5.1 No additional water shall be added to the truck mixer drum before discharge
unless specifically requested and signed by the Purchaser.

7.6 Plant Inspections

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 7.6.1 Regular routine inspections shall be carried out on the condition of plant and
equipment, including delivery vehicles and in accordance with Appendix B to
these Technical Regulations.

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8 PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL

8.1 Workability, Strength and Plastic Density

Concrete mixes shall be randomly sampled and tested for workability /

consistence, strength and plastic density. Such sampling and testing shall be in
accordance with the relevant Regulations. When variations from the tolerances
of target values are detected, corrective action shall be taken.

8.2 Designed Mixes

8.2.1 A quality control system based on the principles of either BS600 or BS5703 shall
be operated to control the strength and workability and any other specified
parameters of designed mixes to the levels required by Clause 5.4 and shall be
based on random tests of mixes which form the major proportion of production.
The system shall include continuous analysis of results from cube tests to
compare actual with target values together with procedures for modifying mix
proportions to correct for observed differences.

a. Essential elements

The control system shall contain the following basic elements:

- Control of mean strength based on testing of concrete cubes at an early
age, the early age being not greater than 7 days.
- A control system to monitor changes in standard deviation.

- A procedure established to predict 28-day cube strengths from early age

test results.

- A control system operated to monitor changes in relationship between

early and 28 days strength.

b. Approved mixes

Approved mixes are all designed mixes which have been verified, validated
and adopted by Participants. They shall be defined in term of the range of
mixes produced and supplied by a plant for any workability / consistence,
using cement or in combination with other cementitious material, and nominal
size and type of aggregate.

The control system that described in Clause 5.4.4 shall be operated on the
basic range of Approved Mixes which form the major proportion of
production.

Results of tests on any type of mix may be included in the control system
provided that a reliable method is established to correct the test result to the
parameters of the basic range of mixes. Cementitious content to strength or
w/c ratio to strength relationships shall be established in accordance with
Clause 5.4.4 and Clause 5.4.5.

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 c. Testing

Concrete test cubes shall be made at least in pairs, one cube for an early
age test and the other(s) for test at 28 days. A workability / consistence test
shall be carried out each time when a set of cubes is made.

d. Test Rate

The full test rate for inclusion in the quality control system shall be a
minimum of 40 pairs of cubes made over a period not exceeding 30
consecutive working days. The pairs of cubes shall be made uniformly
throughout the period and not more than four (4) pairs shall count towards
the minimum rate required as follows:
- 25 to 150 cu.m. : 1 pair
- more than 150 cu.m. : 1 pair per 150 cu.m. with maximum
of 4 pairs
e. Testable day

If the production of Approved Mixes is less than 25 cu.m. per day on any day,
that day shall not be counted as a testable day. If production of Approved
Mixes is less than 25 cu.m. but more than 15 cu.m. on each of the two
consecutive days, those two days may be counted as one testable day, and
those two days shall be counted as one working day for the purpose of
Clause 8.2.1.d.

8.2.2 The control system, when assessed entirely, shall ensure that the quality of
concrete produced, is at least as high as that required to satisfy Clause 5.4.

8.2.3 All upward changes in cementitious content shall be mandatory unless the cause
of the change has been identified and satisfactory corrective action has been
taken. Upward changes shall be made immediately because they are indicated
as being necessary.

8.2.4 Downward changes in cementitious content indicated by the control system shall
be discretionary.

8.2.5 In all cases, the limits of cementitious contents and w/c ratio specified by the
Purchaser shall prevail.

8.2.6 Determination of Early Age to 28-day Cube Strength relationship

a. A procedure shall be established to predict 28-day cube strengths from early

age test results, over a basic range of mixes. The procedure used to
establish the family relationship shall be technically valid.

b. The control system that described in Clause 8.2.1 shall be operated to

compare predicted and actual 28-day cube strengths to ensure that the
particular relationship adopted is correct. When a significant change in the
relationship is detected, the new relationship shall be adopted and the data
indicating the change shall be re-examined. Alternatively, the relationship
may be continuously updated.

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 8.2.7 Control of Mean Strength

The mean strength shall be controlled on a continuous basis by monitoring the

difference between the indicated mean and the target mean strength.

8.2.8 Assessment of Standard Deviation

The standard deviation shall be assessed on a continuous basis by monitoring

the difference between the indicated standard deviation and the assumed
standard deviation. Alternatively, the value of standard deviation shall be re-
calculated every 40 results obtained over a period of at least one month and a
new value adopted.

