The Tilt-Up Concrete Association has published a revised Collective Position Statement on the Specification of Air-Entrainment in Concrete for Tilt-Up Panel Construction (CPS-001). Recently approved by the TCA Board of Directors, the statement is now available as a resource for members, design professionals, contractors, and code officials.
The revision was initiated in response to feedback from TCA Fellow Dan Pratt and other members who reported inconsistent application of freeze-thaw exposure classifications for vertical tilt-up concrete panels, particularly among design professionals less familiar with tilt-up construction. Members identified a need for a more comprehensive resource explaining the engineering basis for TCA’s position and its relationship to the provisions of ACI 318.
The revised CPS-001 significantly expands upon TCA’s original 2016 position statement. It explains why TCA believes vertical tilt-up concrete panels should generally be assigned Exposure Class F0, discusses the exposure conditions associated with freeze-thaw deterioration, and considers more than seven decades of successful field performance. The statement also addresses the potential effects of unnecessary air entrainment on early-age strength, lifting performance, finishing, cracking, and architectural appearance. Guidance from ACI 318 and ACI 551.2R, Design Guide for Tilt-Up Concrete Panels, is incorporated throughout the discussion.
The revised statement emphasizes that exposure classification remains the responsibility of the licensed design professional and that unusual project-specific conditions should be evaluated independently. The document also underwent legal review prior to consideration and approval by the TCA Board of Directors.
CPS-001 is the first publication to use TCA’s new Collective Position Statement (CPS) numbering and document-control system, establishing a consistent framework for TCA position papers moving forward.
CPS-001 and other TCA position papers are available at tilt-up.org/resources under “Position Papers.”
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