MASS Concrete+MASS Planning=MASS Success
A portion of Cajun’s scope on the Cleco St. Mary Clean Energy Center Project included installing a 600 cubic yard, 8’-6” thick pedestal for the new facility’s steam turbine generator. Special precautions, planning, execution, and monitoring was required because the pedestal’s thickness was considered mass concrete by ACI standards.
Cajun’s plan, developed by QA/QC Manager, Lance Robillard, included a specific protocol for the preparation of concrete materials before the pour, monitoring concrete temperature during batching and placement, and installing temperature sensors and thermal blankets which would monitor and control concrete temperature after the pour.
Controlling temperature differences at the pedestal’s core in relation to the surface temperature was a significant focus of the plan. During planning, Lance used ConcreteWorks software to predict heat generated during and after the pour based off of weather and site conditions.
Blake Hannaman, Assistant PM, streamlined correspondence including concrete mix design submittals and pre-pour concrete material prep procedures with Cajun’s concrete supplier. Ron Cottrell, Site Superintendent, coordinated pour logistics including pump truck location, delivery times and spacing. Cleo Babin, Site Safety Manager, insured that all safety measures were properly in place, as employees pouring and finishing the pedestal would be 8’ above grade.
After weeks of planning, conference calls, and revisions; the plan was approved, and the pour was executed perfectly by Cajun’s field team which consisted of Wayne Smith, General Foreman; John Usey, Foreman; and Gerald Harris, Concrete Superintendent. The pedestal pour and resulting temperature control measures matched Lance’s plan as predicted, met ACI mass concrete standard requirements, and satisfied the Cleco project team expectations.
Jacob Reichert | Project Manager