8.2.9 Control of Margin

The margin determined in accordance with clause 5.4 shall be maintained unless
otherwise for Participants meeting the conditions stated in Clause 4.3.3 (a) & (b)
of the Administrative Regulations of this Scheme, changes in the mean target
strength and design standard deviation can be adopted.

8.2.10 Re-assessment of Basic Relationships and Control Systems

Cementitious content to strength or w/c ratio to strength relationships and

correction factors to basic range of mixes shall be reassessed at least every 6
months or more often whenever sufficient data is available.

8.3 Prescribed and Standard Mixes

8.3.1 Periodic and systematic checks shall be made using the procedures and data of
Appendix A to these Technical Regulations to ensure that the cementitious
contents of all mixes comply with their mix descriptions.

8.3.2 Where specifications indicate quantities of materials to produce approximately

one cubic metre of concrete, then the implied or nominated cementitious content
shall be used and aggregate weights will be adjusted to yield one cubic metre.

8.3.3 For standard mixes, the quality of the concrete shall be monitored by tests on
strength and workability. Concrete test cubes shall be made at least in pairs, one
for an early age test and the other(s) for test at 28-day, for standard mixes, on
the days when they are produced. A workability / consistence test shall be
carried out each time a set of cubes is made. Test results shall be monitored by
a suitable statistical method. Any significant downward trend or excessive
variation in the test results shall be fully investigated and necessary corrective
action shall be taken. Where necessary, the purchaser shall be requested to
investigate the mix design. The test results may be included in the control
system for designed mixes in accordance with Clause 8.2.

8.4 Testing Standards and Laboratories

8.4.1 All testing in the field and laboratory for concrete for control purposes shall
comply with CS1. Where external laboratory testing services are employed, they
shall be accredited by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
(HOKLAS) for the test(s) employed.

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 8.4.2 Where the testing laboratory is remote from the place where the control system is
operated, a communication system shall exist to ensure that the results are
available for analysis on the same day as the test is conducted.

8.5 Monitoring the Total Alkaline Content of Concrete Mixes

The equivalent Na2O content of the concrete mixes shall be checked to verify the
compliance of the 3 kg limit periodically in accordance with the Appendix F.

9. TRAINING

9.1 All personnel concerned with production, delivery and the quality system shall
have received training appropriate to the duties they perform.

9.2 The testing of materials, the design of mixes and the quality control of concrete
shall be under the overall supervision of an experienced concrete technologist.
The concrete technologist shall have an appropriate Higher Certificate in
construction related field from Hong Kong Polytechnic or an equivalent technical
qualification and at least three years relevant post qualification experience.

9.3 Concrete shall be batched by operatives who have received proper instructions
on the usage of the equipment and who are able to comply with the required
accuracy of batching.

10. REVIEW OF THE QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

10.1 The quality management system established in accordance with these

Regulations shall be systematically reviewed at least once every six months to
ensure the continuing effectiveness of the system.

11. QUALITY RECORDS

11.1 Records shall be maintained to provide continuous assurance of effective

operation of the Quality System and to confirm the quality and quantity of
concrete produced. The records shall be retained for the purpose of these
Regulations for a period of at least one year. The records shall, by the inclusion
of sufficient cross references, permit traceability of constituent materials,
concrete and tests on both. The records shall indicate changes occurring and
any corrective actions taken. They shall cover the following aspects:

- Planning to meet Quality Requirements

- order processing
- data to substantiate concrete mix designs for quality and quantity

- Production and Delivery

- batching instructions
- batching records
- delivery notes
- equipment calibration and plant maintenance

- Materials and Production Control

- concrete production and materials purchase, usage and stocks
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 - certificates or test results for materials

- Production Quality Control

- control test results
- quality control system analyses
- test equipment calibrations
- laboratory accreditation (where applicable)

11.2 Planning to meet quality requirements

a. Order processing

- The Purchaser's specification, written instructions or order and the

quotation.

- Changes in contract requirements.

- Changes or revisions to any standards or documents affecting supplies or

compliance requirements.

- Change in supplying Plant where notification is required by the Purchaser.

- Daily record of orders received (the despatch, programming or shipping

sheet) with a clear description of the concrete ordered during the day.

b. Data to substantiate concrete mix designs for quality and quantity

- The dates of issue and copies of mix codings fully define the actual
amount of all the constituents of the mix including any additions of
admixtures.

