Start with the groundwater
Jebel Ali's shallow groundwater carries chlorides and sulphates. Any concrete below ground, piles, pile caps, ground beams, tank bases, sits in it. Chlorides reach the reinforcement and corrode it; sulphates soften the paste.
For these elements we batch piling and substructure mixes blended with GGBS for low permeability and sulphate resistance, at a low water/cement ratio. The consultant sets the exposure class and the cover. Our job is to deliver concrete that meets them load after load.
Blinding under these elements is not just a clean working surface: it keeps the reinforcement cage off saline ground while the steel is fixed and inspected.
Logistics yards and warehouse floors
Container yards and truck aprons are hardstands under very high wheel loads. Warehouse slabs carry tall racking with concentrated leg loads. Both are long, exposed, thin elements where early cracking turns into joint damage. A fibre-reinforced mix helps hold the slab together in its first days and resists surface wear, with the design thickness and joints coming from the engineer.
A 300 m³ hardstand pour is 25 truckloads. At that size we agree the sequence in advance, with a spare truck slot in case a load is rejected on slump.
Machine bases and plant foundations
Industrial plants need mass foundations for equipment. Thick blocks of concrete heat up from inside as cement hydrates, and in the Jebel Ali summer that heat adds to the air temperature. GGBS slows heat release, and night pours keep the placing temperature within the specification.
Getting there
Jebel Ali is about 20 km from our Al Quoz plant, via Sheikh Zayed Road or Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Free-zone and port sites have their own gate procedures, so check with the zone or site management before booking.
Questions from Jebel Ali sites
- Is GGBS concrete slower to gain strength?
- Early strength is lower than a straight OPC mix, which is why the consultant may specify strength at a later age. The trade-off is lower permeability and better resistance to sulphates and chlorides.
- Can you deliver inside JAFZA?
- Yes, once the site has arranged access for our trucks. Check the gate requirements with the free zone or your main contractor.
- How far is Jebel Ali from your plant?
- About 20 km in a straight line from Al Quoz. We set the retarder dose for the trip and the hour of the pour.