Reinforce and Pour Stem Walls

A. Finished-Project Specification

Deliverable: one completed Stem-Wall Reinforcement and Placement Record documenting bar installation, embedded-hardware installation, the pre-placement inspection, concrete delivery and testing data, placement and consolidation observations, top-elevation and hardware verification, and curing start.

B. Component Schedule

Component	Quantity	Material	Finished Size	Preparation
Vertical bars	Per approved wall-reinforcement schedule	Reinforcing steel, grade per schedule	Length and bend per schedule	Inspected, labeled, cut to schedule
Horizontal bars	Per approved wall-reinforcement schedule	Reinforcing steel, grade per schedule	Length and lap per schedule	Inspected, labeled, cut to schedule
Corner, jamb, and pilaster bars	Per approved wall-reinforcement schedule	Reinforcing steel, grade per schedule	Bend and length per schedule	Bent only at authorized locations
Chairs, bolsters, supports	Per required spacing	Per approved specification	Height set for required cover	Placed before bar installation
Anchor bolts / hold-downs	Per approved embed schedule	Per approved specification	Projection per schedule	Inspected for identification and condition
Tie wire	Sufficient for all required intersections and laps	Per approved specification	N/A	Staged at reinforcement work area

Do not substitute bar size, grade, spacing, lap length, hook detail, or embedded-hardware location that differs from the wall-reinforcement schedule or embed schedule. If a schedule value is missing or unclear, stop and obtain direction from the engineer or designer of record before installing the affected component.

C. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Bar size and spacing	Match the approved wall-reinforcement schedule at every location checked
Laps and hooks	Match the length and detail shown in the approved schedule; ties hold intersections without displacing bars from position
Clear cover	Meets the specified minimum from forms, footing surfaces, openings, sleeves, and adjacent embedded hardware
Embedded-hardware position	Plumb, orientation, elevation, embedment, projection, and spacing match the approved embed schedule or template
Concrete delivery	Matches the specified mixture; required sampling and testing completed by approved personnel
Placement and consolidation	Lifts placed at the rate compatible with the form design; concrete consolidated around bars, corners, openings, and hardware without over-vibration or displacement
Top elevation and finish	Wall brought to the required top elevation; top surface finished only to the condition required for sill plates or later work
Curing and protection	Specified curing and weather protection begun as soon as the concrete condition permits; area barricaded against premature loading, impact, vibration, freezing, and moisture loss

D. Preparation — Document Review and Form Verification

1. Review the wall-reinforcement schedule, laps, dowels, hooks, cover, embedded hardware, concrete mixture, lift plan, placement rate, access, and inspection hold points. Confirm the document set is complete before proceeding to Step 2.
2. Verify stem-wall forms, cleanouts, braces, ties, footing surfaces, and dowels before reinforcement installation. Confirm the Project 06 form-inspection record has passed before disturbing the forms.

E. Reinforcement Installation

1. Install vertical bars, dowels, corner bars, jamb bars, pilaster bars, and other required vertical reinforcement. Position each bar at the location and orientation shown in the approved schedule.
2. Install horizontal reinforcement in the approved sequence and support it at the required elevations. Use chairs, bolsters, or supports set at the required spacing before placing horizontal bars.
3. Tie intersections and laps without pulling bars out of position. Check bar position immediately after each tie is completed.
4. Maintain required cover from forms, footing surfaces, openings, sleeves, and embedded hardware. Measure cover at each location identified in the schedule, not only at the form face.

F. Embedded Hardware and Pre-Placement Inspection

1. Coordinate reinforcement with anchor bolts, hold-downs, straps, sleeves, blockouts, and penetrations. Adjust bar position only within limits authorized by the structural documents.
2. Install stem-wall anchor bolts and embedded hardware designated for the top of the wall using approved templates or supports. Do not install sill-plate anchor bolts that belong to a different concrete element.
3. Inspect bar size, spacing, laps, cover, projection, templates, and reinforcement stability. Correct every deficiency found before continuing to Step 10.
4. Close cleanouts and complete the required pre-placement inspection. Record the inspection result on the Stem-Wall Reinforcement and Placement Record before scheduling concrete delivery.

G. Delivery Review and Testing

1. Review weather, delivery, pumping, testing, communication, access, lighting, cleanup, and contingency plans. Confirm every plan element is staged before concrete arrives.
2. Receive and verify the specified concrete before discharge. Resolve any mismatch between the delivery documentation and the specified mixture before discharge begins.
3. Conduct required sampling and field testing. Use the approved testing personnel and procedure for every required test.

H. Placement and Consolidation

1. Place concrete in controlled lifts and at a rate compatible with the form design. Do not exceed the placement rate specified in the lift plan.
2. Deposit concrete close to its final position and avoid free fall, segregation, and reinforcement displacement. Use chutes, pumps, or buggies positioned to minimize drop height.
3. Consolidate each lift around bars, corners, openings, ties, and embedded hardware. Insert and withdraw the vibrator at the spacing and depth required to consolidate without over-vibration.
4. Monitor form deflection, tie condition, leakage, brace movement, wall thickness, and hardware position continuously. Assign a spotter to watch the form exterior during placement.
5. Stop placement and correct any form, reinforcement, hardware, equipment, or concrete problem before continuing. Do not resume placement until the observed problem is corrected.

I. Top Elevation, Hardware Recheck, and Curing Start

1. Bring the wall to the required top elevation and finish the top surface for sill plates or later work. Verify elevation from the protected benchmark before finishing.
2. Recheck anchor-bolt spacing, projection, plumb, orientation, and thread condition while adjustment remains possible. Make this check immediately after the wall reaches top elevation and again after top-surface finishing.
3. Begin the specified curing and weather protection as soon as the concrete condition permits. Install the specified curing method without delay once the surface condition allows it.
4. Prevent premature loading, impact, vibration, freezing, overheating, contamination, and moisture loss. Barricade the area and post the required restrictions.

J. Recording and Closeout Inspection

1. Record delivery, testing, placement rate, lift sequence, interruptions, form observations, hardware checks, weather, and curing start. Complete every field on the Stem-Wall Reinforcement and Placement Record.
2. Inspect the protected wall placement before the crew leaves the site. Confirm curing materials, barricades, and hardware protection are in place before departure.