Normative approach to durability evaluation of products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures

This paper deals with the evaluation of performance of products for concrete restoration, specifically aimed at the verification of their compliance with the prescribed requirements envisaged by the new harmonized European Standards for the attainment of CE marking. First, the methodological path pointed out within the new EN 1504 series for the assessment of the products under study will be drawn; subsequently, the ongoig ITC testing campaign aimed at verifying the compliance of concrete repair products especially formulated within a European Community research project with the above cited Standards, will be described. In particular, attention will be given to cyclic tests, which artificially simulate the natural weathering due to climatic agents. The performances these products guarantee with respect to protection against ingress and structural strengthening have been verified throughout control tests, before and after their exposition to variably severe artificial treatments which reflect the diversification of climatic conditions across Europe.