Traceability has become an unavoidable word in recent years across many fields. And we, concrete producers, know just how important traceability is to the safety of our operations.
Within a complex ecosystem made up of suppliers, employees, service providers and information systems, one question arises: which levels of traceability deserve the most attention? Below, we walk through the six main operational stages where concrete traceability comes into play.
1. Receiving and testing concrete component materials (CCMs)
Suppliers deliver materials in large quantities. According to ABNT NBR 12655, the concrete producer must keep the test reports for the component materials corresponding to each load, whether provided by the suppliers themselves or conducted in-house.
2. Scale calibration traceability
ABNT NBR 7212 requires equipment to be calibrated at the time of installation and, from then on, at intervals of no more than six months. Calibration ensures that the delivered concrete matches the laboratory specifications and prevents inventory losses.
3. Load dosage traceability
Acceptable deviations vary by material. In general, 3% is allowed for aggregates and water, 5% for additives and 1% for cement. Automated systems must record the weights, while manual processes require properly documented measurements.
- Aggregates and water: acceptable deviation of up to 3%
- Additives: acceptable deviation of up to 5%
- Cement: acceptable deviation of up to 1%
4. Delivery traceability
Water additions along the route require strict documentation. Fleet tracking systems, such as Fleet, help ensure that delivery happens within 150 minutes after mixing, while also preventing unauthorized stops and illegal discharge of the material.
5. Construction site traceability
On large projects, it is necessary to map the discharge locations of each truck. This record makes it possible to precisely identify any problematic loads and the area of the structure where they were applied.
6. Technological control of concrete
Sampling must occur every 50 m³ or, at a minimum, once a day, in accordance with the NBR 16886 and NBR 5738 standards.
Closely monitoring all of these traceability levels strengthens the safety, quality and reliability of the operation, from the receipt of raw materials to the application of concrete on site.
