# What Is Structural Concrete?
**Structural concrete is concrete that is specifically designed, produced, and placed to carry structural loads in buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. Unlike non-structural concrete used for fill or finishing, structural concrete must meet strict requirements for strength, durability, and performance.**
## Strength classes
Structural concrete is classified by compressive strength according to European standard EN 206. Common strength classes include:
– **C20/25** — Standard residential construction, foundations
– **C25/30** — General building construction, floors, walls
– **C30/37** — Higher-loaded elements, parking structures
– **C35/45 and above** — Prestressed elements, bridges, high-rise buildings
The notation (e.g., C30/37) refers to the characteristic cylinder/cube compressive strength in MPa after 28 days of curing.
## Key requirements
– **Compressive strength** — Must meet the specified strength class for the intended structural application.
– **Durability** — Must resist environmental exposure (frost, chlorides, carbonation) for the design service life.
– **Workability** — Must be placeable and compactable to achieve full density without honeycombing.
– **Cover to reinforcement** — Adequate concrete cover protects steel reinforcement from corrosion.
## Reinforcement
Most structural concrete is reinforced with steel bars (rebar) or welded mesh to handle tensile forces that concrete alone cannot resist. Prestressed concrete uses tensioned steel tendons to actively compress the concrete, allowing longer spans and thinner sections.
## Quality control
Structural concrete production requires rigorous quality control including:
– Regular testing of compressive strength on cube or cylinder specimens
– Monitoring of water-cement ratio and consistency
– Inspection of reinforcement placement before pouring
– Verification of curing conditions
## Related terms
– Reinforced concrete
– Strength class
– Prestressed concrete
– Concrete cover
– Compressive strength
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