Types of concrete
Concrete is an indispensable material, valued for its versatility and strength. Whether you’re working on a domestic, agricultural, or industrial project, understanding the different types of concrete and their specific uses ensures the success of your build.
In this guide, we’ll explore the four main categories of concrete: British Standard (BS EN): designated concrete; designed concrete; and proprietary concrete, along with their grades and practical applications.
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What is concrete?
Concrete is a composite material made from a mixture of cement, water, aggregates (such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone), and, in some cases, additional additives to enhance its performance. Combined, these materials form a paste that hardens over time, creating a strong and durable construction material.
Concrete is known for its versatility, strength, and adaptability, making it an essential component in projects ranging from small domestic tasks to large-scale industrial builds.
The strength of concrete listed is it’s compressive strength in megapascals (MPa). Two numbers are used for example C28/35. The first of these numbers is the strength when a cylinder of hardened concrete is crushed after 28 days. The second is the strength when a cube of the concrete is tested at the same age. A cube being a stronger shape than a cylinder, a higher number is recorded from a sample of the same concrete.
For a more detailed breakdown of its composition and properties, visit our What is Concrete blog.
Concrete categories and grades
The concrete grades include:
- Standardised prescribed concrete: ST1 | ST2 | ST3 | ST4 | ST5
- Designated concretes
- General concrete: GEN0 | GEN1 | GEN2 | GEN3
- Reinforced concrete: RC20/25 | RC25/30 | RC28/35 | RC32/40 | RC35/45 | RC40/50
- Paving concrete: PAV1 | PAV2
- Foundation concrete: FND2 | FND3 | FND4
- Proprietary Concrete
The different types of concrete
Designated concretes
They are grouped into:
- General Concrete (GEN): For non-structural uses like domestic foundations and flooring.
- Reinforced Concrete (RC): Designed for structural strength and durability with embedded steel.
- Paving Concrete (PAV): Engineered for freeze-thaw resistance and outdoor use.
- Foundation Concrete (FND): Developed to withstand sulphate-rich soils.
An essential part of the designated concrete concept is the requirement for the producer to hold an appropriate level of product conformity certification, which the BSI Standards Policy and Strategy Committee has approved.
In many projects, the user might not have expertise in concrete design or specification, so being able to select a product based on its application rather than specifying limiting values makes correct selection much easier. Simplifying the ordering process reduces the chance of error and increases the likelihood of achieving the required durability and design life.
It is the user/designer's choice whether designated concrete is specified. If a designated concrete is specified, then all its requirements, including those for third-party product conformity certification, are expected to be met.
General purpose concrete
General-purpose concrete, designated as GEN grades, are versatile and economical, ideal for non-structural applications.
GEN 0
GEN 0, or wet lean mix concrete, is a versatile mix commonly used in commercial and domestic projects for a wide range of general and non-structural applications.
GEN1
GEN1 is an extremely versatile mix used throughout the construction industry for general and housing applications. It is usually used for cavity filling, kerbing, unreinforced domestic foundations in DC-1 soils and haunching.
GEN2
GEN 2 provides the ideal material for domestic flooring when no permanent floor finish is installed, but it will be carpeted or tiled.
GEN3
Gen 3 is commonly used for light duty domestic applications and foundations. It can be used to construct internal floor slabs that contain no embedded metal and will be covered by carpet, tiles or laminate flooring. It is also suitable for domestic garage floors, but a minimum of RC25/30 should be used if the garage is also used as a workshop.
Learn more about using general-purpose concrete for specific applications in our How to Lay a Concrete Base guide.
Reinforced Concrete (RC)
Reinforced concrete includes embedded steel, making it essential for structural applications.
RC20/25
Applications:
- lightly reinforced house or garage floors, not designed as suspended
- infill to insulated concrete formwork used above ground
Concrete strength: 25N/mm2 at 28 days
RC25/30
This type of concrete is suitable for mild exposure conditions.
Applications:
- lightly reinforced concrete
- internal wearing surface for light foot and trolley traffic
- reinforced foundations in DC-1 soils
Concrete strength: 30N/mm2 at 28 days
RC28/35
This is for moderate exposure conditions.
Applications:
- general and agricultural reinforced concrete
- livestock and crop store floors
- domestic garages used as workshops
Concrete strength: 35N/mm2 at 28 days
RC32/40
RC32/40 is suitable for moderate to high exposure conditions.
Applications:
- general, agricultural and industrial reinforced concrete
- floors and walls for manure and slurry stores or mushroom sheds
- general industrial floors subjected to small-wheeled forklift trucks
Concrete strength: 40N/mm2 at 28 days
RC35/45
This type of concrete is suitable for highly demanding exposure conditions.
Applications:
- agricultural and industrial reinforced concrete
- stable floors
- floors and walls for silage or brewer’s grain stores
- floors for parlours and dairies
Concrete strength: 45N/mm2 at 28 days
RC40/50
RC40/50 is suitable for severe exposure conditions.
Applications:
- agricultural and industrial reinforced concrete
- stable floors
- floors and walls for silage or brewer’s grain stores
- floors for parlours and dairies
Concrete strength: 50N/mm2 at 28 days
For further guidance on reinforced concrete applications, visit our Building Foundation Guide.
Paving concrete
Paving concrete is designed for durability and frost resistance, making them suitable for outdoor applications.
PAV1
This is the most common type of concrete used for domestic pavement construction, where no de-icing salts are used. PAV 1 mixes have an additive that entrains air to create micro-sized air bubbles in the concrete. This helps to protect the surface from frost, specifically freeze-thaw cycles, making it especially useful for outdoor paving.
