Concrete joint
Containment systems for the prevention of pollution, Secondary, tertiary and other measures for industrial and commercial premises (CIRIA C736), published by CIRIA in 2014, suggests that construction joints (in concrete, sometimes referred to as daywork joints) refer to: ‘A joint in concrete construction formed when placement of the concrete is interrupted for some reason. It may be the end of the day’s work, or it may be that some other work needs to be completed before resuming the placement. Results in a ‘surface’ between freshly placed and (partly) cured concrete.’
Crack control joints are: ‘A partially-formed contraction joint, which aims to ensure that when the concrete does crack, it cracks in a predictable manner at a precise location.
Contraction or shrinkage joints (in concrete): ‘Allows only for contraction or shrinkage of a slab or wall, as can be anticipated during the curing process.’
Expansion joints (in concrete): ‘Allow expansion and contraction of a concrete slab or wall without generating potentially damaging forces within the slab itself or the surrounding structures. Expansion joints are usually a complete ‘gap’ between adjacent bays, ie there is a definite break in the concrete and reinforcing steel that may be present. Where adjacent bays are ‘tied’ together by means of dowel bars, these dowels are sleeved in one of the bays to allow expansion to take place without generating stresses within the slab.’
A kicker joint is a: ‘Small upstand cast as part of a concrete base to allow the securing of wall shutters.'
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.