Title: Cash Penalty Specifications Can Be Fair and Effective

Author(s): K. W. Day

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 4

Issue: 9

Appears on pages(s): 30-34

Keywords: acceptability; coefficient of variation; com-pressive strength; concrete construction; confidence limits; quality control; ready-mixed concrete; sam-pling; standard deviation.

DOI:

Date: 9/1/1982

Abstract:
A cash penalty of twice the cost of the extra cement that would have been required to avoid defectiveness is proposed. It is shown in detail that if this is based on the statistical analysis of any 30 con-secutive 28.day test results, very little inequity would result to either party (in contrast to the substantial risk of inequity under current specifications based on in-accurate, small sample criteria). The aspect of legal enforceability is considered and examples are provid-ed of a suitable cash penalty provision used in a major Australian structure, and of several situations where cash penalty provisions would have been desirable.