Is It Okay to Pour Concrete When It Rains... The Challenge of Sampyo Industrial

'Bluecon Rain OK' Performance Verification Demonstration for Experts
Comparison and Analysis of Compressive Strength After 7 and 28 Days... Industry Says "Unclear Legal Standards Are the Problem"

Sampyo Group introduces the special concrete 'Bluecon Rain OK,' which maintains quality even when poured on rainy days, and is working to expand the base of smart construction technology.

Comparison of compressive strength curing between Sampyo Industrial's 'Bluecon Rain Ok' and ordinary concrete. Photo by Sampyo Industrial

Sampyo Industrial, a core affiliate of Sampyo Group specializing in construction basic materials, held a demonstration event last month at its technology research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, and announced on the 2nd that it has completed performance testing and safety verification of 'Bluecon Rain OK,' the first domestically developed concrete for pouring during rainfall.

The demonstration was attended by about 60 stakeholders, including site supervisors and quality managers. The purpose of the event was to verify the safety of 'Bluecon Rain OK' in front of actual construction site personnel. To confirm whether the issue of compressive strength reduction during rain pouring was improved, an experiment was conducted under conditions simulating rainfall of 5mm per hour.

To compare 'Bluecon Rain OK' with conventional products, core tests were conducted on simulated members to measure fluidity before setting and hardness after curing, followed by comparative analysis of compressive strength after 7 and 28 days.

A supervisor who attended the demonstration said, "If commercialization can be accelerated after verifying the performance of Bluecon Rain OK, it will reduce the confusion and concerns about poor construction that have been experienced on site. If the government promptly establishes detailed standards, construction companies will be able to work according to those standards, which will be helpful."

Performance verification demonstration of 'Bluecon Rain Ok' conducted by Sampyo Industrial Technology Research Institute.
[Photo by Sampyo Industrial]

Sampyo Industrial plans to focus on improving the compressive strength issues of concrete, which are cited as causes of poor construction, while securing the safety of structures through 'Bluecon Rain OK,' thereby alleviating public anxiety.

Voices are emerging that practical institutional support at the government level is necessary for the domestic construction market, which struggles with concrete pouring during rainfall, to safely rebound. Related ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) do not specify whether pouring is allowed or prohibited based on hourly rainfall or set clear standards, leading to improper practices such as pouring during rain and non-compliance with curing periods.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a draft revision of the standard specifications for concrete work on March 7, which mandates approval from the responsible engineer (supervisor) when pouring concrete during unavoidable rainfall. The revision generally prohibits pouring when it is expected to adversely affect the strength and durability of concrete during rain pouring. However, it allows pouring with the supervisor's approval if measures are taken to prevent quality degradation due to moisture intrusion.

However, the lack of clear legal standards regarding rainfall amounts is cited as the biggest issue in the industry.

Park Min-yong, Executive Director of Sampyo Industrial (in charge of special concrete), said, "Considering the monsoon season, we are monitoring the progress by pouring 'Bluecon Rain OK' at multiple construction sites in the metropolitan area to verify and inspect its performance. We will continue to devote ourselves to technological development to alleviate public safety concerns."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.