The durability of reinforced concrete members depends mostly on the permeability of their cover concrete. The cover concrete properties relevant for a realistic assessment of the durability, and for the owner of the structure, can only be determined on the structural member itself, after the construction process has taken place. With this aim in view, an extensive research and application program has been conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the Torrent air permeability testing method Torrent et al. (1995), in the laboratory and on site. This paper reports on two major aspects of this study: (1) effect of age, concrete quality and form-work on air permeability, and (2) statistical variability of air permeability as a function of concrete type, and probabilistic compliance criteria and methodology for the assessment of in-situ characteristics of cover.
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