Continuous Tremie Pour: Head, Volume, Continuity Checklist

Definition: Continuous tremie pour checklist for underwater concrete crews, detailing head control, anti-segregation practices, volume reconciliation, and continuity monitoring to deliver uniform, defect-free placements in cofferdams, piles, and diaphragm walls.

Maintain hydrostatic head and tip embedment to prevent washout and voids.
Keep flow continuous, hopper charged, and tremie submerged to avoid segregation.
Reconcile delivered versus theoretical volumes to confirm element continuity.
Interactive, commentable checklist with export and QR code verification.

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Checklist

Continuous tremie pour is a controlled underwater concrete placement method that relies on sustained hydrostatic head and uninterrupted discharge. This checklist guides teams through underwater concrete placement using a tremie pipe, emphasizing head maintenance, prevention of segregation, accurate volume tracking, and continuity verification. It applies to piles, diaphragm walls, and cofferdam slabs executed by tremie, focusing on practical controls such as hopper management, pressure-gauge readings, tip embedment, and steady pour rates. Scope boundaries exclude laboratory cube testing and compressive strength verification; testing should follow approved project specifications and authority requirements. By following these steps, crews can avoid common risks including laitance contamination, cold joints, suction voids, pipe blockages, and unaccounted volume losses that compromise integrity. Expected outcomes include cohesive, uniform concrete with documented continuity, correct elevations, and reconciled volumes within defined tolerances. Use this interactive checklist on-site: tick items as completed, add time-stamped comments, attach photos or readings, and export your records as PDF/Excel with QR authentication.

Control hydrostatic head and tip embedment to keep the tremie outlet submerged at all times. This prevents washout and segregation, delivering a dense, uniform mass and avoiding suction when sections are added or withdrawn. Acceptance cues include stable gauge readings and continuous rise levels.
Confirm continuity by matching delivered concrete against theoretical volumes, tracking displaced water, and logging surface level rise. When your running variance stays within agreed tolerances and no breaks occur, you verify element integrity without intrusive rework or delays to follow-on operations.
Interactive online checklist with tick, comment, and export features secured by QR code. Supervisors, inspectors, and contractors can collaborate in real time, attach evidence like photos and gauge logs, and produce a sign-off package that is traceable, auditable, and easy to archive.

Pre-Pour Preparation

1. Confirm approved method statement, pour sequence, and permits per approved project specifications and authority requirements; obtain pre-pour sign-offs. Evidence: signed ITP, pre-pour meeting minutes, permit IDs.
2. Survey excavation and base using sounding line or ROV; remove loose debris by airlift/dredge. Acceptance: firm base, no soft pockets >50 mm. Evidence: photos, survey logs.
3. Verify theoretical volume plus ≥10% overfill; prepare delivery schedule for continuous rate. Acceptance: reconciliation sheet approved. Evidence: signed calculations and delivery plan.

Equipment Setup

4. Assemble tremie pipe DN ≥200 mm with gasketed joints; pressure test to 50 kPa. Acceptance: zero leakage for 5 minutes. Evidence: pressure chart and photos.
5. Install hopper with splash cover and 20–25 mm screen to catch oversize. Acceptance: screen clean, no aggregate bridging. Evidence: photo before first discharge.
6. Fit pressure gauge (0–100 kPa) at tremie elbow and verify calibration within 3 months. Acceptance: valid sticker/certificate. Evidence: gauge photo and certificate ID.
7. Mark tremie pipe at 0.5 m increments; confirm initial tip elevation relative to datum. Acceptance: marks legible and recorded. Evidence: close-up photos and elevation log.
8. Stage spare tremie sections, tools, lubricant, and adequate crane capacity. Acceptance: spares ready within 5 minutes of request. Evidence: inventory photo and readiness checklist.