Applications:
- house driveways
- domestic parking/car ports
- external paving
- domestic, agricultural and industrial paved areas such as walkways and patios
- reinforced and un-reinforced hard standings
- reinforced and un-reinforced bases for workshops, houses and extensions
Concrete strength: 35N/mm2 at 28 days
Note: This is not suitable for powerfloat finishes
PAV2
This concrete type is substantial and heavy-duty, suitable for commercial and industrial use. PAV 2 mixes have an air entrainment additive that creates micro-sized air bubbles in the concrete, helping to protect the surface from frost, specifically freeze-thaw cycles, and making it suitable for use with de-icing salts.
Applications:
- external slabbing and paving subject to industrial vehicles and machinery
- reinforced bases for commercial buildings and agricultural storage areas
Concrete strength: 40N/mm2 at 28 days
Note: This is not suitable for powerfloat finishes.
Learn more about preparing outdoor surfaces in our Prepare for a Concrete Pour blog.
Foundation concrete
Foundation concretes are specifically formulated to resist chemical attacks from sulphate-rich soils.
- FND2: Suitable for unreinforced foundations in DC-2 soils.
- Concrete strength: 30N/mm2 at 28 days
- FND3: Ideal for DC-3 soils requiring higher sulphate resistance.
- Concrete strength: 30N/mm2 at 28 days
- FND4: Used for DC-4 soils, ensuring durability under aggressive conditions.
- Concrete strength: 30N/mm2 at 28 days
Proprietary concrete
Proprietary concrete is designed by the producer for a specific purpose or performance requirement. The composition is confidential to the producer, who will offer a performance guarantee for the intended application. Proprietary concrete is used where high performance or specific properties are required, such as fast setting, high strength, chemical resistance, low shrinkage, coloured concretes, or self-compacting concretes.
View our ready-mixed concrete range to see the different proprietary concrete types and uses we have available.
Standardised prescribed concrete
*Standardised concrete should not be used, suppliers holding third-party quality accreditation to ISO 9001 can offer designated concrete as a lower carbon, quality-assured alternative.
Standard prescribed concretes (SPC) are often used for small-scale or non-structural projects.
ST1
ST1 or wet lean mix concrete: commonly used in both commercial and domestic projects for a wide range of general, non-structural applications.
Applications:
- kerb bedding
- backing
- drainage works
- haunching
- blinding
Blinding is the process of pouring a thin layer of concrete over the floor of a new building, either over the hardcore or over the foundation itself. The purpose is to seal in the underlying material and prevent dirt and mud from interfering with the structure.
Strength: Assume to be 7.5N/mm2 at 28 days
If supplies are from a quality-assured supplier, use GEN0, saving both money and CO2.
ST2
This extremely versatile mix is used throughout the construction industry for general and housing applications. It is ideal for unreinforced foundations and bases for houses and extensions, trench-fill, kerbing, patios, and unreinforced house floors as long as a permanent finish (such as a screed or floating floor) is added.
Applications:
- un-reinforced strip footings
- trench-fill foundations
- some agricultural applications
- drainage works
- blinding house floors
- pad foundations
- non-structural mass concrete in non-aggressive (DC-1) ground conditions
- footings for fence posts
- infilling around manholes
- small bases for external furniture, such as patios
- mass concrete fill
Strength: Assume 10N/mm2 at 28 days
If supplies are from a quality-assured supplier, use GEN1, saving both money and CO2.
ST3
ST3 is widely used for light-duty domestic applications and foundations but is not usually suitable as a wearing surface. It can be used to construct internal floor slabs, providing they don’t contain embedded metal, and is ideal for house floors with no permanent finish (e.g. carpet or laminate) flooring.
Applications:
- shed and workshop bases
- foundations for large walls, garages, houses and extensions
- paving for patios
- unreinforced bases and oversites for conservatories, garages, sheds and greenhouses
Strength: Assume 15N/mm2 at 28 days
If supplies are from a quality-assured supplier, use GEN2, saving both money and CO2.
ST4
ST4 is used for many domestic, agricultural and industrial applications and is suitable as a wearing surface for light foot traffic.
Applications:
- garage floors (not designed as suspended and not reinforced)
- shed and workshop bases
- internal floor slabs (containing no embedded metal)
- drain/channel bedding
- benching to chambers
Strength: Assume 20N/mm2 at 28 days
If supplies are from a quality-assured supplier, use GEN3, saving both money and CO2.
ST5
ST5 is used for many domestic, commercial and agricultural applications. Suitable for light foot and trolley traffic only.
Applications:
- agricultural equipment stores
- foundations for environmental barrier posts and planted lighting columns
- foundations for traffic sign posts
- house and garage ground floor slabs fully or nominally reinforced, either ground bearing, suspended or over sub-floor voids
Strength: Assume 25N/mm2 at 28 days. If supplies are from a quality-assured supplier, use an RC20/25, saving both money and CO2.
While SPC mixes are practical, designated concretes can be more economical and provide a reduced CO2 footprint for your project.
Choosing the right concrete
Choosing the right mix depends on the application, environmental exposure, and strength requirements. Whether you need a durable foundation concrete or a versatile general-purpose mix, our team can guide you through the selection process.
For advice on choosing and transporting concrete, visit our Concrete Pump FAQs.
Concrete is the backbone of construction, offering a variety of mixes for every need. From general-purpose concrete to high-performance proprietary mixes, understanding their applications ensures you choose the right product for your project.
For further information and expert advice, explore our Ready-Mixed Concrete page or speak to our team today.
