Exposure class
Here follows information from various sources regarding Exposure classes used in StruSoft PRE-Stress and StruSoft Frame Analysis
Environmental classes
The Danish annex defines environmental classes instead of exposure clases.
Environmental class | Passive | Moderate | Aggressive | Extra aggressive | |
Country | ![]() | ||||
X0 | XC2 | XD1 | XD2 | ||
XC1 | XC3 | XS1 | XD3 | ||
XC4 | XS2 | XS3 | |||
XF1 | XF2 | XF4 | |||
XA1 | XF3 | XA3 | |||
XA2 |
1): DS/EN 1992-1-1 DK NA:2017
Maximum w/c ratio and Minimum concrete strength
The British annex gives different maximum w/c-ratios and minimum concrete strengths depending on the concrete cover that is chosen. That is why several w/c-values and strength classes are shown in the table below. For some exposure classes the values even depends on the cement type in the concrete.
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Exposure class | Description | Maximum w/c-ratio | Minimum strength class | ||||||
Country |
| ![]() | ![]() |
| ![]() | ||||
Life class | L50 | L100 | L50 | L100 | |||||
X0 | No risk of corrosion attack | - | - | - | - | C12/15 | - | - | |
XC1 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.65 | 0.90 | 0.70 | 0.70 | C20/25 | C20/25 | C20/25 | |
XC2 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.65 | 0.65 | C25/30 | C25/30 | C25/30 | |
XC3 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.65 - 0.45 | 0.60 - 0.45 | C30/37 | C25/30 - C40/50 | C28/35 - C40/50 | |
XC4 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.50 | 0.55 | 0.65 - 0.45 | No value given | C30/37 | C25/30 - C40/50 | No value given | |
XD1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 0.55 | 0.45 | 0.60 - 0.45 | No value given | C30/37 | C28/35 - C40/50 | No value given | |
XD2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 0.55 | 0.45 | 0.55 - 0.40 | No value given | C30/37 | C20/25 - C40/50 | No value given | |
XD3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.50 - 0.35 | No value given | C35/45 | C25/30 - C45/55 | No value given | |
XS1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.50 | 0.45 | 0.55 - 0.35 | No value given | C30/37 | C25/30 - C50/60 | No value given | |
XS2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.55 - 0.40 | No value given | C35/45 | C20/25 - C40/50 | No value given | |
XS3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.50 - 0.35 | No value given | C35/45 | C25/30 - C45/55 | No value given | |
XF1 | Freeze/Thaw attack | 0.55 | 0.60 | No value given | C30/37 | No value given | |||
XF2 | Freeze/Thaw attack | 0.55 | 0.45 | No value given | C25/30 | No value given | |||
XF3 | Freeze/Thaw attack | 0.50 | 0.55 | No value given | C30/37 | No value given | |||
XF4 | Freeze/Thaw attack | 0.45 | 0.45 | No value given | No value given | No value given | |||
XA1 | Aggressive chemical environments | 0.55 | 0.50 | No value given | C30/37 | No value given | |||
XA2 | Aggressive chemical environments | 0.50 | 0.45 | No value given | C30/37 | No value given | |||
XA3 | Aggressive chemical environments | 0.45 | 0.40 | No value given | C35/45 | No value given |
1): EN 206:2013+A1:2016, Annex F, Table F.1
2): EN 1992-1-1:2004, Annex E, Table E.1N
1): SS 13 70 03:2002
1): NA to BS EN 1992-1-1:2004, Table NA.2 and Table NA.3
Accepted crack width
For exposure class XF no values are given since they are to be combined with any other exposure class.
EuroCode uses a special criteria for prestressing tendons called "Decompression".
PRE-Stress assumes XD3 are part of this group too, since it is missing from the table. The condition of the prestressing wires are either OK and well within concrete in compression or placed in concrete in tension, or close to it (and in that case in need of a modification if the exposure class and load combinations so require). Then it will give a warning about strands in tension and a code reference. If it gives a warning the user has to check if it is ok or not to have the strands in a region with tension in the concrete or close to the tension zone. For decompression checks PRE-Stress will give an indication if the prestressing strand is in need of a compression check or not. It is not part of any utilization check, so the element might pass the utilization check even if there is a decompression check.
The Danish annex is very straight forward when it comes to crack widths.
