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2026-11-05

San Antonio Concrete Specs Keep GGBFS in the SCM Mix

An official municipal construction addendum retains Grade 100 or 120 GGBFS among accepted supplementary cementitious materials, highlighting the controls needed to turn specification access into dependable use.

Granulated blast furnace slag stock prepared for controlled processing and GGBFS supply

The City of San Antonio Finance Department's Procurement Division issued Addendum 4 for the Texas A&M University Area Streets Phase 2 project on 30 October 2026. The attached concrete specifications list GGBFS concrete specification requirements alongside fly ash, ultra-fine fly ash, silica fume and metakaolin. GGBFS must conform to TxDOT DMS-4620 and be Grade 100 or 120.

1. Specification access starts with a defined material class

The document does not treat all slag as interchangeable. It identifies ground granulated blast-furnace slag, names the governing material specification and defines acceptable grades. That distinction matters throughout procurement: GBFS is the granulated feedstock, while GGBFS is the ground product supplied for cementitious use. Buyers and suppliers need the same terminology, test basis and acceptance limits before pricing or delivery planning begins.

2. Approved sources and handling remain part of compliance

The specifications call for cementitious materials from TxDOT-prequalified sources unless sampling and testing are requested for approval. They also require cement, SCMs and mineral filler to be kept in weatherproof enclosures that prevent dampness or moisture absorption. These provisions show that a compliant grade alone is not enough: source status, representative evidence and storage discipline remain connected to material acceptance.

3. Batching control turns an SCM option into repeatable concrete

The document treats cement plus SCM as the cementitious system when supplementary materials are used. It also specifies separate weighing controls for cement and SCMs. For project teams, this makes mix design, dosage accuracy, moisture protection and traceable delivery records operational requirements rather than paperwork afterthoughts. The inclusion of several SCM types expands options, but each material still needs project-specific qualification and controlled use.

Takeaway: San Antonio's specification is a practical demand-side signal for GGBFS: public works can recognize slag-based SCMs while maintaining clear grade, source, storage and batching requirements. For the supply chain, the opportunity lies in delivering material and documentation as one controlled package. Source: City of San Antonio Addendum 4, dated 30 October 2026.