Pour sequence, vibration, QA records, and samples.
Concrete behavior under heat and tight reinforcement matters. Set pour sequences and lift heights, control slump/temperature, and use vibrators correctly to avoid honeycombing around crash rated bollard sockets (331–333). Manage cold joints and hot-weather practices (337), sample cubes, and maintain pour logs. Acceptance criteria link to design checks (333), drainage interfaces (334), and alignment verification (626). Include one-sentence context that naturally links upward to the parent hubs (this section and the chapter hub). Link installation pages only if helpful: What to Expect and Installation Guide.
Important: This is a general guide. For live projects we develop a tailored
Method Statement & Risk Assessment (MS/RA) and align with authority approvals where in scope.
624.1 Pour sequence & lifts
Plan lifts to reach congested steel. Sequencing fills HVM bollard sockets evenly.
Sequence the pour so each lift feeds tightly packed bars and around the socket without trapping voids. Start furthest from the access point and work back toward the pump to avoid re-handling. Keep lift heights consistent and ensure each lift is consolidated before adding the next to protect foundation design checks and dimensional tolerances.
Use a marked datum & benchmarks stick or jig to confirm elevations per lift, and brief the crew on stop lines and the planned pour front. If access is tight, consider a controlled gate pour to meter inflow and maintain workable lift thickness around the socket.
Before starting, complete hold-point checks from the 621 Rebar Cages & Anchors and 623 Formwork & Cover pages. Confirm anchors, cover spacers, and penetration seals are in place (622) so the sequence does not disturb them.
| Aspect | What matters | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Lift planning | Even heights; consolidate each lift | 620 Foundations, Concrete & Alignment |
| Socket fill | No voids around sleeve/socket | 333 Design checks |
624.2 Slump & temperature
Control slump/temperature in GCC heat (337). Control prevents crash rated bollard weak concrete.
Measure slump at point of discharge and reject loads outside the approved range; do not “fix” a stiff load by adding water on site. Track mix temperature and ambient conditions so the crew can adapt placement rate and consolidation timing. These checks protect concrete maturity targets and the as-tested footing behavior.
In hot conditions, shade pump lines, flush with cool water before placement, and reduce waiting times. Coordinate with 337 Hot Climate Design for evaporation risk and with 334 Drainage so added curing water does not collect at the socket.
624.3 Vibrator use & spacing
Insert at regular spacing; avoid over-vibration. Correct vibration densifies HVM bollard bases.
Set a grid for internal vibrator insertions to ensure uniform consolidation. Insert vertically, overlap influence zones, and keep the head off rebar to avoid cage movement. Watch for the surface sheen and air release to judge dwell time; lift the head slowly to close the hole. Excess vibration risks segregation and loss of cover at the socket.
Assign a spotter to watch the foundation cage and sleeve alignment, especially near penetrations (622). Re-probe edges and around sleeves where honeycombing is common. Tie results back to 626 Datum & Alignment Checks.
624.4 Cold joints management
Pre-plan stops and key joints. Management avoids crash rated bollard planes of weakness.
Define potential stop points before the pour—typically away from the socket’s highest stress regions. If an unplanned stop occurs, scarify the surface, remove laitance, and apply a compatible bonding method before resuming. Document the joint, location, and remediation in the pour log for later assessment against acceptance criteria.
Where a joint intersects the sleeve zone, consult the engineer: sometimes a partial breakout and re-cast is safer than leaving a weak plane. Re-check cover and sleeve position against 333 Design checks and plan surface reinstatement with 629 Surface Reinstatement & Interfaces.
624.5 Hot weather concreting
Shade, cool water, accelerate logistics. Measures protect HVM bollard strength.
Use mix and site measures: cool aggregate/water where feasible, protect delivery lines from sun-load, and increase placing resources to cut waiting time. Consider admixtures approved for extended workability; confirm their impact on strength development and Site Acceptance Test scheduling (638).
Plan for rapid curing after finishing: fog, cover, or apply curing compound as soon as the surface can take it (coordinate with 627 Curing & Protection). Monitor evaporation rate to avoid plastic shrinkage cracking that can telegraph into socket interfaces.
624.6 Surface finish control
Finish to match paving ties (629). Surface control improves crash rated bollard interfaces.
Agree the finish class in advance so the foundation top aligns with paving modules and falls toward planned weep holes or drains, not the socket cavity. Avoid over-trowelling near sleeves to prevent ponding edges and sealant adhesion issues during surface reinstatement.
Where the finish will receive a cover plate or resin detail, confirm the recess and flatness tolerances. Capture close-ups and a wide→detail photo set for evidence (716).
624.7 Cube sampling
Sample and log compressive tests. Cubes prove HVM bollard concrete strength (333).
Sample per the ITP: label molds with date/time, truck, mix design, and pour location. Cure and test at specified ages; keep the chain of custody intact to protect the evidence trail. Record results against design strength and maturity targets.
Store results with the ITP pack and Evidence Capture Standards. Flag any low breaks early so remedial actions don’t delay SAT / Witness readiness (638).
624.8 Pour logs
Record truck, mix, times (716). Logs support crash rated bollard QA.
Maintain a real-time pour log: truck numbers, arrival/discharge times, slump/temperature readings, admixtures, interruptions, and any cold-joint treatments. Add photo references and locations to simplify later audits. Tie the log to the ITP witness points and your daily diary (729).
After the pour, archive the log with cube results and curing records (627). This evidence set underpins compliance for witness procedures and future warranty discussions.
624.9 Acceptance criteria
Check levels, cover, voids (626). Criteria ensure HVM bollard quality.
Verify top levels, socket position, and plumb within the acceptance band agreed at design. Check cover with a gauge and scan edges for voids or honeycombing; minor surface defects can be repaired if they meet the acceptance criteria and don’t compromise anchors or sleeve interfaces.
Document any deviations via NCR workflow (719) and agree rework before curing progresses. Close out with 626 Datum & Alignment Checks and file for ITP completion and SAT readiness.
Related
External resources
- NPSA: Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (overview)
- ASTM F2656: Vehicle crash testing (context)
- FEMA 426: Building protection reference
624 Pouring & Vibration — FAQ
What slump and temperature controls should we use for HVM bollard foundations in hot climates?
Work to the approved mix’s slump/temperature range and measure at discharge. In hot weather, shade lines, flush with cool water, minimize wait times, and consider approved admixtures. Coordinate with 337 Hot Climate Design and protect curing immediately (627).
How often should I insert the internal vibrator and for how long?
Use a consistent grid with overlapping influence areas. Insert vertically, watch for air release and a surface sheen, then withdraw slowly to close the hole. Avoid re-vibrating the same spot excessively to prevent segregation and cage movement (626).
What if a cold joint forms between lifts?
Which records do we need to pass acceptance and witness tests?
Keep the pour log (truck, times, slump/temperature, admixtures, interruptions), cube results, curing records, and photos. File under ITP with Evidence Capture Standards. These support SAT/Witness closeout (638).