TROIS-RIVIERES, QUE. — The federal government has announced the launch of a research project to study the problems caused by pyrrhotite damage to concrete with the goal of providing technical solutions to the Canadian Standards Association so that it can update the standards on concrete aggregates.
The research project announced in a Dec. 17 release will involve the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Government of Quebec and Universite Laval. The project, valued at $4.9 million, will run for four years. Funding will be provided by the NRC and the Regie du batiment du Quebec and its partners, including the Societe d’habitation du Quebec and Garantie de construction residentielle.
The funding is intended to help researchers at the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the Universite Laval as well as NRC scientists to establish acceptable limits for the content of various sulphurs, including pyrrhotite, in Canadian concrete aggregates, said the release. It will also enable the development of test methods for detecting potentially hazardous sulphide levels and identify preventative measures for the safe use of sulphur concrete aggregates.
Pyrrhotite is an iron sulfide that may be present in concrete aggregates. Adverse reactions between it and the cement in concrete has caused damage to thousands of buildings in the Trois-Rivieres region.
“This collaboration between the National Research Council of Canada and Universite Laval will ensure the safety of Canadians and minimize the future economic impact of pyrrhotite in concrete in Trois-Rivieres, in Quebec and across the country,” commented Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Francois-Philippe Champagne in the statement.
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