
Most industrial floor slabs will, over their design life, be subjected to external forces, which, even before the concrete has hardened, can lead to a reduction in the quality of the concrete and its future performance.
Climatic conditions such as: excessive temperatures or cross winds lead to the formation of plastic shrinkage cracks. These cracks occur when excessive bleed water is allowed to evaporate from the surface due to inadequate curing.
Plastic shrinkage cracks often penetrate the entire depth of the slab. Impact and abrasion to concrete will be a daily occurrence with the likes of forklift trucks continuously wearing surfaces and impacting on joints.