Some reinforced concrete structures must be repaired at an early stage in their life due to the oxidation processes suffered by their reinforcements; such processes involve serious pathologies that affect the stability and safety of buildings. Spanish legislation distinguishes several classes of environments, with non-aggressive and normal exposure providing a longer useful life of the structure. The present study shows that some structural elements in reinforced concrete, mainly the pillars in the area of contact with the ground, are exposed to significant corrosion by carbonation. This position of the structural elements dramatically and abruptly shortens the useful life of the models provided for the current regulations. A total of 17 pillars in 10 buildings of different ages and locations in the Spanish Mediterranean area, not subject to the presence of chlorides, have been analyzed. These buildings are situated in environments considered by the standard as normal and non-aggressive. The actual carbonation that these elements present have been compared with that which can be derived from the model established by Spanish regulations. Of these pillars, 14 present a carbonation higher than that derived from the model, and the last three pillars largely conform to the figures of the model. This significant deviation shows the need for a revision of the Spanish EHE 08 regulation, which should include aspects such as the action of dampness by capillarity and the differences in electrochemical potential between the different materials.
Keywords: carbonation; corrosion; environment; propagation life; start life; useful life.