The PS=Ø Blog
Plain-language articles from our engineers on pour strips, delay strips, closure pours, movement joints, and post-tensioned slabs, and how a mechanical rebar splice takes the leave-out off the critical path.
Field-level writing on the detail we named ourselves after.
Every article here is written by the team whose entire product is engineered to take a pour strip off the drawings. Instead of neutral glossary entries, these pieces carry the point of view of engineers who have replaced the open leave-out on live commercial decks. Start with the definitions below, then call (800) 355-8414 to talk through your own structure.
Latest from the PS=Ø engineers
Delay Strips vs Shrinkage Strips
Delay strip, shrinkage strip, pour strip, pour-back strip, and closure strip are five names for one leave-out at a construction joint. What each term means, where each shows up on drawings, and how a mechanical rebar splice eliminates the detail no matter what it is called.
Read the articlePost-Tensioned Concrete Explained
How post-tensioned concrete works, step by step, and why a PT slab shortens through elastic shortening and creep at stressing, not only drying shrinkage. That mechanism is why post-tensioned slabs need a pour strip, and how a mechanical rebar splice removes the open leave-out.
Read the articlePost-Tensioned vs Reinforced Concrete
How post-tensioned and conventionally reinforced concrete slabs differ, where each is used, and how each handles the movement joints and pour strips that PS=Ø eliminates.
Read the articleRebar Mechanical Coupler That Eliminates the Pour Strip
A rebar mechanical coupler joins two bars end to end so steel is continuous across the joint. See the ACI 318 Type 1 vs Type 2 distinction, how a mechanical splice beats a lap splice, and why the right coupler removes the pour strip entirely.
Read the articleWhat Is a Pour Strip in Concrete?
A pour strip is the leave-out at a construction joint left open so slabs can shrink, then cast later. See how a pour strip differs from a pour stop, delay strip, and closure pour, why it sits open for weeks, and how a mechanical rebar splice eliminates it.
Read the articleDesign the pour strip out of your next slab.
Tell us about your structure and our engineers will walk you through detailing and where PS=Ø can take a pour strip or delay strip off the critical path.