- Data to substantiate the cementitious contents of designed, prescribed

and standard mixes.

- Data to confirm the batch weights of materials required to yield the

declared volume of concrete in accordance with Clause 5.3.2 retained
until the data is updated or the use of the material to which they relate is
discontinued.

11.3 Production and Delivery

a. Batching instructions
- The batching instruction for mix satisfying is listed in Clause 5.3.2.

b. Batching records

- For each load, a record of the mix code with quantities and types of all
materials batched, including traceability to delivery note, shall be
automatically sensed and recorded at the time of batching. A printed
record for any load shall be retrievable at any time. If further water is
added it shall be measured to the accuracy required by Clause 6.3.7 and
the quantity shall be recorded automatically in such a way that it is
traceable to the delivery note and retrievable at any time.
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 c. Delivery note

Copies of the delivery note signed by the Purchaser, or his representative,

shall be retained.

d. Equipment calibration and plant maintenance

Records of the maintenance and calibration checks to comply with Appendix
B to these Technical Regulations shall be maintained. The records shall
note any maintenance or corrective action taken or outstanding.

11.4 Materials and Production Control

a. Concrete production and materials purchase, usage and stocks

- The records shall include materials used in products other than concrete,
necessary for the purpose of stock reconciliation.

- Daily production summaries giving the total quantity of concrete

produced in the period for each type of mix.

- Daily summaries of deliveries to plants of all materials.

- Stocks at daily intervals of all materials.

b. Certificate or test results for materials

Records of the quality standards agreed with the supplier, and of the
certificates or tests for all materials shall be maintained and monitored on a
continuous basis. These shall include:

- Records of manufacturers' and Plant tests carried out on all cementitious

materials.

- Records of suppliers' and Plant tests carried out on aggregates for all
sources/types used.

- Where the public supply of potable water is not used, records of tests on
water.

- Records of manufacturers' and Plant performance and uniformity tests on

admixtures used.

- Changes in the sources of any materials.

11.5 Product Quality Control

a. Control test results

- Records shall be maintained to ensure traceability between batch

records and test results.

- Records of workability tests.

- Records of air entrainment tests carried out where appropriate.

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 - Records of yield tests.

- Records of compressive strength tests.

b. Quality control system analysis

- Complete records of the quality control system analysis.

- Changes in mix proportions or constituents as a result of effects

indicated by the systematic review of the quality system.

- Changes to any quality control, testing procedures, or documentation.

c. Test equipment calibrations

d. Laboratory accreditation (where applicable)

___________________________________________________________________________

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APPENDIX A - CALCULATION OF BATCH WEIGHTS

A1 The batch weights of all concrete mixes and the cementitious contents of prescribed
and the standard mixes shall be determined for each source of materials in use or to be
used and shall be checked at intervals not exceeding six months.

A2 The method of calculation of the volume of a mix or the cementitious content of a

prescribed or standard mix may use any combination of the nominated or determined
values provided that the method of calculation is technically and mathematically valid.

A2.1 Bulk Densities of Materials

a. Cement

A value determined in accordance with the test requirement listed in Clause D1.3
of Appendix D shall be used.

b. Other Cementitious Materials and Admixtures

Appropriate values shall be determined in each case.

c. Aggregates

Compacted bulk densities of saturated surface dried aggregates in accordance

with the test requirement listed in Clause D2.9 of Appendix D (mean of two
determinations on typical samples).

A2.2 Density of Fresh Concrete

The density shall be determined by one of the following methods based on concrete at
a declared slump:

a. By determination in accordance with the CS1 for any particular mix (mean of two
determinations).

b. By interpolation between values determined in accordance with CS1 using five

different cement contents covering the full range of concrete mixes used.

c. For lean concrete/cement bound material, in accordance with Clause 4.1 of the
Technical Regulations.

d. For semi dry concrete, in accordance with Clause 4.1 of the Technical regulations.

A2.3 Water Content of Concrete

The water demand of concrete shall be determined by one of the following methods
based on concrete at a declared slump:

a. Two determinations on a mix of particular proportions (mean of two determinations

of the workability / consistence for each mix).

b. By interpolation between the values determined using five different cementitious

contents covering the full range of concrete mixes used.