Materials and Mix Control

9. Confirm concrete mix designated for underwater placement with anti-washout admixture per approved project specifications. Acceptance: batch tickets match mix ID. Evidence: tickets and admixture delivery records.
10. Measure slump-flow at discharge using a calibrated tray. Acceptance: within approved range (record mm). Evidence: photo of spread and logged value.
11. Verify setting time from mix data or penetration testing exceeds planned pour duration by ≥2 hours. Evidence: data sheet and time log.
12. Record concrete temperature at hopper for each load. Acceptance: within approved range; note °C. Evidence: thermometer photo and temperature log.

Placement Execution

13. Prime tremie with cement grout or foam pig to exclude water before concrete. Acceptance: first emergence cohesive, minimal washout. Evidence: video/photo of initial discharge.
14. Start discharge with the tip sealed and immediately bury tip ≥1.0 m in fresh concrete. Evidence: embedment log and surface level readings.
15. Maintain hydrostatic head ≥2.0 m above tremie tip using pressure gauge. Acceptance: gauge ≥20 kPa equivalent. Evidence: readings every 5 minutes with calculated head (m).
16. Keep hopper at least half-full; prevent air entry into pipe. Acceptance: uninterrupted flow, no gurgling. Evidence: time-stamped photos and operator log.
17. Adjust tremie length to maintain 1.0–3.0 m tip embedment as level rises. Acceptance: embedment within range. Evidence: recorded elevations and section changes.
18. Reposition tremie only while tip remains buried; overlap discharge zones to avoid cold joints. Evidence: movement sketch and time log.
19. Control pour rate to ensure steady rise; avoid stoppages >5 minutes. Evidence: continuous time log with start/stop stamps.

Monitoring and Records

20. Track delivered vs theoretical volumes every 5 m³. Acceptance: running variance within ±10% during pour. Evidence: tally sheet and batch tickets.
21. Measure displaced water/mud volumes at outlets or pumps. Acceptance: outflow ≈ inflow minus retention. Evidence: meter readings and pump logs.
22. Observe surface condition via standpipe/view port; do not disturb until initial set. Acceptance: cohesive surface, minimal laitance. Evidence: photos and notes.

Post-Pour Verification

23. Terminate by choking hopper while tip remains buried; withdraw slowly to avoid suction. Acceptance: no voids indicated. Evidence: final head reading and withdrawal log.
24. Remove surface laitance after initial set using pump/skimmer. Acceptance: removal to sound concrete; record thickness removed. Evidence: photos with scale.
25. Reconcile final delivered vs theoretical volume. Acceptance: variance within ±5%. Evidence: signed reconciliation sheet and ticket bundle.
26. Clean tremie and contain wash water. Acceptance: disposal per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Evidence: waste manifest and cleaning log.

Maintain Hydrostatic Head and Tip Embedment

Sustained hydrostatic head keeps the tremie outlet submerged, preventing washout and suction that can pull voids into the concrete mass. Use a calibrated pressure gauge at the tremie elbow to infer head in metres and log readings at set intervals. Combine gauge data with measured surface levels to confirm the tip remains buried within the fresh concrete. Maintain 1.0–3.0 m embedment while keeping the hopper charged to avoid air ingestion. When extending or shortening sections, plan ahead so adjustments occur without exposing the outlet. If head begins to drop, increase feed immediately or pause movements until levels recover. These controls directly reduce laitance, segregation, and cold joint risks. Acceptance cues are a steady surface rise, stable gauge readings, quiet flow without gurgling, and no sudden level drops during repositioning.

Gauge readings logged every 5 minutes with calculated head.
Tip embedment consistently between 1.0–3.0 m.
Hopper at least half-full during discharge.
No audible gurgling or cavitation at pipe.
Surface level shows steady, uninterrupted rise.

