Working with concrete in cold weather conditions can be challenging. Weather conditions at a job site may differ from the optimum conditions when a concrete mix is specified and designed from laboratory conditions where concrete samples are stored and tested. The concrete can be used in cold weather conditions as long as there are adequate precautions to improve the negative impacts of low ambient temperatures.
According to the American Concrete Institute, cold-weather features that you should look out for are: An average daily air temperature lower than 40°F and an air temperature that does not exceed 50°F for over half 24 hours. Once these specific conditions are present, you must make specific provisions to ensure that your concrete is safe from freezing in the pouring stage. Here are some valuable pointers on what you need to do to prevent this situation:
Extra Preparation
You can execute a lot of the work dealing with cold-weather concrete before putting the concrete in place. When it's freezing, it may be necessary to heat your concrete materials, such as the water and aggregates, to provide the proper concrete temperature as required. Due to cement's quantities and heat capacity, hot glue is not essential in raising the initial concrete temperature.
Recognize Your Base Needs
These are the following needs to meet for any new cold-weather concrete to be serviceable:
-Maintaining air entrainment levels between 5 and 7 percent.
-Compressive strength of 4000 psi at a minimum.
-A 0.45 water/cementitious ratio at a maximum.
-No subjection to any de-icers for a year.
Pay close attention to the ground where you are placing the concrete. The air temperature may be above freezing, but the ground may be frozen. Never pour concrete on frozen ground. Warm the bed with concrete blankets or black plastic for a few days before you do the pour.
Protective Options
Concrete takes longer to set in cold weather. Therefore, your construction team will need to take more time for the pouring process.
Here are some of the preventive measures you can take to manipulate ambient temperature to keep concrete from freezing:
-Windbreaks are very useful in this circumstance. They protect the concrete and your construction team from solid and cold winds that could cause evaporation and a decline in temperature.
-You can create enclosures with wood, canvas or buy prefabricated ones. In terms of heaters, you want to make sure you use indirect-fired heaters. Heated sections are also practical. Unfortunately, these options are a little on the expensive side.
Curing of the Concrete
Curing is an essential part of the concrete process. It requires adequate moisture and also an appropriate temperature. Make sure the concrete is set in place as long as possible. This process will help them retain heat and ensure that the concrete doesn't dry out too fast. Edges and corners are where you want to focus the most. You can also pump live steam into your enclosures to keep the curing concrete from drying out too quickly. Always remember to make sure that it stays at 40°F at a minimum temperature for optimum results.
Concrete is an essential ingredient in the making of a commercial building. When creating your projects in different weather conditions, it is best to know the other accident prevention tips in the workplace and the "do's and don'ts" when dealing with the mentioned circumstances so that your company or establishment will not experience a financial loss.
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