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 A2.4 Mix parameters may be determined by absolute volume calculations when:

a. Required by the Purchaser, or

b. A required mix design is an extension of, or a minor modification of, an existing

mix design based on or confirmed by actual measurements of plastic density and
water content, or

c. Measurements are made of density and water content of the fresh concrete to
confirm the calculated values.

A2.5 The specific gravities of material used in the calculations shall be

a. Cement

A value shall be determined in each case.

b. Other Cementitious Materials and Admixtures

Appropriate values shall be determined in each case.

c. Aggregates

Determined in accordance with the test requirement listed in Clause D2.5 of

Appendix D on saturated surface dry material (mean of two determinations on
typical samples).

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APPENDIX B - MAINTENANCE OF PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

To maintain the standards of production, Participants shall establish maintenance routines

related to the plant and equipment used:

B1 STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT

B1.1 Weekly Routine

Check area under plant for spillage and rectify.

Clean yard, ensuring that all drains and traps are clear.
Ensure settlement pits and wash-downs are working efficiently.
Ensure all storage bins and doors are operating efficiently.
Check conveyors for free running and wear and adjust as necessary.
Carry out routine checks and servicing of loading shovels and compressors and report
any defects.

B2 BATCHING AND MIXING EQUIPMENT

B2.1 Daily Routine

Adjust tare weights and clean weighing dials.

Ensure weighing hoppers empty properly.
Wash out central mixer drum or pan.
Shake out cement silo filter socks and maintain in efficient working order.
Drain water traps on air lines.

B2.2 Weekly Routine

Maintain all hoppers and doors in clean and efficient working order.
Check central mixer blades, paddles or arms for wear, tightness and clearance.
Adjust as necessary.
Remove any cement or concrete build-up in mixer.
Check dust seals on cement hoppers for wear.
Check knife edges on weighing equipment.
Check calibration of moisture meter.
Check oil levels on air line lubricators.
Check rams and air lines for leaks.
Check pipework for leaks and wear.
Check wiring and electrical apparatus for correct operation and overheating.
Carry out routine greasing of bearings and gears.
Carry out routine checks and servicing on central mixers.
Report any defects.

B2.3 Monthly Routine

Verify all weigh scales.

Inspect silos.

B2.4 Quarterly Routine

Arrange for inspection and testing of all weigh scales over their complete range by
independent specialist.
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 Carry out routine oil changes in gear boxes and oil baths.
Verify accuracy of water meter.
Verify accuracy of admixture dispenser.

B3 TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT

B3.1 Vehicle Chassis

It is the responsibility of each Participant to maintain all vehicle chassis in accordance

with the relevant Government regulations.

B3.2 Mixer and Agitator Units

a. Daily Routine:

Wash out truck mixer drum.

Carry out manufacturer's recommended schedule.

b. Monthly Routine:

Check mixer unit for blade wear.

Check operation of revolution counters where fitted.
Report any defects.
Carry out manufacturer's recommended schedule.

B4 PLANT SAFETY

At all times, all guard rails and machinery guards shall be fixed securely in position
and walkways shall be kept clean and tidy with clear access. The Plant shall comply
at all times with the Factory Ordinance.
___________________________________________________________________

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APPENDIX C – THE PERFORMANCE OF MIXER REQUIREMENTS

C1 GENERAL

This Appendix is to provide the guideline for verifying the uniformity of concrete mixing
within a batch mixer or truck mixer. The principle of determining the concrete uniformity
achieved by the batch mixer or truck mixer is by comparing the designated properties of
two different concrete samples obtained from a single batch to verify whether all the
ingredients of the concrete are uniformly distributed in the fresh concrete mix after mixing
for the adopted mixing time.

C2 TEST REQUIREMENTS

C2.1 Concrete mix used for uniformity mixing

The concrete mix selected to use in the uniformity tests shall be a typical mix in the
Participant’s production operation.

C2.2 Mixer

a) The mixer shall be charged with at least 90% of the rated capacity recommended
by the mixer manufacturer.
b) The charged ingredients shall be mixed in the mixer for the designated mixing
time.
c) The mixers shall be operated for as set out in this Technical Regulation.

C2.3 Sampling procedures

Two samples of approximately 0.05m3 fresh concrete shall be taken after the discharge of
approximately 15% and 85% of the fresh concrete. No sample should be taken in the first
or the last 10% of the discharge from the test batch.

C3 UNIFORMITY TEST FOR FRESH CONCRETE

C3.1 General

The properties of the two fresh concrete samples shall be tested by the methods in
accordance with the following.

