HOT AND COLD

WEATHER CONCRETING
Faisal Gulzar

Abstract

Effects of severe temperature on setting/hardening of concrete. Precautions

and suggestions to gain required strength.

L145780
Assignments#1
BS(CV)-B

January 28, 2017

Hot and cold weather Concreting

Introduction
Concrete is an important construction material which find its applications in various
types on structures. Composition of concrete includes cement as well as coarse and
fine aggregates with suitable ratio of water. Concrete has two phase to reach its
final stage; fresh concrete and hardened concrete. After hardening, concrete is
expected to fulfill the required strength to the structure. Setting or hardening of
concrete depends upon weather conditions. Final strength of concrete greatly
affected by degree of temperature. Effects, precautions and suggestions are
discussed below.

1. Cold Weather Concreting

1.1.

What is cold weather

Cold weather is defined as:

A period when the average daily temperature falls below 40F (4C) for more
than three successive days. (NRMCA, 1998)
These conditions warrant special precautions when placing finishing curing
and and protecting concrete against the effects of cold weather conditions can
change rapidly in winter months, good concrete practices and proper planning
are critical.

1.2.

Why consider cold weather

Successful cold-weather concreting requires an understanding of various

factors that affect concrete properties.

1.2.1. Freeing in First two days

In its plastic state, concrete will freeze if its temperature falls below
about 25oF [-4C]. If plastic concrete freezes, its potential strength can be
reduced by more than 50% and its durability will be adversely affected.
Concrete should be protected from freezing until it attains a minimum
compressive strength of 500 psi [3.5 MPa], which is about two days after
placement for most concrete maintained at 50F [10C].

1.2.2. Rate of cement hydration

Low concrete temperature has a major effect on the rate of concrete
hydration, which results in slower setting and rate of strength gain. A good
rule of thumb is that a drop in concrete temperature by 20 [10] will
approximately double the setting time. The slower rate of setting and
strength gain should be accounted for when scheduling construction
operations, such as form removal.

1.2.3. Freezing and thawing

Concrete in contact with water and exposed to cycles of freezing and
thawing, even if only during construction should be air entrained. Newly
placed concrete is saturated with water and should be protected from cycles
of freezing and thawing until it has attained the strength of at least 3500 psi
[24.0 MPa].

1.2.4. Temperature difference

Cement hydration is a chemical reaction that generates heat. Newly
placed concrete should be adequately insulated to retain this heat and
thereby maintain favorable curing temperature. Large temperature difference
between the surface and interior of the concrete mass be prevented as
cracking may result when this difference exceed about 35[20]. Insulation and
protective measures should be gradually removed to avoid thermal shock.

1.3.

Cold weather concreting: Guidelines

Use air-entrained concrete when exposure to moisture and freezing and

thawing conditions are expected.
Use surfaces in contact with concrete free of ice and snow and at a
temperature above freezing prior to placement.
Place and maintain concrete at the recommended temperature.
Place concrete at the lowest practical slump.
Protect plastic concrete from freezing or drying.
Protect concrete from early age freezing and thawing cycle until it has
attained adequate strength.
Limit rapid temperature changes when protective measures are removed.

2. Hot weather concreting

2.1.

What is cold weather

Hot weather may be defined as:

Any period of high temperature in which special precautions need to be
taken to ensure proper handling, placing, finishing and curing of concrete.
Hot weather problems are most frequently encountered in summer, but the
associated climatic factors of high winds and dry air can occur at any time,
especially in arid and tropical climates. Hot weather conditions can produce a
rapid rate of evaporation of moisture from surface of concrete, and accelerate
setting time.

2.2.

Why consider Hot Weather

It is important that hot weather be taken into account when planning

concrete project because of potential effects on fresh and recently placed
concrete. High temperature alone cause increased water demand, which in turn
will raise the water cement ratio and yield lower potential strength. Higher
temperature tends to accelerate slump loss of entrained air. Temperature also
has major effect on the setting time of concrete: concrete place under higher
temperature will set quickly and therefore requires more rapid finish. Concrete
that is cured at high temperature early will not be will not be strong at 28 days
as the same concrete cured at more moderate 70F temperatures.
High temperatures, high wind velocity, and low relative humidity can affect
fresh concrete in tow important ways;

The high rate of evaporation may induce early plastic shrinkage or

drying shrinkage cracking, and
The evaporation rate can remove surface water necessary for
hydration unless proper curing methods are employed.

Thermal cracking may result from rapid drops in the temperature of the
concrete, such as when concrete slabs or walls are placed on a hot day followed
by a cool night. High temperature also accelerates cement hydration and

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contributes to the potential for cracking in massive concrete structures. (Orcas,
n.d.)

2.3.

How to concrete in Hot weather

Concrete mixture designs may include: set retarders and water reducers,4
the lowest practical cement factor. Modify mixtures as appropriate
retarders, moderate heat of hydration cement, Pozzolanic 1 admixtures or
other proven local solutions.5 Adequate manpower to quickly place, finish
and cure the concrete.
Limit the addition of water at the job site add water only on arrival at the
job site to adjust the slump. Later additions should be avoided; in no instance
should they exceed 2 or 2 gallons per cubic yard. Never add water to
concrete that is more than 1 hours old.
Slabs on grade should not be placed on polyethylene sheeting if a vapor
barrier is required, then a bed of damp sand should be placed over it.
Finish as soon as the sheen has left the surface, start curing as soon as
finishing is completed. Continue curing for at least 3 days: cover to prevent
evaporation or use a liquid membrane curing compound, or cure slabs with
water. The addition of white pigment to membrane curing compounds will
help by reflecting heat away from the concrete surface.
Moisten the subgrade, forms and reinforcement prior to placement. However,
avoid standing water.
Protect field test cylinders by shading and preventing evaporation. Field
curing boxes with ice or refrigeration may be used to ensure required 60
80F for cylinders.

2.4.

Precautions

Moisten subgrade, steel reinforcement, and form work prior to concrete

placement.
Erect temporary wind breaks to limit wind velocities and sunshades to reduce
concrete surface temperatures.
Cool aggregates and mixing water added to the concrete mixture to reduce
its initial temperature. The effect of hot cement on concrete temperature is
only minimal.
Use a concrete consistency that allows rapid placement and consolidation.
Protect the concrete surface during placement with plastic sheeting or
evaporation retarders to maintain the initial moisture in the concrete mixture.
Provide sufficient labor to minimize the time required to place and finish the
concrete, as hot weather conditions substantially shorted the times to initial
and final set.
Consider fogging the area above the concrete placement to raise the relative
humidity and satisfy moisture demand of the ambient air.
Provide appropriate curing methods as soon as possible after the concrete
finishing processes have been completed.
1 Pozzolans are a broad class of siliceous or siliceous and aluminous
materials which, in themselves, possess little or no cementations value but which
will, in finely divided form and in the presence of water, react chemically with
calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperature

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In extreme conditions consider adjusting the time of concrete placement to
take advantage of cooler temperatures, such as early morning or night time
placement. (Annonymous, 2017)
With proper planning and execution concrete can be successfully placed and
finished to produce high quality durable concrete at temperatures of 35C
(95F) or more.

Bibliography
Annonymous. (2017). Hot and Cold weather concreting. Retrieved from NRMCA:
https://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/27p.pdf
NRMCA. (1998). Concrete in Practice. 1-2.
Orcas. (n.d.). Hot and Cold Weather concreting. Retrieved from CCANZ:
www.ccanz.org.nz/page/Hot-and-Cold-Weather-Concreting.aspx