Evaluation of Concrete Practices in Thai Public Building Projects

An attempt is made to evaluate performance of concrete practices in terms of quality using relationship among three factors: concrete practice scores, influential degree of concrete practice to concrete properties, and important degree of concrete properties in concrete structures. Results show that performance of concrete practices in five public building projects in Thailand was neither excellent nor disastrous. Typical problems were in the curing process, both in delay in curing and insufficient curing periods. For column, the separation problem due to placing process was also serious. It seems that concrete practice may be much improved with minor attention.
External coordination problem among parties is a most serious managerial problem perceived by practitioners.
Fundamental reasons for poor practice are lack of proper knowledge and low beliefs in the benefits of observing standard. Thus, concrete practice training programs are effective to improve knowledge and enhance concerns of practitioners, particularly headman. Strong beliefs, high levels of concern and sufficient knowledge of players, together with more systematic concrete practice procedures provided by managerial levels are keys for better quality practice.