C3.2 Slump

The slump of the fresh concrete sample shall be determined in accordance with CS1. The
difference of slump values between two samples shall comply with the requirement as
stated in Table 1.

C3.3 Air content

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 The air content of the concrete in the samples (p) shall be determined as a percentage
(%) in accordance with CS1.The difference of air content values between two samples
shall comply with the requirement as stated in Table 1.

C3.4 Fresh concrete density

Fresh concrete densities of the samples (mc )shall be determined as (kg/m3) in

accordance with CS1. The difference between the two tested values of the two samples
shall comply with the requirement as stated in Table 1. After the determination of fresh
concrete density, the same samples can be used for the determination of coarse
aggregate content as described in Clause C3.5 and the density of air free mortar as
described in Clause C3.6.

C3.5 Coarse aggregate content

The coarse aggregate content (Cac ) shall be determined as (kg/m3) and calculated as
follow:

where:
 Cac is the coarse aggregate content in the fresh concrete density sample (kg/m3)
 V is the volume of fresh concrete density sample as stated in clause C3.4. (m3)
 mac is the oven-dried mass of coarse aggregate of the above used concrete sample
retained on 5mm sieve which all the mortar shall be removed by washing the sample on a
5mm test sieve.

The difference of coarse aggregate content values between two samples shall comply with
the requirement as stated in Table 1.

C3.6 Density of air-free mortar

The density of air-free mortar(Dam) shall be determined as (kg/m3) and calculated as

follow:

where:
- Dam is the density of air-free mortar sample (kg/m3)
- mcis the density of fresh concrete sample (kg/m3) obtained from the test described
in Appendix C3.4
- Cac is the coarse aggregate content in the fresh concrete sample (kg/m3) obtained
from the test described in Clause C3.5
- p is the percentage of air content (%) obtained from the test described in Appendix
C3.3
- D is the density of the coarse aggregate particles (kg/m3) converted from the result
obtained from the test described in Appendix D2.5

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 The difference of density of air-free mortar values between two samples shall comply with
the requirement as stated in Table 1.

C4 UNIFORMITY REQUIREMENT

The performance of mixer shall be deemed to pass the uniformity test if all the tests do not
exceed the limiting values of the difference between two samples as shown in Table 1.

Property Limit of difference between

sample values
Slump (mm)
Average slump <60mm 10mm
Average slump ≥ 60, ≤80mm 15mm
Average slump > 80mm 20mm
Air content (%) 1.0%
3
Density of fresh concrete (kg/m ) 50kg/m3
Coarse aggregate content (%) 6% of mean value
3
Density of air-free mortar (kg/m ) 1.6% of mean value

Table 1 LIMITS ON DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROPERTIES OF SAMPLES

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APPENDIX D – LIST OF TESTING REQUIREMENTS

No. Testing Type of Test Testing Requirement Compliance

Item Requirement

D1 Cement

D1.1 Physical Properties BS EN 196 BS EN 197-1 or

BS12
D1.2 Chemical Properties BS EN 196 BS EN 197-1 or
BS12
D1.3 Bulk Density BS4550: Part 3: Section Purchaser’s
3.2 requirement
D1.4 Composition BS EN 196 BS 197-1

D1.5 GGBS BS EN 196 BS EN 15167-1

D1.6 PFA BS EN 196 or BS EN 451 BS 3892

D2 Aggregate

D2.1 Grading CS3 Section 10 CS3 Section 3

D2.2 Silt Content CS3 Section 10 CS3 Section 3

D2.3 Flakiness CS3 Section 11 CS3 Section 3

D2.4 Elongation CS3 Section 12 CS3 Section 3

D2.5 Relative Density CS3 Section 17 CS3 Section 4

D2.6 Water Absorption CS3 Section 17 CS3 Section 4

D2.7 10% Fines CS3 Section 16 CS3 Section 4

D2.8 Alkali Aggregate CS1 Section 22 or 23 CS3 Section 4

Interaction
D2.9 Bulk Density BS812: Part 2 Purchaser’s
requirement
D2.10 Lightweight BS3797:1990 Purchaser’s
Aggregate requirement

D3 Water

D3.1 Physical and BS3148 BS3148

Chemical Properties

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APPENDIX E - Proposed Framework for Monitoring the Alkaline Reactivity of
Aggregates by Accelerated Mortar Bar Method (Rilem AAR-2)

