Concrete Social Responsibility Study

645 Words2 Pages

Concrete can be an excellent choice for paving driveways, parking lots, walkways and other areas. When many customers begin considering having concrete installed, they often ask about the best thickness for the slab. Although many municipalities have established codes that require a specific minimum thickness, in some cases, the actual number may be higher than the one required by the code. Therefore, a concrete contractor must consider a variety of factors before deciding on how thick to make the slab.

(-- removed HTML --) Factors Influencing Slab Thickness (-- removed HTML --)
The first factor that must be considered is the purpose of the slab. Is it a residential driveway, a commercial parking lot, a street in an industrial district, a parking area at a truck stop, a cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood or a walkway that winds through a park?

The …show more content…

If a previous pavement on the site failed, the contractor will want to determine the cause.

(-- removed HTML --) General Guidelines for Concrete Thickness (-- removed HTML --)
After the contractor considers all factors, he or she will calculate the proper slab thickness. A slab that is too thick is a waste of the customer's money, but one that is too thin will lead to premature collapse. Since every job is different, the following guidelines may vary from what your contractor recommends after your site is properly evaluated.

• Sidewalks: Concrete sidewalks are typically 4 inches in thickness. However, if a sidewalk supports motorized service vehicles or crosses a driveway, it may need to be as much as 8 inches in thickness.
• Driveways: Home driveways can be as little as 6 inches thick if they are only going to bear passenger vehicles. If they will be subject to occasional use by garbage trucks, RVs or other heavy vehicles, the recommended thickness may be as much as 6

Open Document