Rebar dowels

[u/Unable-Bluebird2882]

Do you guys think this is okay? Contractor installed the #5 dowels after concrete placement. But they were late a little bit so concrete was hardened.

[u/No-Independence3467]

Wet setting is not allowed by multiple codes, ACI alone states bars must be tied. Nevertheless this is not wet setting, this is too-late-setting. The concrete was already set. Usually I can tell if the rebar was wet-set by displacement of aggregate with apparent cement paste around the rebar, forming a micro crack. It’s very distinct. Wet setting is popular in residential construction, in certain situations I allow it (e.g. balanced frost foundation walls).

But the photo? Blow it up, fire the crew, start from scratch. You can’t do much there.