HeidelbergCement in Sweden

Exposure classes

A guide when ordering
The exposure classes represent different degradation mechanisms that are likely to occur in different types of environment. Depending on the conditions surrounding the concrete structure, you can easily find which exposure class to quote when ordering. Betongindustri supplies ready-mixed concrete for all exposure classes. If you have any questions please contact Customer Service on telephone 08-625 62 00.

Exposure class	Max w vtc equiv- alent	Description of environment	Information examples where exposure classes may occur
1. No risk of corrosion or attack
XO		Very dry	Inside buildings with very low air humidity.
2. Corrosion induced by carbonation
XC1	0,90	Dry or permanently wet	Inside buildings with low air humidity. Permanently submerged in water. Only short periods of elevated relative humidity. Bathrooms in apartments, certain industrial and retail premises where activities require humidity. External surface of roofs, bridge foundations, exterior of tunnels.
XC2	0,60	Wet, rarely dry	Exposed to long term contact with water. Many foundations.
XC3	0,55	Moderate humidity	Inside buildings with moderate or high air humidity. External concrete sheltered from rain. Suspended foundations, facades, columns, inner surface of roofs, balcony slabs, external corridors, resataurant kitchens, food & process industry, cereal silos, some areas of swimming facilities, bridge deck – underside, tunnels – inside, parking deck/joists – vertical parts and underside, chimneys – lower part
XC4	0,55	Cyclic wet and dry	Surfaces subject to water contact, not within exposure class XC2. Sills. Substructures on ground or in water.
3. Corrosion induced by chlorides other than from sea water
XD1	0,45	Moderate humidity	Surfaces exposed to airborne chlorides. Certain industrial premises, parts of bridges and roads not exposed to road/tunnel environment.
XD2	0,45	Wet, rarely dry	Surfaces exposed to industrial water containing chlorides. Swimming pools.
XD3	0,40	Cyclic wet and dry	Surfaces exposed to spray containing chlorides. Car park slabs, pavements, outdoor stairs, certain industrial premises, top surface of bridge decks, parts of bridges/tunnels in road/tunnel environment.
4. Corrosion induced by chlorides from sea water
XS1	0,45	Exposed to airborne salt but not in direct contact with sea water	Outdoor structures near to or on the coast. Parts of bridges not classified as XS3.
XS2	0,45	Permanently submerged	Parts of marine structures. Parts of road tunnels. Parts of bridges not classified as XS3.
XS3	0,40	Tidal, splash and spray zones	Parts of marine structures. Parts of bridges in marine environment. Parts of road tunnels.
5. Freeze/thaw attack with or without de-icing
XF1	0,60	Moderate water sautration, without de-icing agents	Vertical surfaces exposed to rain and freezing. Outdoor structures with a slope exceeding 30 degrees. Facades, interior of uninsulated buildings, evacuation routes, and heated and ventilated ancillery areas in road tunnels.
XF2	0,45	Moderate water saturation, with de-icing agents	Vertical surfaces of road structures exposed to freezing and airborne de-icing agents. Parts of bridges under ground level. Other traffic areas in road tunnels.
XF3	0,55	High water saturation, without de-icing agents	Horizontal surfaces (slope less than 30 degrees) exposed to rain and freezing. Structures in freshwater with/without unilateral water pressure or exposed to splash/spray. Outdoor swimming pools, balconies/external corridors without risk of salting, dam structures, parts of bridges not in road environment.
XF4	0,45	High water saturation, with de-icing agents	Surfaces exposed to direct spray containing de-icing agents and freezing or splash zone of marine structures. Outdoor car park slabs, garage driveways, pavements, outdoor stairs/ramps, de-iced external corridors, floors in wood dryers, top surface of bridge decks, parts of bridges/tunnels in road environment.
6. Chemical attack
XA1	0,50	Slightly aggressive chemical environment	Certain parts of agricultural and industrial buildings
XA2	0,45	Moderately aggressive chemical environment	Structures in aggressive soil or groundwater environment, certain parts of agricultural and industrial buildings, chimneys (upper part), wood dryers, ventilation areas for exhaust fumes in road tunnels.
XA3	0,40	Highly aggressive chemical environment	Certain parts of agricultural and industrial buildings, industrial waste water facilities, structures exposed to fertilisers, chimneys (upper part).