Approved Existing Source/New Source of Aggregates (Note 1)

Carry out Accelerated Mortar Bar Test Carry out routine

(Note 2)
(AMBT) at least once per 4 months inspection

Verify the Category of Aggregate (Note 3)

Any AMBT result showing the No

expansion exceeds the limits of
the predetermined Category

Yes

Result showing a lower reactivity category Result showing a higher reactivity category

No Intention to change Yes Re-sample 2 specimens and test

the reactivity to confirm the test result
(Note 6)
category of aggregate

If either result still If both results resume

shows a higer reactivity to previous category

Supplier Assessment Audit at Quarry by

competent person and decision making for
the reactivity category of aggregate (Note 4)

Inform the purchaser

(Note 5)

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Note:
1. Category of existing source/new source of aggregate shall be declared in submission and it
shall be adopted by the Participant with the supporting Accelerated Mortar Bar Test (AMBT)
report which can be obtained from previous data from aggregate supplier if available or carry
out test initially.

2. All previous tests for existing source of aggregates, excluding those subsequent re-tests as
in Note 6, shall be counted when counting the test frequency for AMBT for this proposed
scheme. Say for example, if two AMBT tests have been carried out in the precedent 8
months, one more test is needed.

3. In the event the results fall in more than one classification categories of alkaline reactivity as
stipulated in GEO Report No. 167 (Mortar Bar Expansion: < 0.1%: innocuous; between 0.1%
to 0.2%: potentially reactive; over 0.2%: reactive), the aggregate shall be classified to fall in
the lowest category (highest reactivity) of the aggregates.

4. The competent person shall fulfill the requirements of QSPSC - Technical Regulations:
Clause 9.2 or equivalent. The assessment audit is to confirm whether the test result is due to
an intrusion (e.g. a dyke) at the quarry face or it will be foreseen to be a continuous trend. If
the test result is just due to an intrusion, the Participant can instruct the quarry operator not
to choose the material from the dyke for production of aggregate. However, if it is foreseen
that the aggregates with higher reactivity cannot be avoided in the quarry production, the
Participant may either declare a higher reactivity for their aggregates to the purchaser or
change to a new source of aggregates

5. The purchaser shall be informed of any change in the reactivity class of the aggregates used
in the concrete supplying or any action which has been done for their project.

6. For the re-sampling and re-testing, 2 nos. of additional test specimens shall be sampled
from the same batch of aggregates delivered to the concrete batching plant. The
aggregates are classified as the predetermined category if both the test specimens comply
with the limit of expansion of that category.

___________________________________________________________________________

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 APPENDIX F - Proposed Framework for Monitoring the Total Alkaline Content of
Concrete Mixes During QSPSC Audits by the Certification Bodies

QSPSC Audits

Check the equivalent Na2O value of the concrete

mixes

Alkaline Content > 3.0 kg?

Yes

Submit, within 2 wks, a re-calculation

of the alkaline content with updated
test results

No

Alkaline Content > 3.0 kg?

No
Yes

Submit remedial proposal to the

purchaser for approval

Case Closed

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Monitoring the Total Alkaline Content of Concrete Mixes During QSPSC Audits by the Certification
Bodies

1) During QSPSC audits, the equivalent Na2O content per cubic meter of the concrete
mixes shall be checked to verify the compliance of the 3 kg limit. Monitoring alkaline
content system shall be controlled by suitable device such as using a computerised
system and computerised record shall be able to generate for ease of checking.

2) If the alkaline content of concrete mix was found exceeded 3.0 kg, the alkaline content
shall be re-calculated based on the latest test result and submit report to certification
body within two weeks for verification. No further action is required if the alkaline
content of concrete mix in the re-calculate is fall below 3 kg, otherwise remedial
proposal shall be submitted to the purchaser for approval.

3) The remedial proposal may include, but not limited to, revision of mix design, change of
materials, etc. The purchaser may also consider, based on the volume and importance
of the structures involved, any remedial work required for the concrete placed within the
period concerned.

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 © 2014 Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency

Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency owns the copyright and other intellectual property rights in these Regulations. All rights
of Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency are hereby reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without the written permission of the Hong Kong Quality
Assurance Agency. Such written permission must also be obtained before any part of this document is stored in a retrieval
system of any nature.”

Price:
Electronic copy – HKD50.00
Hardcopy – HKD100.00

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