CSA A23.4 Clause 4: Categories, prequalification, design basis, and project samples and reviews

4.1 Categories

In this Standard, precast concrete products are divided into the following five categories and each category is divided into subcategories. Manufacturers may be prequalified in any or all of the product group classifications

Group A - Architectural Products

AT - Architectural Trim Units
A1 - Architectural Products

Group B - Bridges

B1 - Precast Bridge Products
B2 - Prestressed Miscellaneous Bridge Products
B3 - Prestressed Straight Strand Bridge Members
B4 - Prestressed Deflected Strand Bridge Members
BA1, BA2, BA3, BA4 - Bridge Products with an Architectural Finish

Group C - Commercial (Structural)

C1 - Precast Concrete Products
C2 Prestressed Hollow Core and Repetitive Products
C3 - Prestressed Straight Strand Structural Members
C4 - Prestressed Deflected Strand Structural
CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4 - Commercial Products with an Architectural Finish

D - Drainage Products

D1 - Standard Precast Concrete Drainage Products

S - Standard Products

Group A (Architectural Products)

Group A shall include products that are decorative and establish the aesthetic character of a structure. These products shall be produced in accordance with the requirements of this Standard. Group A is divided into two categories:

1. Architectural trim units (AT), shall be non-prestressed products with a high standard of finish quality and of relatively small size, can be installed with equipment of limited capacity. Products include sills, lintels, coping, cornices, quoins, medallions, bollards, benches, planters, and pavers. This category also includes specialty products specifically designed for a project but not commodity or ornamental units produced for wholesale or retail purposes.
2. Architectural cladding and load bearing units (A1) shall be precast concrete building elements such as exterior cladding, load bearing and non-load bearing wall panels, spandrels, beams, mullions, columns, column covers, and other miscellaneous shapes. Elements may be conventionally reinforced and/or pretensioned or post-tensioned. Prequalification in this category includes category AT.

Note: Group A does not include structural products that exhibit a high degree of finish or texture, including unique colouration. Such products are included in Groups B and C.

Group B (Bridge Products) and Group BA (Bridge Products with Architectural Finishes)

General
Both Group B and Group BA products shall be produced in accordance with the requirements of this Standard.

Group B

Group B is divided into four categories:

1. Precast concrete bridge products (B1) shall be conventionally reinforced precast concrete elements.
   
   Group B1 products include non-prestressed bridge beams or slabs, piling, sheet piling, pile caps, retaining wall elements, median barriers, parapet walls, sound barriers, and engineered box culverts and three-sided structures not referenced in other Standards.
2. Prestressed miscellaneous bridge products (B2) are any precast concrete and pre-tensioned or post-tensioned elements, excluding superstructure beams. Prequalification in this category includes Category B1.
3. Prestressed straight-strand bridge members (B3) include all precast concrete superstructure elements. Prequalification in this category includes categories B1 and B2. Group B3 products include box beams, segmental components, I-girders, bulb tees, stemmed members, solid slabs, and full or partial depth bridge deck slabs pretensioned or post-tensioned with straight strands.
4. Prestressed deflected-strand bridge members (B4) shall include the same class of products as category B3 and which are pre-tensioned or post-tensioned with deflected strands. Prequalification in this category includes categories B1, B2, and B3.

Group BA

Group BA products shall be produced with the additional requirements for architectural finishes. Group BA is divided into the same four categories as Group B and are designated Categories BA1, BA2, BA3, and BA4. The category descriptions are identical with the category descriptions for Group B except that the manufacturer shall have the capability to apply architectural finishes in accordance with the provisions of this Standard. Prequalification in each BA category includes the preceding BA categories and supersedes the equivalent Group B category.

Group C (Commercial [Structural] Products) and Group CA (Commercial [Structural] Products w/ Architectural Finishes)

General
Groups C and CA shall include structural and non-structural elements of buildings and other structures, excluding bridges. These products shall be produced in accordance with the requirements of this Standard.

Group C

Group C is divided into four categories:

1. Precast concrete products (C1) shall be conventionally reinforced precast concrete elements.
   
   Group C1 products include piling, sheet piling, pile caps, retaining wall elements, slabs, joists, stairs, seating members, columns, spandrels, beams, walls, tunnel segments or other similar products.
2. Prestressed hollow core and repetitive products (C2) shall be precast concrete products with standard shapes that are generally produced by a repetitive process that may be mechanized and pretensioned or post-tensioned with straight strands. Prequalification in this category includes Category C1. Group C2 products include hollow core slabs, railroad ties and piling.
3. Prestressed straight-strand structural members (C3) shall be precast concrete structural members pre-tensioned or post-tensioned with straight strand, Prequalification in this category includes Categories C1 and C2. Group C3 products include stemmed members, beams, columns, joists, and segmental components.
4. Prestressed deflected-strand structural members (C4) include the same class of products as Category C3 that are pre-tensioned or post-tensioned with deflected strands. Prequalification in this category includes Categories C1, C2, and C3.

Group CA

Group CA products shall be produced with the additional requirements for architectural finishes. Group CA is divided into the same four categories as Group C and are designated as Categories CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4. The category descriptions are identical with the category description in Group C, except that the manufacturer must have demonstrated the capability to apply architectural finishes in accordance with the provisions of this Standard. Prequalification in each CA category includes the preceding CA categories and supersedes the equivalent Group C category.

Group D (Drainage Products)

Group D products shall include reinforced, non-prestressed concrete structural elements with a primary function of drainage, and their related components. Group D products are produced in accordance with the standard requirements of CSA Standard A23.4.

Products in Group D1 are box units with span greater than 3m, Open footing (3-sided) precast units with flat top slab or arch top - all sizes, Precast components for culverts such as wingwalls, retaining walls, headwalls, parapet walls, strip footings, pile caps, load distribution slabs, etc., rectangular manholes and chambers - all sizes.

Group S (standard products)

Group S products shall include plain or reinforced concrete elements, without architectural finishes that are not included in Groups A, B, BA, C, or CA and are required to be manufactured in accordance with the provisions of this Standard. Products in Group S are often manufactured for a particular application in custom built forms on-demand or kept in inventory.