The Norwegian annex says that XD3 should be included with same parameters as XD1, XD2, XS1, XS2 and XS3.
In the Swedish annex, no values are given for XA-classes.
PRE-Stress and Frame Analysis uses 0.30 and 0.20 by default.
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Exposure class | Description | Accepted crack width wk [mm] | |||||||||||||||
Country | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| |||||||||||||
Reinforcement and post tension cables (Quasi-permanent) | Prestressing tendons (Frequent) | Environmental class | Reinforcement | Prestressing and post tensioned reinforcement | Reinforcement and post tension cables (Quasi-permanent) | Prestressing tendons (Frequent) | Corrosion sensitive | Corrosion resistant | |||||||||
Life class → | L100 | L50 | L20 | L100 | L50 | L20 | |||||||||||
X0 | No risk of corrosion attack | 0.4 | 0.2 | Passive | No value given | X0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | X0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
XC1 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.4 | 0.2 | Passive | No value given | XC1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | XC1 | 0.40 | 0.45 | - | 0.45 | - | - | ||
XC2 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.3 | 0.2 | Moderate | 0.4 | 0.3 | XC2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | XC2 | 0.30 | 0.40 | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.45 | - | |
XC3 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.3 | 0.2 | Moderate | 0.4 | 0.3 | XC3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | XC3 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.40 | - | |
XC4 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.3 | 0.2 | Moderate | 0.4 | 0.3 | XC4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | XC4 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.40 | - | |
XD1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 0.3 | Decompression | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XD1 | 0.3 | Decompression | XD1 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | |
XD2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 0.3 | Decompression | Extra aggressive | 0.2 | 0.1 | XD2 | 0.3 | Decompression | XD2 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | |
XD3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | No value given 0.3 | No value given, Decompression | Extra aggressive | 0.2 | 0.1 | XD3 | 0.3 | Decompression | XD3 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | |
XS1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.3 | Decompression | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XS1 | 0.3 | Decompression | XS1 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | |
XS2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.3 | Decompression | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XS2 | 0.3 | Decompression | XS2 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | |
XS3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 0.3 | Decompression | Extra aggressive | 0.2 | 0.1 | XS3 | 0.3 | Decompression | XS3 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.30 | |
XF1 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | Moderate | 0.4 | 0.3 | XF1 | No value given | XF1 | No value given | ||||||||
XF2 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XF2 | No value given | XF2 | No value given | ||||||||
XF3 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XF3 | No value given | XF3 | No value given | ||||||||
XF4 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | Extra aggressive | 0.2 | 0.1 | XF4 | No value given | XF4 | No value given | ||||||||
XA1 | Aggressive chemical environments | No value given | Moderate | 0.4 | 0.3 | XA1 | No value given | XA1 | No value given, 0.30 | No value given, 0.20 | |||||||
XA2 | Aggressive chemical environments | No value given | Aggressive | 0.3 | 0.2 | XA2 | No value given | XA2 | No value given, 0.30 | No value given, 0.20 | |||||||
XA3 | Aggressive chemical environments | No value given | Extra aggressive | 0.2 | 0.1 | XA3 | No value given | XA3 | No value given, 0.30 | No value given, 0.20 |
3): EN 1992-1-1:2004, Table 7.1N
1): DS/EN 1992-1-1 DK NA:2017
1): NS-EN 1992-1-1:2004+A1:2014+NA:2018
2): BFS 2019:1 (EKS 11)
Crack safety factor
The crack safety factor is a unique factor used in the Swedish Annex (BFS 2019:1, EKS 11)
For exposure class XF no values are given since they are to be combined with any other exposure class.
Exposure class | Description | Crack safety factor ζ [-] | |||
Country | ![]() | ||||
Life class | L100 | L50 | L20 | ||
X0 | No risk of corrosion attack | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
XC1 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
XC2 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
XC3 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
XC4 | Carbonation-induced corrosion | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
XD1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | |
XD2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | |
XD3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (De-icing salt) | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | |
XS1 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | |
XS2 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | |
XS3 | Chloride-induced corrosion (Sea water) | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | |
XF1 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | |||
XF2 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | |||
XF3 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | |||
XF4 | Freeze/Thaw attack | No value given | |||
XA1 | Aggressive chemical environments | ||||
XA2 | Aggressive chemical environments | ||||
XA3 | Aggressive chemical environments |
2): BFS 2019:1 (EKS 11)