How should you handle a pour that begins to set before completion?

• A. Finish the pour quickly regardless.
• B. Pause the pour if possible, or adjust; ensure proper acceptance of partial pours and joint placement; coordinate with engineer.
• C. Drain the formwork.
• D. Ignore partial pours.

Answer: (B)

When concrete starts to stiffen before the entire section is poured, the main idea is to preserve the structural integrity by planning for a proper joint and ensuring the remaining work is accepted with engineer approval. Pausing the pour if possible or adjusting the plan helps you avoid a weak, poorly bonded surface. By coordinating with the engineer, you confirm that a partial pour is acceptable and that the joint placement will transfer loads correctly and align with project requirements.

This approach reduces the risk of cold joints, segregation, and poor continuity. It also allows you to establish a deliberate construction joint at an appropriate location, place dowels or keys as needed, and set up proper curing for both segments. Finishing rapidly, draining the forms, or ignoring partial pours can create weak planes and deficiencies that compromise durability and load transfer, which is why pausing or adjusting with engineer coordination is the correct course.