Best Practices for On‑Site Ready‑Mix Adjustments: Documenting Water & Idle Time
Ready‑mix • On‑site adjustments
Record every on‑site water adjustment and segment idle time by location (plant, queue, site). You’ll protect quality, meet documentation expectations, and cut cost/emissions—while resolving disputes fast.
Why Documentation Matters
Concrete is time‑sensitive. On‑site water additions and idle time directly affect slump, strength, durability, and delivery cost. Clear, time‑stamped records provide:
- Quality assurance — evidence that handling stayed within limits.
- Compliance — documentation expected under project specs and relevant standards.
- Dispute defence — objective facts if results or delays are challenged.
- Operational control — data to improve cycle times and reduce fuel burn.
Water Adjustments: What to Record (Minimum Dataset)
Identity
- Ticket number & truck ID
- Driver name
- Requester & authoriser (site/contractor)
Timing & Volume
- Wetting time (HH:MM)
- Volume added (L)
- Mix temperature (if available)
Mix Control
- Pre‑/post‑adjustment slump
- Policy‑required extra drum revolutions
- Any admixture added (type/qty)
Sign‑off
- Name & signature of authoriser
- Digital acknowledgment on ticket
Water Adjustments: Step‑by‑Step Workflow
- Request — Site requests water; driver checks policy limits.
- Record — Capture time, volume, requester/authoriser, truck/ticket.
- Mix — Apply required additional revolutions; note any admixture.
- Verify — Measure slump (if applicable) and confirm within tolerance.
- Sign‑off — Obtain digital signature; attach to ticket.
- Proceed — Continue discharge; time‑stamp start/finish.
Idle Time: Why and How to Track
Idle time inflates fuel and emissions and reduces available cycles. Segment it to pinpoint responsibility and savings.
| Location | Example causes | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Batch queue, loader delays | Signals production bottlenecks |
| Queue | Site access, sequencing | Improves traffic & staging |
| Site | Formwork readiness, test wait | Clarifies responsibility in disputes |
Tip: Track idle as distinct, time‑stamped events; avoid a single blended \"waiting\" bucket.
Sample Policy & Thresholds
- Authorisation: Any on‑site water addition requires named authoriser and digital signature.
- Limits: Water additions must not exceed design limits or project‑specific caps.
- Revolutions: Apply
nextra drum revs after any water addition per mix policy. - Timing: Record batch, arrival, wetting time(s), discharge start/finish; flag if thresholds breached.
- Idle KPI: Reduce site idle by
10–15%quarter‑on‑quarter; review top 5 outliers weekly.
Templates You Can Use
Water Adjustment Log
- Date / Ticket / Truck
- Wetting time (HH:MM)
- Volume (L) & authoriser
- Extra drum revs
- Signature (digital)
Idle Time Breakdown
- Plant idle (min)
- Queue idle (min)
- Site idle (min)
- Reason code
- Notes / photo (optional)
How Tipper360 Helps
- Digital water sign‑off with requester/authoriser, volume, time, extra revs and signature on the ticket.
- Timed events & alerts for batch → arrival → wetting → discharge, with breach warnings.
- Idle analytics by location (plant/queue/site), outlier surfacing, and KPI tracking.
- Audit‑ready records aligned with documentation expectations to support compliance and dispute defence.
Talk to us about Ready‑Mix Despatch
Internal links: Ready‑Mix Plant & Pour, All blog posts.
FAQs
Do I need signatures for every water addition?
Yes—capture the named authoriser and signature on the delivery ticket to provide clear responsibility and auditability.
What if the site requests water beyond policy limits?
Escalate per your policy before proceeding. Record the request, outcome, and reason; do not exceed limits without management approval.
How often should we review idle time?
Weekly review top outliers; monthly track trends by plant, customer, and route, and adjust staging/slotting accordingly.