C35 / ST4 Concrete Grade Guide

Need Concrete for your Project?

Call for today’s best price on:
0808 196 7812

---

C35 / ST4 Concrete Grade Guide

Here at iMix Concrete, we can provide projects with a wide range of concrete strengths and grades, for any project type and any size – ensuring the best match for each specific use case.

In this article, we are going to look at C35 / ST4 concrete, its use cases, key benefits and strength details.

What is C35 / ST4 concrete?

C35 / ST4 is a high–strength concrete mixture, which has a high level of strength and durability.

The ‘C35’ part of its name means that the concrete can withstand a compressive strength of 35 N/mm² after 28 days of curing.

As a result, this concrete type is significantly stronger and more durable than lower-grade mixtures (such as C20 or C25). This makes it a great choice for structural applications, and projects that will need to withstand heavy loads.

C35 concrete is also commonly referred to as ST4. This comes from the British Standard (BS 8500) name for standardised prescribed concrete types.

What is C35 / ST4 concrete used for?

C35 / ST4 concrete is most commonly used for heavy-duty projects, which require high levels of strength and durability.

With this in mind, typical use cases include:

• Building foundations, for commercial and industrial sites – Especially for large buildings, with a high load-bearing capacity.
• Reinforced concrete slabs – To support structural frameworks.
• Reinforced concrete beams – To give structural frameworks strong durable supports.
• External walls – Ensuring high levels of strength and weather resistance.
• Retaining walls – With a fantastic strength, and the ability to withstand high levels of pressure.
• Roads – With the ability to withstand consistent levels of traffic.
• Driveways and heavy-use pavements – Strong and durable enough to withstand constant traffic, including mechanical vehicles.
• Agricultural and industrial yards – With the ability to withstand heavy machinery and large industrial vehicles, as well as the durability to endure exposure to extreme weather conditions.

What are the key benefits of C35 / ST4 concrete?

High strength – C35 concrete is extremely strong, and can support heavy loads, including large buildings and high-traffic environments.

Low risk of damage – Including a fantastic resistance to cracking, weather damage and deterioration before the end of its predicted lifespan.

Durability – A long lifespan and a dependable material, with the ability to withstand consistent wear, weathering and loads.

Versatility – Suitable for use in a wide variety of applications, including both structural and non-structural applications, and commercial, industrial, transportation and agricultural projects.

Compliance – C35 concrete fully conforms to British Standards, ensuring projects operate compliantly and reliably, while achieving the highest levels of safety.

Minimal maintenance – Once installed and cured, C35 has minimal maintenance requirements. Compared to lighter concrete (e.g. C20 concrete), C35 concrete needs lower levels of upkeep.

↑ We test all our concrete batches at our our state-of-the-art batching plant in Essex. 

Points to consider when using C35 / ST4 concrete

If you are considering using C35 concrete for your upcoming project, we recommend that you consider the following:

• What is the size of your project?

For smaller projects, C35 concrete isn’t always necessary. If you’re only planning a domestic project (lightweight foundations, for example), C35 will probably provide a higher level of strength than you need. For smaller projects, a lower grade of concrete may provide a more cost-effective option (e.g. C25 concrete).

• Have you sufficiently prepared to handle the concrete?

Higher strengths of concrete are denser and heavier to handle. As a result, you need to ensure that the right handling equipment is on hand (in addition to suitable pouring and compacting equipment).

• Have you left enough time for curing?

The initial setting period for C35 concrete is 24-48 hours. However, the full curing period is around 28 days. So, you will need to maintain the right curing conditions during this time, and prevent any loads from being placed on the concrete, until full strength is reached.

• Have you spoken to a professional?

As C35 concrete is a higher performance concrete, with more complex handling requirements, we would always recommend consulting a concrete specialist. That way, you can ensure your C35 concrete is of the highest quality and performance standards, it is completely predictable, and it achieves its full predicted lifespan.

At iMix Concrete, we are one of the UK’s leading ready mix concrete suppliers, offering a huge variety of concrete grades and concrete strengths for rapid delivery across the UK. This includes premium quality C35 concrete.

So, to find out more about C35 / ST4 concrete and its uses, or to enlist our specialists to support your project, contact our team today.