Prevent Segregation and Keep Flow Continuous

Segregation underwater is controlled by protecting the flow stream and avoiding turbulence. Prime the tremie to exclude water before the first concrete. Keep the hopper screened and clean, maintain a smooth delivery rate, and avoid lateral pipe movements unless the tip is well buried. Any interruption that introduces air or allows the outlet to emerge can cause washout, laitance accumulation, and weak zones. Plan truck sequencing so arrival intervals sustain the target discharge rate with contingency capacity staged nearby. Where you must reposition, overlap the discharge zones and confirm embedment before advancing. Document every start/stop, movement, and section change to demonstrate continuous placement. When in doubt, increase feed rather than lifting the pipe.

Prime tremie; exclude water before concrete.
Avoid movements unless the tip is buried.
Sequence trucks to prevent delivery gaps.
Keep screen clean; prevent aggregate bridging.
Document all movements and pauses.

Confirm Volumes and Verify Continuity

Volume reconciliation and continuity verification are essential acceptance checks for a tremie pour. Calculate theoretical volume from surveyed dimensions, then compare against delivered volumes using batch tickets and running tallies every few cubic metres. Cross-check by monitoring displaced water or mud at outlets and measuring the rise of the concrete surface at known locations. During the pour, aim for a running variance within agreed tolerances; large deviations may indicate loss of concrete into voids or measurement errors. After completion, reconcile final variance within a tighter band and obtain sign-off. Continuity is evidenced by uninterrupted logs, consistent level rises, and absence of air ingestion events. These records, combined with photographs and instrument readings, form your auditable completion file.

Running variance within ±10% during placement.
Final reconciliation within ±5% of theoretical.
Displaced water/mud corroborates inflow volumes.
Level measurements match expected rise profile.
Logs show no prolonged interruptions.

How to Use This Tremie Pour Checklist

Preparation: Gather tremie tools, spare sections, calibrated gauge, slump-flow tray, thermometer, sounding gear, cameras, and PPE. Verify method statement, mix design, delivery schedule, and surveyed volumes. Brief the crew on head control, embedment targets, flow rate, and communication signals.
Using the Interactive Checklist: Start interactive mode, tick items as completed, and attach photos of gauges, screens, hopper, and level readings. Add time-stamped comments for movements or pauses. When done, export the full record to PDF/Excel and share the QR link.
Sign-Off: Capture digital signatures from contractor, supervisor, and inspector. Distribute the exported package to stakeholders. Archive the QR-authenticated record in your project system for traceability and future audits.

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Aria Cohen Aria Cohen

Jan 08, 2026

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FAQ

Question: What minimum hydrostatic head and tip embedment should be maintained?

Maintain a hydrostatic head of at least 2.0 m above the tremie tip and keep the outlet embedded 1.0–3.0 m in fresh concrete. Use the pressure gauge to infer head in metres and confirm with level readings. Logging both values provides strong evidence of continuous submergence and reduced washout risk.

Question: What should I do if flow stops or the head is lost during the pour?

Do not lift the tip above the concrete surface. Immediately re-prime the tremie (grout or foam pig), refill the hopper, and re-establish head before resuming. If stoppage exceeds a few minutes, document the event, overlap subsequent discharge, and confirm embedment and level rise to restore continuity.

Question: How do I confirm volume accuracy and continuity without intrusive testing?

Reconcile delivered volumes against theoretical calculations using batch tickets and a running tally every few cubic metres. Cross-check with displaced water measurements and surface level rises. Accept continuity when variance stays within agreed tolerances and logs show uninterrupted placement with no air ingestion or emergent outlet events.

Question: What tremie diameter and discharge rate should I plan for?

Use a tremie diameter of at least DN 200 mm for typical aggregates to minimize blockage risk. Select a discharge rate that maintains steady surface rise without pauses, supported by truck sequencing and contingency supply. Adjust rate to keep the hopper charged and the tip continuously submerged.

Question: Are trial mixes or cube tests part of this checklist?

Cube testing and laboratory strength verification are excluded from this checklist. Conduct any required testing per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Here, focus on fresh properties (e.g., slump-flow, temperature) and process controls (head, embedment, continuity, and volume reconciliation) to ensure successful placement.