Which condition would require compressive strength testing to confirm concrete readiness for form removal?

Compressive strength testing is crucial when determining if concrete is ready for form removal, especially in scenarios requiring early opening to traffic. This is because the structural integrity of concrete is critical when it must support loads, such as the weight of vehicles soon after placement.

In general, concrete gains strength over time, and reaching specific strength thresholds is necessary to ensure that the material can safely sustain external forces. The standard practice often involves waiting for concrete to reach a minimum compressive strength before removing forms. When a project has the need for early opening to traffic, there is a heightened necessity to verify that the concrete has achieved the required strength more quickly than usual, necessitating compressive strength tests to confirm readiness.

In contrast, visual inspections or finishing processes do not provide definitive information about concrete strength, and simply being a large project does not inherently dictate that compressive strength testing is needed. This makes the requirement for testing specifically linked to operational timelines, such as allowing traffic on freshly placed concrete, a critical consideration.